52
Sebastian gunned the plain-Jane Corolla he’d rented. He’d cut it a little too close at Hart’s house, but he hadn’t expected the TBI agent to show up. He should’ve known the agent would hang around.
Sebastian tapped an app on his phone, and the TBI agent’s voice filled the little car. He listened and couldn’t keep from grinning. Tonight had worked better than he’d dreamed—Anderson didn’t believe there’d been an intruder.
His cell phone lit up, and he checked the screen. He’d missed five calls. He answered on the fourth ring, just before it went to voicemail. “Sebastian.”
“You were supposed to call five hours ago. I’ve been trying to get in touch with you.”
“I’ve been busy and had my phone silenced—didn’t want it to ring at the wrong time.”
“Did you find the photos?”
“No.”
Swearing on the other end made him move the phone away from his ear. “Stop worrying. I have to pick my times to get into her house, but if the photos are there, I’ll find them.”
“You better. I told you I didn’t get you out of prison early for nothing. You owe me. One snap of my fingers and you’ll be right back in that cell.”
Sebastian ground his teeth. So Ross had pulled a few strings for him. He was paying him back in spades.
He forced the anger out of his body. His time would come, but in the meantime, he needed to keep calm and let Ross think he was in charge, because he was right—he could have him sent back anytime.
“This job is worth more than you’re paying me. She almost killed me tonight.”
“What? How did that happen?”
“I paid her a little visit.” He turned onto the road to the cabin he’d rented.
“Did she see you?”
“Yes, she saw me—but I had a hoodie that blocked my face.”
“You think she doesn’t remember what you look like? She’s a cop, trained to notice—”
“You said yourself that no one recognizes me any longer.” He was no longer the hundred-and-thirty-five-pound drug dealer who had to use a gun to intimidate.
“I get it, but why didn’t you wait until tomorrow while she was at work? Why take the risk?”
“I wanted to let her know who was in charge.” Sebastian hadn’t thought about her sleeping with a gun in the bed.
“I’m surprised she missed.”
He touched his sleeve where the bullet had come very close. “She was off balance.”
“Quit messing around and find those photos.”
“And if they’re not in her house?”
“Kill her.”