Page 33 of Back the Blue

“Agent Hughes, I’ve got a message for you.”

“Go,” I say.

There’s a pause. And I’m not sure why until he speaks one simple word.

“Tributary.”

“Fuck,” I hiss. “Did you trace the call?”

“Thirty more seconds and we’ll have it,” he says. “She found a pay phone and didn’t hang it up.”

In this moment, I don’t know if I want to kiss her or spank her. But God damn if I’m not impressed as fuck. And more than turned on.

“Smart woman,” Sanders says from the driver's seat. “I’m guessing you gave her that code word?”

“From our first location, yes,” I sigh.

“You sure she’s not an agent,” he says on a half laugh.

I let out a small chuckle and tell him the truth.

“I joked about the same thing with her that very night.”

He smiles and nods. Then the man in the call center comes through with an address. I thank him and curse when he ends the call.

“She’s just blocks away from the apartment building.”

“Less exposure,” I grit out as I search the address. “Fucking hell, it’s just a laundry mat.”

“Innocuous,” Sanders shrugs. “And one of the few places that would still have a pay phone. I didn’t think there were any around anymore.”

“She has her cell, but I’m guessing she’s worried about Diamond tracing it thanks to Ellis,” I tell him.

“We could still ping it,” he suggests.

“So could he if he has the know how and her information.”

He doesn’t argue with this because he knows it’s true. When we get closer to the location, I decide to keep with the cat and mouse bullshit. Just in case.

“Park at the diner a block over,” I tell him. “We’ll both go inside but I’ll slip out the back and get Lorna. Just order a few coffees to go.”

He nods and does what I ask. As we walk inside, I scan the patrons. Just your average Joe’s here for breakfast. No one conspicuous. While Sanders goes to the counter, I walk down the hallway toward the bathrooms. But quickly slip into the kitchen instead and out a back exit. I move so quickly that no one has time to question me.

Another minute has me across the street and pushing into the laundry mat. There are only three people inside, one of whom looks to be an employee. The one who doesn’t belong looks to be taking a nap. But her eyes snap open almost immediately. Not wanting to draw attention to her, I walk to the employee and identify myself.

“Agent Hughes with the FBI, ma’am,” I say as I show my badge. “We’ve been looking for a few drug runners in this area. Has there been anyone loitering around here lately?”

As I speak to the woman, I notice Lorna on the move. Since she’s not doing any laundry, I suppose she’s technically loitering. But the woman gives me a negative response and merely nods her head as Lorna passes, saying she thinks she’s running away from something.

Jesus, if she ever knew how right she was.

I thank the woman just as I hear the bell ring on the door. Then I turn on my heel and follow after her. At the corner of the building, I catch her elbow. She stiffens at first but relaxes after a quick glance up at me.

“Are you okay?” I ask softly.

“No.”

Only then do I notice her entire body is trembling. I say no more, and she allows me to silently lead her along. For once, she questions nothing as I take her into the kitchen of the diner and then into the hallway. I walk out just as Sanders is grabbing our coffees. He gives me a small smile and I step forward to hold the door for him and Lorna. This allows me to fall in behind her and lead her to the second door on the driver’s side where I crawl in after her. No sooner are we shut inside; I open my arms for her. She all but crawls into my lap and let’s go while I hold her as close as I can, desperate to soothe her and stop her from shivering.

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