The Rescue(32)

The two men got out of the SUV at the same time, the driver pausing for a moment before closing his door. She snapped a series of pictures, catching his face perfectly when he looked over his shoulder. By the time she switched to the passenger, the opportunity had passed. The black-haired man had already started walking toward Ares Aviation.

“Missed the passenger,” she said. “Have to get him on the way out.”

“The passenger was probably the important one.”

“The chances of the passenger looking over the SUV, in this direction, were minimal. I could have bet next month’s paycheck that the driver would give me a nice picture. Now I can focus on one person coming out. Surveillance one oh one.”

“Surveillance one oh one,” mimicked Decker.

She kept the camera focused on the passenger, just in case he decided to turn around for a look at the parking lot. No such luck. He didn’t pause for the door. The driver held it open for him.

“Now for the hard part,” said Harlow. “Keeping this camera on the door until they come out.”

“Better you than me,” said Decker, reaching for the cooler.

Staring through the viewfinder, she heard the crack of a freshly opened can, followed by gulping.

“Not bad,” said Decker. “Not good, but not bad.”

“It grows on you,” said Harlow, already uncomfortable holding the camera still.

She shifted to the left of her seat and rested the telephoto lens against the outer steering wheel, wedging her elbow lightly against the interior.

“Careful with the horn,” he said. “I’ve warned off a few skips before.”

“Skips?” she said.

“What?” said Decker. “I worked my way up in this business just like everyone else.”

“WRG had a rather exclusive client list,” said Harlow. “Skips is more of a street term.”

“You make it sound like I managed World Recovery Group from a fancy office.”

“Your offices were pretty fancy.”

“I didn’t realize you stopped by to check on us.”

“You were too busy to meet with me,” said Harlow.

“Sorry,” said Decker, sounding genuine. “We had a lot going on and an unending list of requests for help. Expensive requests.”

“No apology needed. WRG got me off the streets. You guys did a lot of good work,” she said. “It’s just that no matter how hard we work on the trafficking problem, we barely make a dent. I feel like there’s no end in sight.”

Decker grunted. “It grows every year, here and abroad, like a pandemic. Except pandemics eventually get some institution or another stepping in to at least help slow the problem. This just gets an uncoordinated, local law enforcement fight, with individuals like you and antitrafficking organizations pitching in to help. I could have dedicated the entire weight of WRG to the fight, and I’m not sure we would have made a dent, either.”

“I think you made a small dent in it last night.”

“Yeah, but you know the Bratva’s operation won’t skip a beat. A few clubs might close down as new arrangements are made, but overall, the show will go on.”

“I hate it.”

“We have that in common, too,” said Decker.

“What else do we have in common?”

“Diet Coke, I guess.”

“Can you hand me mine?” she said, continuing to stare at Ares Aviation’s front door.

Decker raised his binoculars instead of answering her question.

“What is it?” she said.

“I could have sworn I caught something in my peripheral vision, on the far left side of the strip mall near the street. Like someone peeking around the corner of the building. They were gone when I checked.”

“There’s no way those two made us on their way in,” said Harlow.

Decker shifted the binoculars. “Shades are shut on the front windows and door. My guess is you would have noticed if they had been peeking between shades.”

“Most likely,” she said. “I can see the entire office front through my lens.”

“Motherfuhhhh . . . ,” said Decker. “There’s a security camera above the door, tucked against the overhang.”

“What? I didn’t—” She spotted the concealed camera. “Hell. I screwed that up.”

“I didn’t see it, either—until I was looking for it,” said Decker. “I guess we need to ask ourselves how badly we want a picture of the other guy.”

“Pretty badly.”

“Then the next question is, How good is your secret backup plan?” He nodded at her phone.

“Pretty good.”

“Can I assume this plan would warn us if a second team showed up?”

“You can assume that.”

“Then I say we get that picture,” said Decker. “We won’t have to wait very long. In fact, I have an idea. Give me the camera.”

“Do you know how to work one of these?”

“I was in prison for nineteen months. Not nineteen years,” said Decker, taking the camera. “Pull through the parking space in front of us and stop. Lunch is on me if they don’t come barreling out.”

“I thought you didn’t have any money left after the clothes.”