until the experimental stage is over. From what Clare told me, the last time Amber went up it was ugly."
"Dude, she painted the cabin in puke. Nobody and nothing was left unscathed." Brody laughed at the gagging sound Erik made.
"Yeah, we'll definitely wait until you know those patches work. Want another cup of coffee?"
"Nah, thanks, I’m actually waiting for the city to show up. I think I have a problem with my water meter. My bill is outrageous, so I asked them to come and look at it."
"Man, if it isn't one thing it's another. The joys of home ownership." Erik picked up his paper. "Wait, the city sending someone on a service call on Saturday?"
"Yeah, surprised the hell out of me. I called them after getting the bill yesterday. I guess they figure there might be a leak or a break somewhere." Brody huffed a laugh. "That would be my luck. Anyway, have a great day and thanks for the growing tray." Brody raised said tray as he headed back to the house. "No worries." Erik sat down in his back porch chair and flipped his newspaper with a quick motion of his wrist.
Once back in the house, he headed into the office. It took less than ten seconds to put his earwig in and unlock his computer. He hit his microphone enabling him to speak to his boss. "I have a tray."
"We saw it. How do we get to you?"
"I told Erik I was having problems with my water meter."
"Smart." Watson pimped him some praise.
"We're on the way." He heard the motor start as Rayburn said, "Captain is driving. Pray for us."
Brody chuckled and turned on the overhead lights so he could examine the tray. "What is so special about you?" Why would Desoto take three or four of them? The man owned a huge garbage company, but it wasn't like he'd be hauling away junk from his married girlfriend's place. There had to have been something sandwiched in between the trays.
"We're here. Any idea where the hell the water meter is?" Watson asked as a flash of light from the windshield tracked across the wall. "On the right hand side of the garage. I'll open the door and let you in through the other side of the house. Edelman won't be able to see you enter."
"Perfect." He heard doors slamming and hustled to the garage through the kitchen. He flipped open the lock to the outside door and stepped back to allow his boss and teammates through the door.
"We can't spend too much time here without raising suspicion." Terrell got down to business immediately.
"This way." Brody showed them through the house. Both Rayburn and Watson whistled at the rather opulent spread.
"Here." Brody waved to the tray. "I just started my examination of it when you drove up."
He and Terrell leaned down together, and he moved the tray, tipping it to catch the light.
"Huh… it looks like shrink wrap," murmured Terrell.
"Yeah, probably pressed cardboard underneath. It's not very heavy." He hefted the tray.
Terrell stared at the thing. "Rayburn, get me an opioid test kit."
"Got it right here." Rayburn dug around in what looked like a toolbox and produced a metal tube which held an ampule, a small spatula, and a zip bag to contain or trash the test results.
"Carefully cut through the shrink wrap." Terrell nodded to the tray.
"You think the bastards are coating the cups in the shit?" Watson asked as he handed Brody a razor blade cutting tool from the drug testing kit pouch.
"Wait." Terrell cautioned. "Put something over your mouth and wear gloves." He glanced around. "Everyone."
Brody hustled into the kitchen and grabbed some linen hand towels. He tied one over his mouth and nose as Rayburn distributed a pair of latex gloves to each of them.
"Okay, King, cut the wrap and scrape a sample of whatever is under it. Put the sample into the ampule." He crushed the chemical held in the ampule and nodded for Brody to continue.
He took a deep steadying breath and carefully scored the film at the very corner of the tray, then used the knife to keep the cut open. With his free hand, he scratched the inside of the container and watched as it crumbled easily. The outside was black, the inside––gray. He took the tiny spatula and transferred a minute sample to the ampule his boss was holding. Terrell carefully closed the tube and gently shook the chemicals to mix them.