Page 48 of Surge

She shook it off and strained to look out the window. A digital billboard about Singapore Grand Prix, yes. The silver semi, no. “Man! I don’t see it either.”

“Sorry,” he said, the car easing back to the speed limit.

She kept looking up and down the cross streets. Saw nothing but businesses, mothers with strollers, workers speed-walking into buildings. “No apology needed. You really tried for me.”

“I guess he’ll have to travel without his phone. That stinks.”

Delaney sighed. She’d have to tell Garrett what’d happened. And that it’d failed. And that she didn’t have cash to pay Torrence. “Thanks so much. Please just take me back to?—”

“Hold on.” His eyes met hers in the rearview mirror. “I might know where your boyfriend is headed.” He pointed ahead to a sign that read SE Asia Container Action Corp with an arrow to the right. “He’s driving a semi.” Torrence shrugged. “We can at least check it out.”

Her stomach clenched at the airport sign beside the first sign. Those chemicals could be headed anywhere from the airport. Anytime.

“Let’s do it.” She lifted the phone to try and call Garrett. Let him know?—

The Hyundai dove around a corner.

Pitched left, she struggled to hold on to both the phone and Surge, whose nails were digging into her leg. So she ditched the phone again. Trusted Garrett—like she’d said she did—that he was tracking her via Surge’s chip locator.

Torrence hung a right and sped around sedans and SUVs. She snagged the grab handle above her, put her other arm around Surge, hoping Garrett wouldn’t be too ticked with her, that this would pay off and he’d agree she had no choice but to follow. Granted, they’d located a huge Sachaai chem stash at the shoe factory, but this was Rashid and Tariq—and they’d said Hakim was waiting. This had to be important. Well aware she wasn’t trained, she again prayed Garrett and Zim weren’t far behind.

“This is it,” Torrence said as he eased along the curb. He scanned the area and frowned at her in the rearview.

She eyed the six-foot chain-link fence that barricaded the front of the property, a gate locked and preventing entrance to Container Action. She could see the silver semi sitting in front of an office. Tariq and Rashid stood next to it, talking with a third man, his back to her. She was too far away to confirm, but she had a strong hunch that was Hakim!

Where was Garrett?

“You sure about this?” Torrence asked. “It feels . . . off.”

So has my last week.

“I know. I think I see him”—which was true and should buy her time—“but let me make sure that’s him. Please wait?—”

“I . . . I don’t know. I’m illegally parked?—”

“Just two minutes. Please.” She climbed out before he could argue further, trusting how nice he’d been to rescue her in the first place. Hopefully, he wouldn’t abandon her.

Was there another way in? An entrance farther on? She moved a few feet down, crouched to stay in the shadows of a tall building as she crept out to see better.

A featherlight touch against her leg startled her—even as her brain registered Surge trotting ahead, sniffing around a building and stoop. “No! Surge, heel,” she hissed.

She darted her gaze to the container yard and saw Hakim’s gaze swivel in her direction. She ducked and eyed Surge. “Surge, come. Heel.”

He hiked up his leg and relieved himself on the corner of a wall.

Of course you have to do that now.

“Hey.” A hissed voice came from behind. “I’m leaving.”

She shifted in her crouched position and looked back. Saw the driver slinking closer. “No, please?—”

“This is sketch. I don’t think . . . I’m out of here.”

She straightened. “No. Please!” Her own words bounced to her, and she feared she’d given herself away to the three men in the yard. She eyed them, saw Rashid looking this way now too. They couldn’t see her, but she couldn’t afford for the driver to abandon her here.

God! Help Hakim not see us. Send Garrett! Fast!

“Get down,” she urged the driver.

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