Somehow, he managed not to run anyone else down as he raced after his friends.
I checked behind me for any stragglers, and my foot stuttered in mid-step as an
unexpected face caught my eye. Wary excitement rose as I moved closer, aiming
for the planter ahead. Reaching my target, I set my coffee down on the cement
edge, and then fiddled with my camera.
One of the benefits to using a digital camera was not needing to put your eye
to finder to get your shot. With my head down as if I was adjusting the camera’s
settings, I angled the lens to the line of storefronts behind me and pressed my finger on the shutter. A near-silent, rapid-fire series of images flickered across the screen. Praying one of the shots had what I needed, I brought the camera up,
and aimed at the little coffee shop-bookstore combo sitting across from The Dragon. Then, I quickly scanned through the shots I’d taken. On the fourth shot,
I found it.
Lounging in an alcove in front of a darkened store was a male wearing a baseball cap, baggy shorts, and a T-shirt. The sixth frame was the money shot.
He turned to look over the street and I caught his profile. Even with the addition
of a scruffy, five o’clock shadow, I recognized the narrow features of Private First Class Tito Ramirez. Not wanting to spook him, I held my position, kept the
camera aimed at the bookstore, and maintained my charade. “I’ve got company.”
“Who?” Kayden’s question snapped over the line.
“Ramirez.”
Kayden’s oath was soft, but audible. “Did he recognize you?”
“Nope, he’s huddled in a doorway, watching, but I think he’s waiting on
Hobbes.”
Bishop chimed in. “Anyone else with him?”
“No, from what I can tell he’s flying solo.”
“Don’t lose him,” Kayden ordered.
I rolled my eyes. As if I’d let our only link to Ellery out of my sight. “I’m
going to cross to the other side of the street. It’ll give me a better vantage point.”
Suiting words to action, I tossed my coffee in a nearby garbage can, and then
jogged through the slow-moving traffic to the other side of the street. Hidden in shadows was a small break between two buildings, just enough so I could slip inside the concealing dimness. I made sure my flash was off, and then raised the
camera, the auto focus zeroing in on Ramirez.
He was slouched against the doorjamb, with a lit cigarette dangling between
his fingers. He brought it to his mouth, the dull orange brightening as he took another drag.
“Doesn’t he know smoking kills?” I muttered.
“I think that’s the least of his worries,” Wolf answered.
“Hobbes and his date just ordered dessert.” Impatience thrummed through
Kayden’s voice.
“Stay with them,” I said. “I got Ramirez.”
“And if Hobbes takes off?” he growled.
“There’s an extra key for the Jeep tucked under the driver’s front wheel well.”
“What are you going to do if Ramirez has his own set of wheels?”
“I’ll improvise,” I snapped. “He’s getting antsy. He just pulled out his phone.
I’m betting he’ll move before Hobbes does.”
We couldn’t afford to lose him, which meant I needed to get rid of my
