But one of them had to stay optimistic.

“It should only take me a few seconds to push the cover off and get my elbows out. Now that we’ve done the maneuver once, it will be faster next time. Let’s get to work on the bricks.”

Kayla picked up the pocketknife. “Where do we start?”

“Over there.” Cate motioned toward a row of bricks near the bottom that had lost a fair amount of mortar. “They should be the easiest ones to loosen and remove.”

They crossed to the bricks and set to work.

Whether they would be able to dislodge an adequate number to build a small platform was questionable.

But if nothing else, the job would help stave off the smothering panic she was barely keeping at bay in this confined, subterranean space that was the stuff of her worst nightmares.

27

HERNANDEZ HAD MADE A NIGHT OF IT at the bar.

Zeke checked his watch, a cloud of vapor forming in front of his face in the cold car.

Eleven-ten.

The man was obviously not part of the Ivy Hill pickup crew.

His phone began to vibrate, and his pulse accelerated.

Please let this be news about Cate.

But his brief surge of hope nose-dived when he skimmed the screen. It was his surveillance partner.

He put the phone to his ear. “What’s up?”

“I just got the word to move in on our subject. The brass agrees he’s not part of tonight’s operation. A city patrol officer should be here any minute for backup, and two more from our team are en route to handle transport. You ready to do this?”

“Yeah.” Anything was better than twiddling his thumbs and pestering County for updates on Cate every thirty minutes.

As a police cruiser pulled into the parking lot, he stashed his phone and plunged into the swirling snow, which had morphed from a light sifting of powder to a full-blown blizzard over the past three hours. One that showed no signs of abating.

Not a terrific night for a drug bust.

His colleague met him outside the door, and the patrol officer joined them. “He’s at the corner table in back. Last count, he’s had half a dozen beers.”

“Has he eaten anything?”

“A few pretzels.”

“He ought to be feeling the buzz. Maybe it will loosen his tongue.”

“Or make him belligerent.”

“Also a possibility.”

“You want me to take the lead—or would you like to do the honors?”

Zeke pulled out his creds. “Arresting the man who roughed up a County detective and tried to kill me would be a pleasure.”

“Have at it.” The other agent motioned for him to go first.

“You want me to come in or wait out here?” The patrol officer surveyed the lot as he spoke.