Page 132 of Nash
Chapter 30
Nash
It'sfourinthemorning. The war room smells like Knox's coffee and the dry heat of electronics running too long. Three screens cast blue light across the table where the final grid sits. There are red markers on the laundromat bench, the diner parking lot, and the alley beside the hardware store. Whitmore's rotation pattern overlaid with timestamps from Victor's Batesville contact.
Knox taps the center screen. "He drove past the Leighton house at eleven-fifteen last night. Victor's guy caught the plate heading north on Route 7. He's circling back toward Willowridge."
Malachi leans against the wall, arms crossed, watching the grid the way he watches everything. Patient until patience stops being useful.
"Timeline?" he says.
"He moved twelve hours early. His pattern is compressing." Knox zooms in on the laundromat bench. "This is his anchor point. He's been here four times in three weeks based on the diner footage. If he's running his usual pattern on a compressed timeline, he'll park in the diner lot, walk the block, then settle at the bench."
"Phoenix?"
"Two of his people flew in last night. Positioned at the diner and the hardware store. They'll confirm when the truck arrives."
I stand at the board. Rider and Kyle hold the perimeter at both ends of the block. A prospect is posted outside Amaranth with Ruby. Knox runs comms from the van parked behind the barbershop. Phoenix's people confirm the target and clear civilians. I'll make the approach.
"What about Ruby?" Malachi says.
"Ruby stays at Amaranth with the prospect until I text her all clear."
"That's not what I mean." Malachi holds my eyes. "Ruby wants to be part of this."
"Ruby is part of this. She's been part of this since the photographs."
"Then give her something real. She's earned it."
He's right. She's earned more than a locked door and a text message.
"Ruby helped take down Blackwell," I say. The words settle in the room. "She uploaded the data that exposed the network. That's why Whitmore is watching her. She painted the target on herself because she had the courage to do what needed doing, and she's been living with the consequences since."
Knox nods.
"Ruby stays at Amaranth. But she'll be on comms. Knox will patch her in before we move. She'll have eyes on the street through the shop window. She knows the block better than anyone in this room."
Malachi nods once. "Brief her at eight."
James sets his coffee mug on the table. "Nash." He holds my gaze. "Don't let that man drag you somewhere Ruby can't follow."
"He won't."
"See that he doesn't."
I ride to the apartment at six. Ruby is awake. Coffee made. She's sitting at the kitchen table in one of my shirts, her hair piled on top of her head, her sketchbook open but untouched.
"How'd the planning go?" she says as she pushes coffee toward my side of the table.
I sit across from her. Take the mug. "You're on comms."
Her eyes snap to mine. "What?"
"Knox patches you in at Amaranth. You have eyes on the street through the shop window. If his truck comes down the block, you call it."
"You're putting me on the operation."
"You're the reason Blackwell fell. You uploaded every file, every name, every transaction. The woman this man has been watching is the same woman who burned his entire network to the ground." I hold her gaze. "You've earned a seat at the table."
