“Wait,” I whisper. “I don’t think we want to go through there.”

“I was just going to have a look through the window. Legally, I don’t think we can go inside,” he replies.

Danielle and I exchange glances. “Do you see a water meter on the outside?”

“I’m sure we will if we walk around the back,” he replies.

“I didn’t hear that.”

Shannon shakes his head. “We can’t play that game, Blackwood. There are rules.”

“I agree. The county DA said we could search the premises for the meter.”

Shannon is intent on being even more rigid than just by-the-book. “I don’t think he meant inside.”

“Wait,” says Danielle. She pulls out her phone and types something. A few seconds later her phone buzzes with an instant message. She looks back up at us. “We’re good to go.”

“How’s that?” asks Shannon.

Danielle points to the airplane missing its tail section. “No aircraft numbers and improper storage. That’s a violation of FAA regulations and a federal offense.”

“You can’t be serious,” says Shannon.

“I just texted my husband. He’s a lawyer for the FAA. We’re acting with their blessing now too. Any more questions?”

She gives me a wink. Professionalism keeps me from hugging her.

“Fine. How did the ladies become the macho kick-in-the-door alphas and the man the shrinking violet?” replies Shannon. I can tell he wants to play it safe. He’s not invested in this like Danielle and I.

“It’s a changing world, darlin’,” says Danielle.

“I just hope there’s room for me.” Shannon shoots me a sideways glance. It’s the first time I realize he’s actually threatened by me.

I walk over to the middle of the three smaller rolling doors. “We should go through this one.” I scan the door and frame for any sign that it has been tampered with. There’s a small piece of tape at the lower corner. I point this out to Danielle. “Can you replace that after we come back out?”

“No problem. All the doors have them, by the way.”

The tape is a low-tech way of detecting entry into a building by whoever owns the building. It could belong to a legitimate business for all we know. The taxis and planes are just circumstantial in theory. But my gut tells me this is his place.

Danielle kneels and carefully pulls away the tape in the lower corner using a pair of tweezers. I pick the lock and set it aside. Shannon suppresses a smile at how quickly I manage to get it off. I point to the bottom handle so he can lift the door.

“Glad I can be useful in some capacity,” he groans as he lifts the edge of the door a foot.

I place a cinder block from a heap underneath to keep it open, then lie flat to peer inside the building.

My eyes take a few moments to adjust. Light streaks in through vents in the ceiling. The entire structure appears empty. Shannon and Danielle squat down next to me.