Page 21 of Silent Sins

She wasn’t much of a housekeeper on her best days. And FBI agents didn’t exactly major in Martha Stewart-esque homemaking skills. But suddenly having Mason see her private space made her anxious to spiff up the place.

Which was ridiculous. This was a planning session, not a date. No need to fluff pillows or hide the stack of paperwork covering the coffee table.

Avery paused by the sad little houseplant she couldn’t keep alive. She shifted it from the table to the counter and back again. “Get a grip,” she told herself. She was here to take down a criminal empire, not impress some guy.

It wasn’t like a dead plant would amaze Mason anyway. With a sigh, she tossed the plant in the kitchen trash and resolved to keep focused on the investigation.

Her inconvenient attraction to the terse SEAL didn’t matter. When this was over, he’d be back to his globe-trotting missions. Why that didn’t sound as appealing as it had about twenty-four hours ago, she had no idea.

Mason and Paul arrived carrying barbecue takeout from her favorite local spot. Avery’s stomach rumbled appreciatively.

Avery set out the takeout containers, and they dished up generous portions. “I’m guessing everything went okay with the pickup?”

They decided Paul should drive to a local Indian casino he frequented for dinner and slip out the back, where Mason awaited. That way, his vehicle wouldn’t be travelling anywhere that might alert Rain Bay’s surveillance team.

Mason nodded, swallowing a bite of brisket. “Paul slipped out the rear exit right on time, just like we planned. I was waiting in the alley to pick him up.”

“Nice work,” Avery said.

Mason smiled. “It is coming together pretty nicely so far.”

Her cheeks flushed at the compliment. She was suddenly glad she hadn’t turned on every light in the place, opting for a cozy glow.

Paul glanced around the snug cabin as he ate. “This is a great place.”

Mason grunted in agreement. Or so Avery decided.

“It’s been in my family for generations,” she said. “My great-grandmother actually grew up on this boat when it was still used for fishing. She lived here her whole life and left it to my grandmother, who left it to me.”

Mason eyed the scrollwork on the beams. “Must take a lot of upkeep.”

Avery laughed. “A serious understatement. I can disassemble a Glock blindfolded but keeping this thing floating, and tidy, isn’t in my wheelhouse.”

Mason grinned, a stunning sight. “Copy that. Give me a sniper rifle over a Swiffer any day.”

They both laughed, but Mason soon turned his attention back to his food.

After eating a few more bites, Mason updated Avery on the blacked-out SUV. His team had tracked it to a self-storage facility, where it went inside for an hour before exiting with two men in front.

“No way to know if passenger three was still inside,” he said. “And no justification yet to get cops involved since we can’t prove criminal activity.”

Frustration rose in Avery’s chest. Another dead end, at least for now.

Paul spoke up as they ate. “I didn’t see who took off in that SUV. I was clear on the other side of the warehouse then.”

He looked pale and tired. Mason watched him with concern.

Avery felt the stress too as their window of opportunity dwindled. If they couldn’t substantiate the criminal enterprise soon, Rain Bay would continue operating with impunity.

She had to find an angle, something to force official action. As a federal agent, she should be better equipped for this. Instead she felt powerless, reduced to skulking around with no backup.

“Oh, I almost forgot.” Paul dug into his pocket and then held out his hand where a few white pills rested in his palm. “I thought these might be helpful.”

Mason’s expression darkened. “Tell me you didn’t swipe those from inside the warehouse.”

“Seriously?” Paul scoffed. “No one saw me. How stupid do you think I am?”

“You really want me to answer that?” Mason replied.

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