Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 99132 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 496(@200wpm)___ 397(@250wpm)___ 330(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99132 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 496(@200wpm)___ 397(@250wpm)___ 330(@300wpm)
Bertra slowly turned her head to look at Vexler. “Is this true?”
His smile didn’t dim. “Not in the slightest. I’m very capable of multitasking.” He gave one slow wink. “Agent Snow, you and I are going to become very close. You might as well give in now.”
Chapter 30
The SUV idled in the far corner of Red Rocket Burgers, where the parking lot gravel gave way to dry weeds and empty soda cups. The sun was low and orange behind the hills, casting long shadows and bathing the cracked pavement in gold.
Laurel Snow sat in the back of her own SUV, wedged between Huck Rivers and Officer Tso. Walter was at the wheel, his gaze scanning every car that passed on the two-lane road in front of them. The windows were cracked, as the rain had finally let up.
Laurel picked at a cooling container of fries, more out of habit than hunger.
“Tell us about the labs,” Huck said, finishing his burger.
“We found yew tree derivatives in the lab,” she said, her voice low. “Mostly alkaloids with neuroprotective potential—early stage compounds. They’re testing them for dementia. Legit research, by the looks of it.”
Huck glanced at her. “Nothing that would hurt anyone?”
She shook her head. “No sign of human trials. No pathogens, no toxins, and nothing biohazardous was found. We discovered no trace evidence that connects to the deaths. The place was spotless.”
Huck chewed a fry like it had personally offended him. “What about the Defense Department contracts?”
“There are random procurement records,” Laurel said. “We found nothing to do with the yew compounds, but the evidence response team might find more than we did. They’ll have mountains of paperwork to go through.” She checked the clock. “She should’ve passed by now.”
“She will,” Walter said without turning.
“I shouldn’t have left her,” Laurel muttered. “I hate this.”
Huck looked over. “She’s not alone. We’re five minutes away.”
“She’s sixteen,” Laurel snapped, then softened her tone. “She thinks she’s part of the team. She is. But she shouldn’t be out there alone, playing undercover.”
Walter looked over his shoulder at her. “Are you going to tell Kate?”
Laurel winced. “I think I’m supposed to, right? Kate is my friend, and she runs our office. Viv is a smart and ambitious girl, but nobody goes undercover without a full backup in place. I’m hoping Viv will tell Kate.”
Then Walter straightened a little in his seat. “Subaru. Coming in from the south.”
Laurel leaned forward between the seats. A battered Subaru trundled past the burger joint at a steady speed—rear fender held by duct tape, one hubcap missing. Familiar. That was Viv’s boyfriend’s car. “That’s her.”
Walter pulled onto the road, moving up on the vehicle and flashing his lights. Viv looked in the rearview mirror and then waved. She drove another half mile before signaling and turning into the gravel lot of a rundown tire shop. Laurel let out a quiet breath as Walter eased the SUV forward and parked behind the Subaru, engine still running.
Huck’s voice was quiet. “Stay in the middle. Tso? Go get the keys from Nancy Drew there and follow us back to the office.”
Officer Tso stepped gracefully from the vehicle, shut the door, and walked to the Subaru. Laurel nodded, lips pressed together. She watched through the windshield as Viv stepped out of the Subaru, hoodie sleeves pushed up, messy bun lopsided, eyes bright. She wasn’t nervous. She looked excited like she had something to tell them.
Officer Tso didn’t need to say much and just held out his hand.
Viv placed the keys in his palm without hesitation. Laurel watched her closely. No attitude. No fear. Just energy and purpose showed on her face.
Tso nodded toward the SUV. Viv gave a small smile and jogged over, climbing into the front passenger seat and looking back at Laurel.
Laurel exhaled as relief filled her. The nearby trees swayed in the early evening breeze, skeletal pines casting long shadows across the gravel lot. A minivan rumbled past on the road, its side door held shut with bungee cords.
Laurel focused back on Viv. “What in the world were you thinking?”
Viv grinned, apparently a little breathless from the excitement of it all. “I’ve been working there for a few months, so me checking things out was easy.”
Laurel shook her head slowly. “Viv? There are protocols for going undercover. You broke all of them.”
The girl rolled her eyes. “Seriously? Nobody would suspect me. All I did was nose around a little bit more than usual.”
Walter started the engine and pulled out into the street.
Huck leaned forward, his voice low and firm. “A sniper shot into those offices just the other day. You will not go back. Call them and say your schedule doesn’t allow for the internship and that you’re very sorry.”
Viv frowned. Most people folded when Huck used that voice. She didn’t, not quite, but her energy dipped. “I actually had fun today,” she said. “And I think I was helpful.”