Page 281 of Sticks and Stones
Gene turned around.
“Really?” he asked.
Ethan stuck his fingers into the pocket that his badge cover would sit in during work. He pulled the little packet out with his gloved fingers.
“Oh, yeah. Someone had porn upstairs, and this. How much do you want to bet it’s Snow?” Ethan asked.
Yeah, Gene wasn’t taking that bet.
He knew better.
Patting his pockets, he was looking for an evidence bag, but he didn’t have one. It made him uneasy with the drug in Ethan’s vest.
Damn it.
Gloves, yes.
Evidence bag, no.
Ethan saw him.
“I can hold onto it. This little baby will be tucked into my vest for safe keeping.”
That worked for him.
“Okay, great. Don’t lose it. When we’re done, we’ll pass it off for testing.”
When his burner phone chimed, Gene took it out and read what the masked military guy had sent him.
‘Someone is driving up and down the street, and he’s casing the joint. I think your next scumbag has arrived. Heads-up, so he doesn’t sneak up on you.’
Gene showed Ethan.
“We have company. Our Marine friend thinks that the car driving up and down the street is Truck. It appears that he’s being super cautious.”
That meant he might disappear.
“Can you text him back and tell him to stop him if he makes a break for it?” Ethan asked.
Oh, Gene had just been thinking that.
So, he did.
Going to the window, he peeked out, and saw the car. It was moving slowly in front of the house as if he was trying to make up his mind.
“What if he’s seeing all of their vehicles and worried that something is going on?” Ethan asked, as the man parked down the street.
Gene tucked the phone away.
“Maybe,” he admitted. “If he makes it inside, we’re going to have to grab him the second he walks in the door. He’s twitchy,” he said, getting into position again.
Ethan got it.
From where he was standing, Ethan could see out the window, and the man was definitely paranoid. He was checking the one motorcycle’s saddle bag, and peeking inside the cars.
Finally, he moved closer to the house.
When they heard Truck on the porch, he knocked but didn’t come inside.
