Twelve
“The goal is to arrange a meeting,” Special Agent Harris said. “That’s what he wants, so this should be easy. I doubt this is his first rodeo, so he’ll likely suggest some place public, with people around. He also might just ask for Quinn’s number, and if that’s the case, we’ll repeat this same process with him on the line.”
Cassidy was unnerved by the word “rodeo.” As if this was some kind of adventure. This is my life we’re talking about here! she wanted to say, remembering Dutch’s outburst as he stormed from the building. Did she have the guts to do something so bold?
“I know it’s tough, but try to be yourself,” Special Agent Santiago said. “We’ll be listening too, so pay attention to our cues.”
“Try if you can to meet as soon as possible, but don’t be obvious about it,” Special Agent Harris said. “We don’t want to raise his suspicions.”
A man knocked, then entered, holding Cassidy’s phone and two additional ones. “You’re all set,” he said, placing the phones on the table.
“Thank you, Terry,” Special Agent Harris said, reaching for the two extra phones. One she kept and the other she gave to Special Agent Santiago. Terry slipped from the room and shut the door.
Special Agent Santiago moved to her right side with a pad of paper and a pencil. She detected the scent of cigarette smoke on his clothes.
“All right, Dr. Kincaid, go ahead and make the call.”
Cassidy looked to Bruce, relocated to his original place to the side, then Quinn, who was standing with his back against the wall behind her, then picked up the phone.
She forced a long breath into her lungs, but the butterflies tore into flight anyway. Her ears filled with a vibrating hum that seemed to block out the rest of the sounds in the room.
Her fingers shook as she opened the phone. Bo’s number was already queued. Across from her, Special Agent Harris’s entire focus was trained on Cassidy. This time, the image of a cobra coiled to strike took hold. She plugged a set of earbuds into her ears and nodded stiffly.
Cassidy exhaled through tight lips, then tapped the “call” button.
She listened through a series of empty rings. After six, she glanced up at Special Agent Harris, who nodded.
Leave a short message, Special Agent Santiago wrote on the pad.
Bo’s message clicked on. “Yo, this is me,” his smooth voice sang followed by the beep.
“Hey, Bo, it’s Cassidy, from Fort Point the other day?” She caught the “um” that threatened to leap from her lips just in time. “Did you surf today?”
Special Agent Santiago gave her the “wrap it up” signal.
“I talked to my brother. He’s interested, so…call me.”
As she ended the call, she felt all the strength she’d held together leave her body in one giant whoosh. She dropped the phone and tried to inhale enough air, but it was like the oxygen molecules were too big for her throat.
“Easy,” Special Agent Santiago said. “You did great.”
Cassidy stood. “I’m going outside,” she said.
Bursting through the door, Cassidy inhaled a gulp of the sun-heated air. She crossed to the shade of several trees planted along the back fence, craving space from the hot building and its cramped walls. Behind her, she heard the door open and shut, then Quinn was nearby.
“If you want to pull the plug just say so,” he said.
Cassidy wrapped her arms around her middle and pulled everything close. “Should I?” she asked. “Maybe I made a mistake. I know you’re game, but what if I can’t do this?”
“You’re going to do fine,” he said, his gaze locked on hers.
“What if I blow it and he realizes that it’s a setup? You’ll be in danger. Or what if he’s known all along and is setting us up?” She shuddered. “If anything happened to you, Quinn…”
“Nothing will, okay? I know it’s scary, but these guys are pros. They wouldn’t do this if they didn’t think it was safe.”
Cassidy groaned. “I just don’t know.”
“C’mon, Cass, you went into that warehouse. With no backup. No plan.” He glanced back at the building. “This’ll be a cakewalk in comparison. You have an entire team behind you.”
The door to the building opened and Bruce’s head emerged. “Cassidy! He’s calling!”
Cassidy exchanged a quick look with Quinn, then they both sprinted to the door. Back inside the room, Special Agent Santiago held her ringing phone.
Afraid they were about to lose the connection, she tapped the screen. “Hello?” she said, trying to calm her fast breaths.
“Whoa, where’s the fire?” he said, his voice playful.
“Sorry, I stepped out for a second.”
“Fort Point was pumping today. You missed out.”
Keep him talking, Special Agent Santiago wrote. Establish trust.
“Did you go?” she asked.
“Nah. Work.” He paused. “I thought you were leaving town?”
“I did, but just for the day. It’s sort of a long story.”
“Maybe you’d like to share it over drinks tonight,” Bo said. “Bring Quinn.”
Cassidy looked up in a panic. She watched both agents exchange some kind of coded glance. Sound interested, Special Agent Santiago wrote.
“Where?” Cassidy asked, wondering what had caused the agents to look suddenly worried.
“How about the 500 Club? Nine o’clock.”
Special Agent Santiago nodded.
“Sounds good,” Cassidy said.
Bo ended the call, and Cassidy set her phone down, the adrenaline ebbing slowly.
“There’s a bit of a problem here,” Special Agent Harris said, placing her hands on her hips. “Why does he want Cassidy there?”
“You don’t think…?” Special Agent Santiago asked, his voice trailing off.
“Oh, hell,” Bruce muttered.
Cassidy frowned. “What?”
“If he just wanted to do business with Quinn,” Special Agent Harris paused to glance at where Quinn stood against the wall, “why not get Quinn’s number and set it up directly with him?”
“What if he’s using Dr. Kincaid as a shield?” Special Agent Santiago said. “For deniability. Then wait for an opportunity to get Quinn alone, and make his proposition then.”
Special Agent Harris looked pensive
