Page 11 of In Too Deep

“Cole, we need to protect you, and to do that, we need you to wear a wire at all times. If you think having a wire in your phone is a mistake, then what else do you suggest?”

Ben sits back with his arms crossed in front of him. I really don’t like this man. How the hell did Theresa end up with a partner like him?

Shrugging, I think about it. A few moments go by, and then I reply, “In a lighter?”

Ben frowns. “Lighter? He laughs. And why would that be a good idea? Do you even smoke?”

No, I don’t fuckin’ smoke, asshole, but if I’m going to be in a biker gang, I need to fit in, and smoking just comes with a biker’s territory.

“Wait, Ben. That’s a great idea.”

I smile. “Of course it is.”

“So, you’re going to take up smoking? Wow,” Theresa says. “You have always said that you should treat your body like a temple.”

Smirking, I say, “Yeah, that’s true. I can’t believe you remember that.”

“Sorry to break up happy times and all, but we need to devise a plan.”

Theresa answers Ben, “We’ll get Spencer back at the force to organize a wire inside a lighter and get it dropped to Cole tomorrow at the garage.”

He hands over a card. I pick it up and look at it.

Seth Hawkins

Motorcycle Mechanic

Prestige Bike Repairs

I frown. “Hey, I know this place. Wasn’t Brent the owner?”

“Not anymore,” Ben adds. “Like we said, he’s retiring early.”

“And how exactly did you get him to do that? He’s been there for years.”

Ben shrugs. “We have our ways. Anyway, he got paid for it well.”

“Make sure you're there tomorrow morning because you need to start working out of the garage as soon as possible to build your reputation.”

“What’s the rush?” I ask, looking at Theresa.

She hesitates, then answers, “We’ve heard a big shipment of drugs is coming in this month, and we want someone inside to find out where exactly the drop-off point is.”

Theresa hands me a package from a bag on the floor, and I open it. Two sets of keys are in there, followed by what looks like a shirt.

“Those are keys to your apartment…” Theresa points at the set of keys I have placed on the table, “… and the others in your hand are for the garage.”

“And this?” I ask, smirking, pulling out a T-shirt with the Prestige Bike Repairs logo on it.

She smiles. “Thought you’d like to be professional and all.”

I place the shirt against my torso and reply, “You know me well.”

Ben stands, his body language letting me know our chat has come to an end.

Theresa then stands and says, “We’ll get the lighter to you in the morning, and we’ll touch base one last time before we start. If you think of anything tonight, let us know.”

I nod, accepting.

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