Page 37 of Shadow of Fear
“Don’t thank me yet.” There was a grim note in his tone. “The officer will likely ask what my interest is in Huff. As I said, I don’t have a legit investigation involving the guy, and I’ll have to do some tap dancing.”
Reid glanced around the table. “Might we be better off if we pass this information to the detective investigating the parking lot shooting. Huff could become a potential suspect, making him good for the shooting, and the detective would have a legit reason to follow up with his parole officer.”
“I won’t do that. Not now.” Dev made sure his tone brooked no argument. Not even from his boss, who Dev had to make strong eye contact with to keep him from speaking. “I won’t give up control over our first lead that easily.”
“Then we should talk about how we get eyes on Huff and start watching his every move,” Colin said. “If heisour shooter, we need to get a handle on it before he strikes again.”
“So what’s the plan?” Reid asked.
Dev stood, looking each one of his teammates in the eye for a moment. “As much as I want eyes on Huff, likeyesterday, we first need to talk about escorting Kinsley to her apartment to file a police report.” Dev explained his and Colin’s logic at not calling law enforcement right away. “I thought we could leave before sunup so if our shooter has any intentions of watching her place, he probably wouldn’t have rolled out of bed by then.”
“Again, I ask, what’s the plan?” Reid demanded.
Dev looked at him. “How many guys can you spare for the day tomorrow?”
“I need at least a skeleton crew here. We have to keep the business running.” He glanced around the table. “Who’s scheduled for training tomorrow?”
“I have the Basic Tools for Adventurers class at ten.” Ryan mocked, yawning, and Dev knew it was because the beginner’s class was often boring to teach. “After that I’m free.”
“And I’m on right after him with my basic gun safety class,” Micha said. “Then at one, I have three hours scheduled at the firing range with our guests.”
Reid focused on Micha. “I hate to ask, but is there any way you can take Ryan’s class too?”
“Two beginners’ classes in one day?” Micha pretended to shudder. “All kidding aside, I can do it as long as Ryan gives me the props I need.”
“Already in a bin in the storage area and marked with the class name,” Ryan said. “I’ll email you the class outline.”
“Thanks, but I’ll probably just wing it, so I’m not quite as boring as you.” Micha laughed.
Ryan rolled his eyes. “Funny, man.”
Reid glanced at Russ, but he flashed up a silencing hand. “Don’t even bother asking me to take a class. You’re giving me enough to do while I’m still trying to keep law and order in this county.”
Reid turned to Dev. “So that leaves you with a four-man team.”
Dev nodded. “That’s enough to run a decoy SUV and confuse our shooter in case he’s watching.”
“What time do you want to leave?” Ryan asked.
“Sun comes up around seven. We should be on the road by three.”
Ryan groaned. “Just when we can count on Austin sleeping through the night, I have to get up early.”
“I’m so sorry,” Kinsley said, sounding and looking as if she meant it.
Ryan waved his hand. “No worries. I’m just joking. Life is good and getting up is no problem.”
“Thank you.” She smiled, but her lips wavered. “And thank you to everyone. I’ll never be able to repay you all for what you’re doing for me.”
“We appreciate your thanks, but we don’t expect or need you to repay us,” Reid said. “We’re glad to help in any way we can. I’ll also work on the schedule for the next few days to see how I can free guys up to put Huff under surveillance.”
“Thanks, man,” Dev said. “Once we get this visit to the apartment under our belt, I want to get eyes on Huff and start watching his every move. If heisour shooter, getting a handle on his movements could be the very thing that stops him from striking again.”
After the team left, Kinsley remained at the table with Dev, who was comparing the binder against Kinsley’s spreadsheet of investigations as Colin worked on writing algorithms for the other suspects. She’d expected them to want to go to bed since they all had to get up early, but Dev was like a dog with a bone and focused his attention on the binders.
She couldn’t go to bed while they were still working. If only there was something she could do to help. Anything, really. She’d already looked up the latest contact information in her binder for their suspects, added it to her list of names, and passed it off to Russ before he departed. A starting point. One she wasn’t so sure would pan out, but they needed to delve into it anyway.
They. This amazing and selfless team. She couldn’t be more thankful for them. Reid reviewed his schedule, and Micha and Ryan would travel to Portland to keep an eye on Huff first thing on Sunday. There was no complaining. No questions asked. Just respect for the cause. For her needs.
