She indicates the earbuds we’re wearing. “Just whisper when you’re in place. I’ll hear you.”
After making my way down the street I cross back to where I need to be. Peeking around the corner I discover the guard has his back to me. Distraction. I need to cause a distraction. There are several booze bottles on the ground next to the dumpster. I pick up as many as I can hold. “Ready?”
“Yes.”
“Go.”
I scream as loud as I can. “You lying, cheating son of a bitch. I saw you!” I throw the first bottle into the alley where the guard will hear and see it break. “Bastard.” I follow up with another bottle. “I saw you fucking that bitch and now you want to come back to me!”
I throw two more bottles and bang on the nearest dumpster. A soft chuckle comes over my earbud.
“I’m going to castrate you, you bastard.” Three more bottles into the ally, glass shattering.
“Retreat. He’s headed your way,” Roja whispers. “I’m good.”
I throw the last two bottles and run the other way banging on dumpsters as I go. Hitting the main road, I slow my pace and walk with the crowd.
“Good job. You’re a natural,” Roja says. “Meet me at the car.”
She’s waiting at the end of the alley where we’re parked behind a dumpster, a camera to her eye. “Stay behind me and watch the other end of the alley. These photos will be automatically sent to Diego and my boss. I’m taking shots of the car, the guard, and anyone who steps out that door.”
Suddenly she stiffens. “Fuck.”
“What?”
“They have your men. Get in the car quietly. We’re going to follow.”
Putting the camera and a phone in my lap, she adjusts another phone on the console. “This is our tracker on their car. We’re gonna follow. Open the phone I just gave you. It’s already cued for Diego. Call him. Put him on speaker.”
“Roja, where the hell are you? Where the hell is Fancy?”
“She’s with me. They got Rico and Kade. We’re following. I’ve got a tracker on the vehicle they’re in. Can you track the same phone?”
“I’ll see what my guy can do. Where are they headed?”
“Seems like Lake Mead or at least nearby. We’ll text you mile markers as we go.”
“Keep this line open, I’ll call back.”
Watching the tracker on the phone and the cars in front of us, Roja keeps her distance while my heart is pounding.
“I need you to focus. You’re breathing too fast. Ground yourself. Do you know the 4-7-8 technique?”
“No.”
“It works. I use it when I need to focus before action. Place your tongue behind your upper front teeth and exhale completely making a "whoosh" sound. Then, inhale quietly through your nose to a count of four, hold your breath for a count of seven, and exhale completely through your mouth with a "whoosh" for a count of eight.
“Do it with me, tongue in place, whoosh, one two three four…”
After the fourth time I do feel more focused.
She looks over at me. “I’m an operative, but I’m also human. What we do…. have to do, sometimes takes its toll. Every time I rescue someone, I get a little of my soul back.
“I consider these guys friends. Hang in there, sister. We’ll do this. Diego won’t be far behind. I know he was trying to get backup from some of the other guys who work for the same company we do. Our lawyer and CO are also on the way and have state connections.”
We drive in silence. Me watching the tracker move, her watching traffic around us. “They’re slowing down.”
“Yeah. Definitely Lake Mead.”
