Up in Smoke - Tessa Bailey Page 0,65
could tip off Stark that we’re watching him. So I had Polly eliminate the risk.”
Conner raised an eyebrow. “How?”
“Put a freeze on their corporate bank accounts.” Derek’s lips twitched. “The real meeting will never take place, at least not until they get through Polly’s firewall. So Stark won’t get spooked when CEO number two walks in at the original time this afternoon.”
A crackle came through the headphones, but no voices. “What happens if they call to cancel?”
“Polly intercepts it. She’s got their phone lines rerouting until noon, when the meeting is scheduled. They don’t have a high call volume, so it shouldn’t seem too out of the ordinary.”
“Austin posing as a CEO. Polly hacking into bank accounts. All before breakfast.” He chuckled under his breath. “Some group you’ve assembled here.”
Derek turned serious. “My city. My family’s city. I’ll protect it no matter what it takes or who it pisses off.”
Connor didn’t give a response because it didn’t require one. He understood that mentality all too well. Every member of the squad had something they were protecting, be it a secret or a loved one. He wondered if the captain knew he wasn’t so different from a ragtag group of criminals.
Derek snatched a two-way radio off his belt and spoke briskly into it. “All units hold your positions. Stand by for further instructions.”
“You’ve got uniforms ready to move on this?”
“Why do you think you’re here? If Stark takes the bribe, I’ll have to go in and make the arrest, bring him downtown.” He tossed Connor a second radio. “That puts you in command of three units. I’m sure his office is under orders to shred evidence if something like this happens. You’ll see to it that they don’t.”
“And that no one leaves with a laptop or safe strapped to their back.”
“Right.”
It felt good, falling back into this pattern. No bullshitting or second-guessing, just getting the job done. It reminded him what it felt like to be part of a team. Until now, he hadn’t realized he missed it or even gave a shit one way or another. Apparently he did. Having someone put their faith in him for something more than a money drop or gang retaliation. Maybe this was more than a job. Maybe he belonged here. Doing this.
Just then, Austin’s voice crackled to life over Connor’s headphones. He exchanged a nod with Derek and placed them over his ears. Gone was the slight British flavor to Austin’s voice, replaced with a distinct Texas twang. If Connor didn’t know who he was listening to, he wouldn’t have believed it was the con himself.
He recognized the second voice as Stark’s based on the audio file Derek had played for them in the second squad meeting. “Good morning, Mr. Caster. Can Evelyn get you a drink?”
“Nothing for me, thanks. I don’t drink while the sun is up and I only trust Texas tap water.” He laughed deep and hearty, voice completely unrecognizable. The sound of hands clasping could be heard, likely from a handshake. A heavy thud followed, metal on wood. A briefcase being set down. “How do you breathe inside all this concrete? I tell you, after K-Worth is up and running, I’m hiring a manager and visiting once a year. No, sir. City life ain’t for me.”
A smooth laugh from Stark. “I don’t know how to breathe anywhere else, nor do I intend to learn. Chicago is where it all happens. And none of it happens without me.” A groan from a leather chair. “Which is why you’re here, Mr. Caster. Correct?”
“You don’t waste time, do you?”
An amused hum. “This isn’t Texas.”
“Fair enough. We’ll get down to brass tacks and you can get back to sucking smog.”
Stark didn’t reply.
“Now, currently the commercial space we have rented to house the first Chicago K-Worth shares parking with three other department stores. And that just ain’t enough.” Connor tried not to look impressed. Obviously he hadn’t given Austin enough credit. The guy had done his homework. “I know how you city people work, carrying shopping home on trains or, hell, walking. But we want our customers going home with more than they can carry in one of them ‘go green’ tote bags. For that they need cars. Cars need parking.”
“What are you asking for, Mr. Caster?”
Another rumbling laugh. “I’m getting there.” A chair creaked, signaling that someone had come to their feet. “There is a huge lot running along the east side of the property. We were hoping to purchase it to use