Page 68 of Resolutions

“No, but Mouse and Keyboard are monitoring the chatter. Once they know, we'll know. I gave them your number.”

Twenty years of friendship let me read what he's not saying. That he's willing to play it straight because the evidence is solid. Because Michael needs to go down clean, with no legal loopholes to exploit. But there's something else to this plan.

I sit back in my chair. “What are you not telling me?”

A small smirk appears. “How did you know?” Law asks, sitting back in his own chair.

“I might've completely missed reading Michael, but you, I know.”

“I think we should divide and conquer. My group takes Michael down at the same time you take the warehouse.” Law raises his hand. “Before you ask, yes, I have a plan.”

He explains the plan to me, and as much as I hate the idea of using Melanie, I have to agree she's the one thing that would bring him out.

“Using her makes me nervous,” I say, crossing my arms. “She's been through a lot already. You're sure Melanie understands she's the bait?”

“She volunteered,” Law explains. “Says his ego won't let him resist a chance to grab her in person.”

“It's risky.”

“Everything about this is risky. But it's our best shot at getting Michael and the women simultaneously. If we move on just one target, he'll destroy the other. Or go underground and we'll never find him.”

I study the warehouse plans again, my mind already plotting entry points, personnel placement. Law may play loose with procedure, but he's never brought me bad intel. “Alright. Walk me through the plan, again.”

For the next hour, we hash out details. The timing, positioning, contingencies. Law's team will handle Michael while with my deputies, I’ll secure the warehouse. Coordinated strikes, maximum surprise.

“Coffee shop's public enough to make him feel safe,” Law explains. “But public enough for us to blend in. Which allows us to surround him while keeping Melanie safe.” Law's phone beeps, and after looking at it, he sets it back down. “Farris checking in. Everything's quiet.”

“We need the times of the shipment.” I feel like I stated the obvious the way Law looks at me. “Sorry.”

“I get it. Mouse and Keyboard will let us know. The nature of this case makes it extremely important to them. They called in a favor and have a satellite watching the road, just in case.” Law stands. “I'll have them link your phone system to ours. Full coverage, secure channels.”

“Hey, you never told me why we needed to meet down here.”

“Oh, ha, I didn't, did I?” He laughs. “The ladies, Melanie included, think Michael bugged your main meeting room and your phone system. That way he would hear if Melanie appeared. He bugged all the Whitaker phones, Charlie, and Cameron’s houses too.”

“Fuck, dudes got some giant balls.”

“He's smart. Leave your phone system till after we bust him. Tell your deputies not to talk about any of the plans in house.” Law looks around at the room. “I mean, unless they're in this plaza suite.”

“Funny, very funny.”

“Listen, Michael's smart, but as long as he doesn't catch on that, we know what we know. We have the upper hand.”

“And that's exactly what we need.”

“I'm going to head over to Mom's. Why don't you come by for supper, spend some time with my guys, they’ve been researching the warehouse.”

I stand, nodding. “Yeah, I think I will. Come on, I'll walk you out.”

After shaking Law's hand and watching him cross the parking lot, I walk back to the room opposite the main conference room. This is where the deputy desks are located. Wanting to cover my tracks in case Michael is listening, I stand in the doorway and loudly state,

“All of you, downstairs in that filth pit of a conference room, now. We've got to plan a housekeeping operation.”

Chapter 34

Melanie

My hands won't stop shaking, so I slide them between the cold wooden chair and the bottom of my thighs. The coffee cup in front of me is empty. I downed it, burning my tongue in the process. Later, I'll blame it on my nerves. Now, I'm just trying to concentrate on remembering to breathe. From my table at The Last Drop, I have a clear view of the parking lot, the front entrance, and the ordering line. No one's getting into this building without me seeing them. Farris is three tables away, earbuds in place, casually bobbing his head to nonexistent music while he monitors the same feed I hear through my concealed earpiece.

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