Page 22 of Matthew
Matthew gave himself a mental shake and focused on her approach. That easy, no-nonsense stride hadn’t changed since last night. Neither had the way it tugged at something just under his skin.
“Afternoon,” she said, shielding her eyes from the sun. Her boots kicked up dust as she walked. “Let me guess…Gabe sent the cavalry.”
Matthew stepped down first, letting Caspian linger behind him. “More like the nerd squad. We’ve got Carter queued up to check the plate.”
Her lips twitched, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Tell him he’s got my eternal gratitude if he can pull anything useful.”
The dog moved to him and brushed against his leg.
Matthew squatted down to give the dog a proper pet. “Well, who might you be?”
The retriever leaned into it like they were old friends, tail swishing slow and steady.
“That’s Sammy,” Callie said, her tone softer than before. “He’s the real boss around here.”
“I can see that.” Matthew scratched behind the dog’s ears. “You’re a good judge of character, huh, Sammy?”
The dog gave a contented huff and nudged his hand for more, which earned a faint smile from Callie—the first real one since they’d arrived.
Caspian stepped up behind him. “Should’ve brought treats. Might’ve made a better first impression.”
Callie lifted a brow. “Too late. He already picked a favorite.”
After giving the dog one last pet, Matthew rose to his feet and met Callie’s gaze. “You okay?”
She hesitated enough to confirm what he already suspected.
“I will be,” she said, lifting her chin. “It was weird, but it’s handled. Gabe was thorough. I took pictures, made a copy of the footage. You want to see it?”
“Not yet,” he said. “Walk me through it first. Show me where the truck pulled in.”
She angled her head toward the far edge of the nursery. “Back by the gravel lot near the delivery shed. He didn’t get far. I wouldn’t let him unload.”
“Good,” Caspian said. “Bad vibes in plastic tubs are never a good sign.” He nodded toward the nearest workers. “You two go ahead. I’m going to go talk to the crew, see if anyone caught more than weird vibes.”
Matthew nodded, then turned to follow Callie and Sammy across the gravel, her gaze scanning the area as she spoke.
“There was nothing marked,” she said. “No logo on the truck. No company tags. Said it was from a supplier in Houston, but we don’t work with anyone there. I tried to get a name. He didn’t give one and had no paperwork. That’s when I called Gabe.”
She stopped at a stretch of disturbed gravel and pointed. “He parked here. He got out and opened the back, but I shut it down as soon as I sawandsmelled the bins.”
Matthew crouched, brushing a hand along the depression in the gravel. It was faint now, stones scattered no doubt from the crew, but they were there.
Sammy took advantage of his stance to rush close and lick his face.
He reached out to absently pet the dog’s head as he stood slowly. “You did everything right.”
Callie arched a brow. “Is that an official Navy SEAL evaluation?”
“Unofficial,” he said, allowing the corner of his mouth to lift. “But yeah. You kept your distance. Trusted your gut. That counts.”
She looked away, her gaze fixed on the lot. “I’m not used to gut feelings meaning much. This place is usually safe. Simple. Dirt and plants.”
Matthew’s throat tightened for half a second. “Until it’s not.”
He remembered a supply drop that looked routine too, until it blew half their op to hell. Simple wasn’t safe. Not anymore.
Her eyes flicked back to him. “That happen to you?”
