Page 58 of S.O.S. Mizzay

“Okay then,” Del responded, clearly satisfied with her explanation. “So, what can SOS do for you? I’m assuming this isn’t merely a social call to introduce me to your guy.”

Cobble liked that. HewasAndy’s guy.

“Nope. Here’s the thing. We’re coming out of hiding,” Andy apprised. “Cobble has made up his mind. He’s tired of being on the run, and is refusing to go to his next safe-house.”

Del snorted. “And you’re letting him get away with that?”

Hah.Cobble understood where Del was coming from. Nobody got away with much under Andy’s watch.

Andy wrinkled her cute little nose at Cobble, amusedly. “Let’s just say that he…convinced me.”

“La, la, la,” Del groaned loudly. “TMI. Donotgive me any details of what that means, please.”

“Now, Mistah Songen, would I do that to you?” Andy quipped.

“Yes. Because nobody in this office has filters,” he gruffed. “If I have to hear Billboard brag one more time about why he’syawning so much in our morning meetings, I vow I’m going to start keeping the equivalent of a swear jar.”

Cobble chuckled. Swear jar, yes, but he’d never heard of afuck-jar before.

“How’s that going to work?” Cobble asked Del curiously.

“Anyone boasting inanyway about anything sexual, has to put in a twenty,” Del grumped.

“That’s a great idea,” Andy agreed gleefully. “And just think, with all the innuendo going around, the funds collected will more than pay fah next yeah’s Christmas party.”

“Okay. We’re done with that,” Del sighed. “It seems we’ve gotten off subject here. Let’s circle back to it.”

Andy’s boss led them in the right direction again. “So Cobble, you’re refusing to stay in hiding any longer. That’s ballsy, but how does that tie in to us?”

“We have a plan,” Cobble told him gruffly, “that involves your team.”

Andy took over. “To execute what we’re considering, Cobble needs all hands on deck. He also needs to be stashed somewhere close to Boston. A place that’s accessible, but a little remote. A safe location where he can stay that has little or notraceableconnection to anyone who’ll be involved in the sting we’re devising.”

“And SOS is going to be part of this operation?” Del confirmed.

“Yes. Youze guys are a necessary piece of the puzzle.”

“Which means you don’t want him staying with any of us.”

“Right,” Andy confirmed. “Especially because there are too many of youze with kids, and we don’t want any danger coming to your doors. Can you think of anyplace nearby that will work?”

Del gave an audible snap of his fingers.

“I might… Yeah. That would do the trick,” he said in an upbeat tone. “Listen. Tucker Devons just bought some landsouth of Boston. He had me walk it with him a few weeks ago after we had lunch. Right now, there are several vacant bungalows on the property that are set to be demolished so that Devons Construction can put up some high-class townhouses. But the existing structures I’m talking about still look habitable.”

Tucker was a name that was unknown to Cobble. He assumed the man was brother to Brent and Daire, two of the SOS agents.

“That sounds perfect,” Andy agreed enthusiastically. “You think Tucker will agree?”

“I know he will. He loves to help us out when he can, and the last time I talked to him, the upcoming project was having some permitting issues. Which means the site isn’t slated for demo for at least another few months.”

“This won’t take months,” Cobble assured him confidently. “If everything goes according to plan, we should be able to wrap things up in a matter of weeks.”

Andy sent Cobble a concerned look, then gave him a nod. She didn’t like putting him in the crosshairs, but she was going along with it. He knew she was also continuously going over his proposed scheme in her head, combing for details that she might have missed or that might derail everything.

Regardless of any caveats she uncovered, Cobble wouldn’t be swayed.

Andy saw resolve in his face and huffed. “Will you ask Tuck if Cobble can use one of the houses?” Andy asked.

---