His Risk to Take (Line of Duty 2)

Troy massaged the back of his neck where a warning sensation had developed. “Lieutenant, something about this is off. We haven’t scouted for back entrances at the other location because we didn’t want to tip our hand, but it’s possible they’re entering in a different way. If we go ahead and bust the wrong warehouse and they get wind of it, Driscol will go so far underground that we’ll never find him.”

Brent considered him a moment before turning to the lieutenant. “He might be right, sir. It feels too easy.

Maybe we should hold off until we’re sure we can rule out the other location.”

Troy’s phone started vibrating in his pocket, disturbing his concentration. He tried to ignore the incessant buzzing because they were in the middle of a crucial discussion that he’d instigated, but when it didn’t stop after two unanswered calls, he pulled out his phone to check the screen. When he saw the caller’s name, his heart rate doubled. The officer he’d placed on Ruby had called three times, back-to-back.

“Lieutenant, I need to take this.” He hit the answer button. “Bennett. What’s going on?”

“I followed her as far as I could without getting out of the car and chasing her. The street leading to the warehouse is all blocked off for street repair,” came the officer’s booming voice, laced with frustration.

His mouth went dry. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“She hopped off the bus wearing a different jacket than when she’d left her apartment. Must have changed on the ride over. She turned the corner toward the warehouse before I even knew it was her.”

Troy pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to think clearly over the roaring in his head. Ruby in danger.

“Hold on. Which warehouse are you talking about?

The one we’re set to move on this morning doesn’t have construction outside.”

“I know. It’s the other one.” He snorted. “Just waltzed right in like she was taking a Sunday stroll.

Funny, I thought you guys ruled out that location.”

“We did rule it out.” Every officer in the room watched him, knowing something had gone terribly wrong. Troy felt like he was being strangled. He stood in a room full of armed men wearing bulletproof vests, discussing the safest entrance strategy for the arrest of a dangerous criminal, and she’d walked right in, completely defenseless.

Troy dragged a hand down his face. “Goddammit,

Ruby.” He hung up the phone and turned toward his fellow officers, anxiety searing every part of his body.

“We have to move. Now.”

…

Ruby slipped in through the warehouse door being held only slightly ajar by a bald, stone-faced man with an earring that looked vaguely familiar. Of course, these protection types were almost always bald and stone faced with an earring, so that didn’t mean a thing.

She winked to throw him off a little. One valuable thing her father had taught her was to brazen it out. In situations such as these, when every move you made would be under suspicion, act like you owned the damn place. That kind of behavior tended to distract people long enough to get what you needed. Or annoy them into giving you what you needed if only to get rid of you faster.

Once she confirmed Lenny was indeed hiding out in the warehouse, she could call Troy with the information. He would make the arrest and get himself out of Lenny’s crosshairs where he would be safe.

None of his colleagues would be in any danger, either, something she suspected he worried about constantly since the loss of his partner. She could have given him the address to the warehouse last night but had quickly decided against it. She could get useful information by going in first. Information that would help ensure Troy came out on the other side alive.

She also needed to warn Bowen.

“Who are you?”

“Ah, come on. You don’t remember me?” Mr. Clean showed zero reaction. “Ruby Elliott. Our kids play softball together!”

“I don’t have any kids.”

“Yeah, me neither.” She moved farther into the dusty warehouse, quickly eyeing every possible exit.

“Listen, you mind telling Lenny I’m here? I don’t have a lot of time.”

He grunted. “What makes you think Lenny’s here?”

“A hunch.” She pursed her lips. “A hunch you pretty much confirmed when you opened the door.

Why else would you be standing in this abandoned warehouse in the middle of the day? I’m sure you’d much rather be updating your eHarmony profile or taking a yoga class. Incidentally, I’m thinking of taking one myself.”

Recognition dawning on his face, he pointed a finger at her. “Wait a minute. I remember you. The chick pool player. Jim’s kid.”

Ignoring the pang in her chest at hearing her father’s name, she spread her arms wide. “In the flesh.”

A smile broke out across his face, making him almost handsome. Almost. “Well, come on then. He’s in back.”

“That’s more like it,” Ruby murmured under her breath, following him through the enormous, sunlit room filled with sawdust and empty crates. “You guys really need to fire your cleaning lady.”

“We don’t get a lot of people coming in this way,” he continued jovially, divested of his suspicion. As far as he was concerned, they were cut from the same cloth. A realization that made her feel queasy. “There’s an entrance through the parking garage around back we’ve been using.” He threw a wink over his shoulder.

“It’s like we’re not even here.”

“Stealthy.” Ruby pretended to let the piece of information go in one ear and out the other. “The pizza del

ivery guys must hate you.”

Laughing, he stopped as they reached a wooden door at the back of the warehouse and nudged it open with his foot. She breezed past him into a dark hallway and continued on toward another closed door with light emanating from the edges. Her pulse began to race as she grew closer, but she refused to consider the possibility that she’d made a bad decision in coming here. She would stay long enough to confirm that Lenny was here and get as many details as she could before hightailing it back to her end of Brooklyn.

Her escort reached a hand over her shoulder to push the door open. Ruby tried not to show any outward reaction to seeing Bowen and half a dozen men sitting at a round table, reading the newspaper and smoking cigarettes. All sporting weapons. As usual, Bowen boasted a black eye and several painful-looking cuts on his face. Quickly, she counted seven other men seated around the room, pausing in their conversation to eye her with interest. Her friend’s gaze widened when he saw her standing in the doorway, then flicked toward Mr. Clean, who’d gone to join them at the table. The other men looked between her to Bowen, waiting for his reaction.

Only a few seconds had passed when his chair scraped back, and he came toward her with open arms.

“Ruby Doo, what’s the haps?” To anyone who hadn’t known Bowen since childhood, he would appear carefree, delighted to see her, but she saw the wealth of worry in his eyes. He threw his arms around her and whispered in her ear. “I didn’t tell them anything, but you shouldn’t be here.”

“Neither should you. I’m sorry, Bowen,” she whispered back. The way his body tensed, she knew he understood her reason for coming. He knew the cops were coming and that she’d come to warn him. Ruby held on tight to her faith that he wouldn’t tell Lenny.

That he’d see this as his way out. Maybe he’d been pulled deeper into his father’s world, but he was still the same boy whose wounds she’d bandaged in back alleys and motel bathrooms. Her best friend. And he didn’t belong here anymore than she did.

Bowen sighed shakily against her hair then pulled back, smiling broadly once more, but she could see the conflict in his eyes. He spoke up loudly enough for everyone to hear. “Lenny, I knew she’d change her mind. Ruby’s back. Just like the old days.”