Page 89 of Burn

“In ten seconds, switching to Lunchbox.” Then he was counting it down. “…three, two, and you’re clear Voodoo. Lunchbox is up, Bones, you’re next.”

The image on the screen rotated as more details were added. There were vehicles in the parking lot. The license plates weren’tfamiliar. Mexico? Maybe, but I couldn’t quite make out the detail. There were people visible from this angle.

People, which included men with guns. Goblin let out a low whine. I glanced over to where he was stretching his whole body out as he climbed down from the sofa. On the floor, Goblin sat and wagged his tail as he stared at me expectantly.

A light touch on my arm from Alphabet snagged my attention. He signed, “Can you let him out? He won’t take long.”

I gave him a thumbs up and then headed for the front door. I wanted an excuse to see more of where we were. Goblin didn’t move immediately, but when I gripped the door handle, I caught Alphabet giving the dog a signal.

Goblin bounded up and toward me. “Come on, good boy,” I said, then let us both outside. The air out here was definitely warmer than in the house. The sun shone down with an almost unrelenting glare.

I shielded my eyes as I descended the steps. Goblin was waiting for me, so I headed toward the grass so he could too. The coffee was almost too warm for the heat out here.

I couldn’t see the road we’d used to get here, though there was a dirt track. The house didn’t really have a drive. The sound of the motor out here was louder than in the house. Probably a generator. Goblin trotted around, peeing in several spots. He didn’t seem in a hurry, so I didn’t rush him.

A barn was visible in the back. Since Goblin seemed to be wandering that way, I drifted along with him. The dirt was exceptionally dry and cracked in places. The earth looked almost gray where it was splitting. The grass was yellow tufts. I wasn’t even sure it was fully grass.

There was a shadow cast by the bar, and I pushed one the door wider. It was hung on a rolling caster and squeaked, but the interior was out of the sun. The scents of sawdust and manure made my nose itch.

Okay, so the barn wasn’t in use now, I didn’t hear any animals. Didn’t mean it hadn’t been used before. Goblin barked once and I turned to find him between me and the house. He darted to me and then back.

“Are we done then?” I asked. Goblin barked again, tail wagging and I got it. “You’re as bossy as the other guys.”

At least he looked happier when I started following him. I’d finished my coffee by the time I let him back in the house. Alphabet was standing, but relief flickered over his expression at our arrival.

It also let me notice the fact he was wearing a shoulder holster with a gun tucked into it. The laptop in front of him had a completed image and there were numbers flowing up the front of it.

Lifting the headset off, he set it on the table. “Heard him barking.”

“I wasn’t moving fast enough,” I said, and a faint smile flickered over his face. “He’s very bossy.”

“He can be.” Affection colored the words. “I’m going to hit the head. Stay close?”

“Not really sure where else I can go—there’s a whole lot of nothing out there.” As much as I tried to not let it come out whiny or petulant, I couldn’t help the complaint. Really, where did he think I was going to go?

“Yeah. I’ll be right back.” At least he didn’t try to apologize. I stared at the computers, the screens were all on but they were all doing something. I couldn’t see anything from the other guys, but I assumed they were on the headset or maybe they were already en route.

As tempting as it was to hit some of the keys and see what was going on, I left it alone. A toilet flushed deeper in the house. Goblin had moved to the hallway when Alphabet went that way and stayed there until he returned.

Alphabet and Goblin were always together. Definitely his dog. The slow shuffle of Alphabet’s steps seemed more noticeable, and he was definitely limping.

“Did you get hurt?” It was probably none of my business. But I needed more of them on my side and hehadsaved my life at least twice that I could think of—so that was a good place to start.

He had his hands on his hips as he leaned back a little like he was stretching his back. “Just sat still for too long.”

Right. None of my business.

I looked back at the screen. “If I ask what you guys are doing?”

“I’d have to tell you I can’t tell you,” he answered without playing any kind of games.

“Can’t or won’t?” Yes, I was pushing it.

“Currently? It’s both. To be honest, Gracie, I don’t think you want to know.” The presumption scraped against me like I’d slipped down a gravelly hill.

“Can we make an agreement?” I focused on him and he straightened.

“Depends on the terms.” Smart man, never agree without knowing what was all involved. Normally, I’d admire that.

---