“I can’t go along with just killin’ her, she needs to be arrested and tried in a court of law. And I’d like to use you folks to help me capture her.” He reached under the table, extracting a button-sized microphone.
Dead silence greeted his actions. My mind was busily wondering what we’d said that might get us in more trouble than we’d been before. “What the hell’re you doing…”
He waved a hand, cutting me off. “I know, highly illegal. So’re the other two I planted the other day. Didn’t plant ‘em to get evidence on you. Just wanted to gather more information about what’s going on ‘round here. Glad I did, too.” He shifted in his chair, and tossed the mike on the table. “Y’see, I actually have a plan to nail Miss Crosby. If you promise you won’t kill her.”
I looked around the table, getting silent nods. “Reluctantly, I agree. But if she gets out of jail, for any reason, all bets are off.”
He gave a half smile. “Sounds good.” He dug out his phone, and punched in some numbers. “Hey, Brad. Bring the others on up. We got some work to do.” He put his phone away, a satisfied look on his face. “Had my team waiting outside until we could clear the air a bit. Hope you don’t mind.”
Tony shook his head, a chuckle slipping out. “Same old Al. Two steps ahead of everyone else.”
I shrugged. “You got any ideas about where we could relocate our offices? This isn’t the healthiest of places, since Crosby knows where it is.”
He gave a quick nod. “Got the perfect place. Not only secure, but easily guarded. Plus it’s empty right now. Ready to move in?”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Twenty-four hours skidded by as our office was moved to a large safe house in Auburn, fifteen miles away. This one was close to the Green River Community College and had a more private setting. The two-story structure was on a two acre lot, and boasted a three car garage. A tunnel led from the garage into the basement of the house, where we set up our office. I gave one last look outside before heading back into the garage with Al.
He pointed at the rusted metal fittings on the four garage doors. “It’s the oldest safe house still on our books. We’re going to decommission it this year. Still perfect for hiding you folks, though.”
We clattered down a flight of steps and strolled through the fifteen-foot tunnel. Solid concrete on all sides. Nice. Inside was even nicer, with a large thirty by forty foot room. The walls were bare, needing something to cover the cement bricks.
Alice came skipping down the stairs, a huge smile on her face. “Those are great bedrooms on the top floor. It may have 80’s décor, but the furniture is good quality. What there is of it.”
One corner of the basement was already in use. Wilbur had set up his computers and electronics, filling almost a quarter of the space. “Mister Browder, I gotta thank you for giving me the chance to work with up-to-date equipment.” His bloodshot eyes glinted, underlining the weariness obvious in his every move. God, he looked exhausted. “I only had to install one piece of my own hardware, and some of the software is even better than what I have.”
I smiled at the enthusiasm in his voice. He’d become his old self once immersed in the computers and electronic gadgets now surrounding him. “You’ve been down here almost twenty hours. Don’t you think you’d better get some sleep?”
“Almost done, then I’ll grab some down time,” he said, turning back to the equipment in front of him.
“Good. Don’t want you going flaky on us when we really need you.”
Let’s take a tour of the place,” Al said. “Need to make sure you know all the bells and whistles we’ve built into this place over the years.”
It was another two days before I felt we were totally settled in. Using the feds equipment, Wilbur had been able to set up communications so that our phone numbers remained the same. Anyone calling or emailing us wouldn’t know we’d left our original office, as everything was automatically routed here. Cubicles instead of private offices lined the walls. Business returned to normal, with the exception of anything needing a visit from one of us meant at least two went. No sense taking chances.
I trotted downstairs, and headed for Marty’s cubicle where I parked myself in the extra chair across from his desk. “I haven’t heard anything from the FBI since Al left. You got any news on their efforts to catch Crosby?”
He looked up from his computer screen. “Nope. But remember, he said it’d take a few days. We just need to keep our patience and see what happens. Not much else we can do, is there?”
I leaned back, clasping hands behind my head. “Probably not. But I did get word from the federal office that’s responsible for this place. Said they might be able to trade straight across for our digs in Seattle, if it assesses out like they think it will.”
He nodded with a smile. “That’d be good. This place is much nicer inside, even if it is older.” He turned the screen of his computer towards me. “In the meantime, my cousin Jake sent me a note. He’s one of the bosses for security at the Bellevue Square mall. Wants some training for his folks concernin’ shoplifters and pickpockets. Seems they’ve gotten an uptick in that kinda activity the past month.”
I studied the screen. “That name seems familiar-Jake Spence. Wasn’t he one of the crew that gave us a hand recently?”
“Yep. I think he liked the two grand you gave him for a night’s work, ‘specially since I told him he’d only make one. Kinda repayin’ us for the extra, I think.”
I pushed the computer towards him. “Sure. Do they have any video coverage of the mall, especially when
