Page 40 of Surge

Rashid’s lips twitched. “I can show you how strong we are.”

The deal was high dollar and solid. No way the guy would walk. “Enough,” Garrett said. “I’m walking away.” He strode away, feeling Zim fall in behind him.

“Stay put, Rogue!” Caldwell bit out. “Don’t move.”

At the mention of Delaney, Garrett slid his gaze in her direction—but stopped halfway when he spotted her at the back door entry of the building next to the law building. Holy—how had she gotten that close? Worry smeared her pretty face. He gave her a silent, subtle shake of his head.

“You want the chemicals, don’t you?” Rashid called.

At the callback, he winged up an eyebrow at Delaney, who withdrew into the shadows with Surge.

“Told you it was a test,” Caldwell said, relief coloring his voice. “Rogue. Stay.”

Garrett turned his attention on Rashid. “You done vetting me?”

A broad smile filled Rashid’s face as he laughed. “We’re like those American convenience stores, checking ID of people purchasing alcohol.” He hefted a briefcase onto the hood of a vehicle. “Real thing. Exact amount you ordered.”

To the side, Garrett said, “Zim, check it.”

The petty officer strode over and took a look, then backed up and nodded.

So far so good. Garrett drew out the envelope of money, handed it to Rashid, and took the briefcase.

Rashid flipped through the cash. “Good. Next time we won’t vet you, Clay Pot.”

He walked away with Tariq even as Garrett started backing up toward their exit.

“He’s gone,” Caldwell said two minutes later.

“Rogue, you still at the law building?”

“Yes—I moved into the—” A gasp severed her words.

Garrett’s heart jammed. “Rogue. What’s wrong?”

Nothing.

“I don’t have eyes on her,” Caldwell stated.

“Rogue!”

“I’m here,” came her hushed, frantic words. “Rashid just walked right past me. He’s here!” she hissed.

“On my way!” Garrett shouted and moved fast, avoiding a full-out run in case they still had eyes on the area.

“No! Wait.” Her breaths came heavy through the comms. “He’s gone. I turned my back to him, petting Surge like he’s my pet. Didn’t even notice us. Turned left a block down from me.”

“He’s not on my cameras,” Caldwell said, clicking away on his keyboard. “Gunmen are gone too. Okay, got him—three blocks east, getting into a black sedan. Muddy license plate. Can’t read it.”

Garrett grunted. “Let’s get after the chemicals, then. Join us, Rogue. Now.”

As planned, when she got to Garrett on the street, they held hands, chatting about the weather as he petted Surge.

A few minutes later, he squeezed her hand and opened the briefcase.

“Surge, time to work,” Delaney said as the Malinois’s sleek black tail thwapped Garrett’s leg. She pointed to the briefcase. “Check.”

Surge sniffed from one end of the case to the other, his snout digging into the vial packets for a long draught.

---