Page 53 of Built of Illusions

He wondered how she’d feel about moving to Midnight Lake if he joined up with the team there? For now, he shoved it all to the side. None of that mattered until Adrian Nelson was behind bars.

“I’ll be there when I can. For now, put me on speakerphone and find the team so we can decide what to do with the package.”

Josie worried that the package might contain an explosive or poison. If Nelson knew they were close to catching him, he might change his pattern. Or he might just be showing off that he knew she was hiding and he could find her anywhere.

Which made her want to hide forever. And that made her want to kick her own butt. She’d never been a coward. Staying at Midnight Lake was sensible, not cowardly. Or so she kept telling herself.

Troy and Marcus Ramirez, Phail’s deputy, came out with the package and it seemed so ordinary. A tiny box, maybe a quarter the size of a shoebox. Brown wrapping.

Josie Ellis

c/o Midnight Lake, Phail

Vermont

Innocuous. Terrifying.

Bella looked at the group. “If there’s a possibility of poison, I can open it in the fire lab in my cabin. The ventilation system can contain any gas and I can wear my breathing gear and gloves.”

Josie couldn’t let her friend put herself at risk. “I’ll do it. You can walk me through it.”

Bella smiled. “It’s fine, Josie. I’ll be perfectly safe.”

“You shouldn’t have to take the risk. It’s addressed to me. I’ll do it.”

Bella shook her head. “You don’t know the equipment well enough, Josie. It’ll be fine. I promise.”

Sam nodded his head slowly. “I agree, but I’ll go in with you. We’ll wear protective gear. I don’t think we’ll need it, but better to be safe.”

Josie’s objections were overridden by logic and experience. She went with the group to Bella’s cabin and waited while the two of them geared up and brought the box into the lab with them. Worry ate at Josie’s gut.

Bella had cameras set up inside the lab. The feed was hooked into a monitor in the main room so they could watch. Flynn walked over to Josie and urged her to sit in a chair. Then he sat beside her and wrapped his arm around his shoulder.

He whispered into her ear. “Relax. Between Tansy, Aisling, and Bella, that room is state of the art. Add in the smarts of the two people in there, this is as safe as any forensics lab in the world.”

Then Flynn flipped open his phone and placed a video call. Nico’s face appeared on the screen and Josie felt her body relax. It was ridiculous. The man was in California, but just seeing his face on the screen had her feeling better.

“What did they find?”

Flynn laughed and exaggerated his drawl. “Slow down there, cowpoke. They’re suiting up. Thought you’d like to watch with us.”

Then Flynn handed the phone to Josie and she watched Nico’s face soften as his eyes smiled. Flynn leaned in with his head next to Josie and waggled his eyebrows. “We’re taking real good care of your lady.”

Tessa laughed and swatted him lightly on the shoulder and then Tansy announced. “The room is sealed. Go ahead.”

Josie turned the phone so Nico could watch the monitor with everyone else. When Bella used some tweezers to peel open the package, Josie’s hand shook.

Without a comment, Flynn took the phone back and tightened his grip on her shoulders. “They’ll be fine, darlin’.”

Still with that extra drawl which helped her relax. He wouldn’t be teasing her and Nico if he was really concerned.

When they had the paper off the box, Sam checked both it and the box over. “No suspicious substances apparent on either. Let’s see what our asshole has sent us.”

Bella slid the lid off the small box and handed it to Sam. None of the warning sensors activated.

Tansy studied her tablet and then smiled. “No noxious gases or substances detected.”

Bella lifted a small replica of the Golden Gate Bridge out of the box and there was a collective noise from the group. Nothing dangerous in and of itself, but a signal. A signal to her.

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