Page 55 of No Bed Of Roses
“That’s because you’re an old geezer at heart, Oz.”
Levi reached around Isla and cuffed Troy in the head, but he couldn’t contain the grin. Epic was probably right.
They stopped at the farmhouse. As they stepped out of the car, Stan exited the garage, wiping his oily hands on a rag.
“I’m all for saving the earth, but that had to be a tight squeeze for you all in there. Practicing for a clown car act at the circus?”
Levi grinned. “Practicing subterfuge. Stan, I’d like you to meet Isla Duggan. Isla, this is Stan Phail, head geezer of my new geezer team.”
Stan laughed and shook his hand. “Nice to meet you, Isla. You’ve got a good one here.”
She smiled. “I do, indeed. It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Phail.”
He waved that off. “No Mr. Phail around here. I’m Stan, especially to pretty young women. Now, why are you practicing subterfuge?”
Levi knew the man would be ready to help. “Some asshole from Isla’s past is trying to hurt her. His name’s Ed Pringle, and he’s driving a Ford Escape. We think he’s hiding out in the area. Have you seen one in the area?”
Stan frowned and straightened to his full height. “I noticed a silver SUV the other day heading back toward town when I was heading home from Ginny’s. Didn’t know the driver. Male, wearing a ball cap and sunglasses. You think he might be using one of those cabins down by the creek?”
Marcus nodded. “Have you seen more of the lights lately?”
Stan shook his head. “Not recently, but it’s been raining a lot, and I’ve been working on a couple of lawnmowers. Haven’t paid much attention. Let’s go down there and check.”
Troy placed his hand on Stan’s arm. “We’ll check it out and let you know.”
Stan merely rolled his eyes and pointed at Troy. “You might as well ride with me. I’m not squeezing in the clown car.”
They were all smiling when they got in the vehicles and headed down the road. Those smiles dropped as they drove.
Marcus pointed. “We’re almost at the end of the road. Park here and block the road.”
Stan pulled up beside Sean’s truck to completely cut off road access. When they got out, Epic moved to the front to take point, as he often had on missions. Arrow took the left and Falcon moved right. Stan moved to stand on the other side of Isla, offering her more protection.
Levi squeezed her hand. “Stay close.”
She nodded but didn’t reply. She’d barely spoken while they’d been searching, and Levi hoped they could find this jerk and put an end to it all.
It didn’t take long to spot the silver metal shining through the trees. Troy’s chickadee whistle reached him. Target acquired.
He nodded to Isla and Stan and looked over his shoulder. Just because they’d found the car didn’t mean the man was there. He also might have been alerted to their presence and taken off on foot. Levi’s senses didn’t feel anyone behind them, but he wasn’t taking chances.
They moved into the trees along the edge of the road. He couldn’t see his teammates, but they’d worked together long enough he knew where they were. Bird calls would alert him if there was a change required.
The group surrounded the car from the woods before Marcus moved into the clearing and called out. “Phail Police. Is anyone here?”
Silence answered him. The car had tinted windows on the sides, but Arrow moved to the front with his gun up. He shook his head, showing no one was visible in the car, although someone could easily be hiding. First, Arrow would clear the cabin.
The structure had to be over a century old. The glass in the only window Levi could see was cracked, while the door hung at an angle, not quite closed.
Marcus called again. “This is Deputy Ramirez of the Phail Police Department. If anyone is inside, come out with your hands visible and empty.”
Still no response. Troy moved into the clearing, and the two of them cleared the cabin. Sean moved into sight and checked the locks on the vehicle. Finally, Arrow held up the fob and beeped open the vehicle. When no one popped up from either the woods or a hiding position in the SUV, Marcus used the fob to open the hatch. No one emerged, so he opened a side door and quickly checked the car. “All clear.”
Isla sighed. “I thought he’d be here. Do you think he’s hiding and watching us?”
Levi squeezed her hand. “I don’t feel eyes on us. Let me know if you do.”
She shook her head. “No creepy jackass vibes.”