Page 81 of S.O.S. Mizzay

Nothing was over-the-top protected, thank goodness. Oliphant, in his arrogance at having his lair hidden away, hadn’t thought to safeguard his system beyond some basic passwords, no doubt believing the false wall would be enough.

Wrong.

Smalley easily accessed the hard-drives.

Twenty minutes later, after finishing up, neither Missy nor Smalley could be sure what, exactly, they’d been able to access, or if any of it would help. But they didn’t dare waste a moment more reviewing the things they’d purloined. That would happen, in detail, once Smalley was safely back at the office with everything in hand.

They went back out the way they’d come in, and bid each other goodbye before sneaking to their respective vehicles,knowing they’d meet up again tomorrow morning to do the “real” walkthrough with Baskins.

Of course, by that time, they hoped they wouldn’t have to. Baskins was posting two agents here—within the hour—for surveillance, and with luck, they’d catch someone trying to break in.

Thatcouldwrap the case up, then Cobble would be safe.

Missy hoped that was how things would go down, but she wouldn’t hold her breath.

Getting into her car she quickly sent everything she’d taken pictures of, to Smalley before taking off.

She wasn’t going to mess with any of it herself, tonight. She was headed back to Cobble. If Baskins’ surveillance didn’t produce any results, it would be her last night alone with Cobble before they had to “out” him. Then, until the case was closed, he’d be placed somewhere as yet unknown to even Missy. She’d be with him, but there’d be other people around by then, for sure.

Regardless, at least for one night, Coble was entirely in her hands.

And she was going to take advantage of it.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

It had been a long day, and Cobble couldn’t wait for Andy to get home. He needed to have her in his arms where he knew she’d be safe. The car chase and crash this afternoon had scared the crap out of him, then instead of coming home right afterward, she and Chuck had gone to do a recon on the dead agent’s house.

Cobble had been on edge ever since.

Andy, of course, had eventually texted, letting him know that things had gone well and she was headed to him, but even so…

Until she was safely back, he wouldn’t feel settled.

Cobble had been hanging out on the porch, watching the road that led into the site for the past half hour, even knowing Andy couldn’t have made it back that quickly. If he were being honest, it wasn’t just Andy’s imminent arrival that had him jazzed, it was the thought that—if nothing went wrong—within a matter of days, this could all be over.

So he’d needed the fresh air.

To tamp down his excitementandhis agitation because…

It was the “if nothing went wrong” part, that wouldn’t let go of his gut.

With how this whole case had gone, it would be just Cobble’s luck that those who were after him would be the ones coming down the road tonight to shoot the place up. He knew the possibility was slim to none with how careful Andy had been, but Cobble wasn’t feeling entirely rational after a day of “what the fucks”.

He heard the far-off crunch of tires on gravel and seashells, and ducked down to make himself less visible, just in case. A car’s headlights came into view, and blinked twice…

Yes!

It was Andy.

Cobble popped up and ran toward the car. Even before it came to a full stop, he already had the door wrenched open, then he was practically falling on top of Andy in his haste to hold her. He barely managed to miss her as he dove over her into the passenger seat, twisted, then gathered her up into his embrace.

She laughed hysterically. “Wait. What? Wait. I need to put the freakin’ car in park,” she howled uproariously.

“Screw the car,” Cobble snarled, mock-ferally. “I need to feel you.”

His hands were everywhere as he undid her seatbelt and tucked her beneath him to swarm her face, her ribcage, and her luscious ass with his touch. His nose buried deeply into her hair as he inhaled her addictive scent.

By the time Andy managed to reach over and switch the car off, then turn her attention totally to him, her glasses were already askew, and her collar opened down to the top of her regulation white bra.

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