Page 71 of Beau
Aurelie’s brow dipped low. “I didn’t like leaving her. She probably thinks she’s been abandoned again. I heard her howling and scratching at the laundry room doggy door as I walked away.”
“You secured it so that she couldn’t get out?”
“I did,” Aurelie said. “She was very unhappy.”
“It’s better that she stay here.”
“I know,” Aurelie said.
Balancing the gas can with one hand, he dug into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. “Here,” he said, handing it to her. “Call Remy and put him on speaker.”
She found Remy’s number at the top of his favorites and placed the call, setting the sound on speaker.
Remy answered on the first ring. “Ready for that backup?”
“Yes.” Beau filled him in on the text Aurelie had received. “You already have the trace option on my cell phone. Get someone out on the water ASAP. Have them follow but keep a distance. We’re heading in to set up before midnight.”
“Do you want me to send someone over to protect Miss Anderson at the cottage so you can go to the location alone?” Remy suggested. “Or we can send someone else and leave you and Miss Anderson at the safe house.”
Aurelie shook her head. “My informant trusted me with the information. I won’t let him down. I’m going.”
“Okay, then,” Remy said. “I’ll gather a couple of our guys and see you out there.”
“You’re coming?” Beau asked.
“Besides you, I’m the most familiar with navigating Bayou Mambaloa. I’ll get right on it. Out here.”
Beau was relieved Remy would be one of the men who would have back. The Navy SEAL was a highly trained combatant and a seasoned Cajun.
When the fuel tank was full, Beau set the gas can on the dock, then added stabilizer and screwed the cap on.
Gripping the plastic handle tightly, he pulled the cord. The engine rumbled and died.
He looked for a way to prime it, found a squeeze bulb and squeezed it several times before trying again.
When he yanked the cord, the engine turned over once and died again.
On his third attempt, the engine rumbled, coughed and then roared to life, belching oily smoke for the first minute.
Aurelie handed him one of the life jackets. “Put this on.” She already had the other one on and had taken a seat on the middle metal bench, facing him.
Beau patted the gun he’d stowed in his shoulder holster along with an extra magazine full of rounds. He slid his arms into the vest and buckled the straps, checking to ensure he could still reach his pistol. It was a stretch but doable.
Aurelie leaned over to untie the lead from the post on the dock.
They only had fifteen minutes to get to the coordinates and find a suitable vantage point before midnight. If they didn’t get going, they wouldn’t have the lead they needed.
He slowly backed the skiff.
As he reached the end of the pier, a flash of white raced across the dock, flew through the air and landed in Aurelie’s arms.
“Lady!” she cried out. “How the hell did you get out of the house?”
The dog licked her face, her tail wagging her entire body.
“We can’t take her,” Beau said.
“We don’t have time to take her back to the house.” Aurelie met Beau’s gaze in the starlight. “I won’t leave her on the dock.”