Page 4 of Locked In

Ryker smiled. “We do. Flynn, you’d have to ride a horse.”

Cash started to laugh. “Oh, I’d pay to see Flynn on a horse. He’s such a city slicker, he wouldn’t last an hour.”

Flynn said, “And you would fit right in. All those animals.” He let a wolfish smile loose on his face.

Rush snorted and almost spilled his beer. “Don’t give Cash any ideas.”

They were sitting at a table next to the pool at the Jasmine Door Resort in Miami. It was their catch-up meeting, as Ryker called it. The top operators of the security team for the Lock and Key Society. Ryker was their defacto boss mostly because no one else in their right mind wanted to deal directly with Archer Gray.

“Maine could be interesting.” Cash grinned. “I hear the Society’s house there is haunted.”

Flynn cocked an eyebrow. “Seriously?”

“Yup. That’s the word on the street,” Cash said as he checked out a blonde who walked by wearing a tiny string bikini.

“It’s true,” Ryker agreed. “Some of the members have been complaining that they hear things at night. Voices when no one is there. Things have gone missing. Someone needs to go up and investigate.” He pointed to Flynn. “You drew the short straw.”

“I don’t remember drawing any straw,” he growled.

Ryker sighed. “Okay, I’m assigning you. Rush is busy in New York. Cash is looking after a few things in Italy. I’m flying out to Hong Kong.”

“Maine isn’t so bad,” Rush added. “Get it sorted quickly and then come to New York. I could use your help.”

Flynn took another sip of his beer. There were very few things about this job he did not like. It gave him purpose, money, and kept him busy. Every once in a while, though, he had to go somewhere he’d rather not be. Ryker was right. It could be worse, although it was freaking winter in Maine. “Fine. I’ll get it done and then go to New York with Rush.”

“Good.” Ryker saluted him with his tumbler of bourbon.

“Anything I should know about the Maine gig? Other than I’m there to investigate a haunting?” He sipped his own drink to keep from snorting.

“Eli Fisher is there.”

“Jesus,” Cash breathed.

Rush’s beer bottleclunkedon the table. “Fucking animal.”

“Agreed,” Ryker said. “But he’s still a member. He’s in Maine and rumor has it he’s up to his old tricks. Archer instructed me to ask you to keep an eye on him. A close eye.”

Ask him? More likeI’m telling you to do it. No fucking questions allowed.

Flynn focused on what he knew about Eli Fisher. The scumbag was the lowest of the low. Human trafficker and rapist. “I’ll be sure to keep on him,” Flynn agreed.

Rush leaned forward, keeping his voice low. “If he breaks any rule, any single one, you take him out. Call if you want help. I’d love to be in on that.”

“So would I,” Cash added.

Ryker nodded. “We all would. Just make sure it’s justified if you’re going to go for it. He has to break a Society rule with the most severe consequence attached. Archer can’t back you if you don’t work within the rules.

“I think killing Fisher would be worth it,” Rush growled.

Flynn clinked his beer bottle against Rush’s. He was in full agreement. Taking out Eli Fisher was high on his bucket list. “Anything else, besides that lowlife?”

“Just the ghosts. Get it sorted and then get down to New York. You leave in an hour. The jet is waiting for you.”

Flynn finished his beer. “You boys enjoy the sunshine. Think of me freezing my ass off in Maine.” He stood.

“We’re all leaving in the next couple of hours. You’re not missing anything. Lots going on these days, and I don’t see it stopping anytime soon.” Ryker stood. “Watch your six,” he said as they clasped hands and bumped shoulders.

“Always,” Flynn replied and gave the rest of the guys a lax salute. He admired the sights as he walked back toward the lobby. He liked Miami. The need for so little clothing mixed with all the pretty women made for great people-watching. Too bad Maine was so damn cold. The layers of clothing would make it hard to study the female form.

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