Winters scanned the airport corridor. Nothing but business suits and carry-on bags. The trio was nowhere to be seen. “A clue where to find the fuckers.”

Jared spoke to someone in the background and returned. “Pulling the parking lot footage, checking into their car rental. When’d they pick up a girl?”

Even his monotone questions had a hard-boiled splash. Jared could order a burger at a drive-thru and scare the employee clean out of her hairnet.

“We arrived at the same time, my tails leading the way. A woman had the package in hand. Shit got complicated. They took her. I backed off, figuring Boy Genius could work his satellite magic.”

“Yeah, something like that. Parker’s deep in the airport’s system, hacking their programs. He’ll send you info and screen shots ASAP.”

“Hey, Jared.”

“What?”

“Did I thank you for this job yet?”

“Nope.”

“Good.”

“Get to work, dick.” Jared coughed his equivalent to a laugh and hung up.

Winters double-timed it back to his truck and jumped in. The tires squealed as he rounded the exit ramp. He tossed a handful of change into the payment kiosk and tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, waiting for the mechanical arm to lift and for HQ to hit pay dirt. His phone buzzed, and he checked the caller ID.

“What you got, boss man?”

“Parker traced their vehicle, a black, four-door Taurus, to a car rental company in Virginia. They used a credit card, which was also used at a nearby motel. Head there first.”

“Roger that.” As he exited the garage, the sun flooded the cab of the truck, and he pulled on his mirrored aviator sunglasses. “What’s up with the credit card?”

He used cash on his jobs, as he assumed all operatives did.

“No idea. Nothing turned up.”

“Huh.”

“Sending the address to your phone now. And Winters?”

Winters received the address, programmed the GPS, and grunted in response. He picked through empty boxes of Dots, far more interested in crushing his candy craving than hearing a lecture from Jared. “What?”

“I scanned the parking lot footage. They put that girl in the trunk. And none too carefully. I don’t think we’re looking at two teams. No intel on a friendly or a female op. I’d tread with care.”

He found some candy stuck at the bottom of a box and chomped down on it. The trunk, huh? That’s overkill. “Got it.”

“I’m serious, Winters. If this is a case of wrong place, wrong time, you dust off your kid gloves and use them.”

That was more of an order than Winters would admit. He hated working with untrained women. They were always ready to bawl when it was time to tangle. It was better for all involved if he could hand her to a more sympathetic operative. But he was the only one here. Not much of a choice.

“I’ll behave. I promise.” He sounded like he was trying to get a crazy girlfriend off the phone. “When I have an update, I’ll make contact.”