Holding Out for a Hero (Baytown Heroes #9)

Chapter 24

24

“I talked to one of the Gang Task Force members from the Baltimore PD, and the word is out that the Bloods are moving into the Delmarva region with more and more numbers.”

Brad sat with Mark and the others in the detective’s meeting, listening to Pete and Jeremy, two drug task force members for the North Heron Sheriff’s Department, give their presentation. The Eastern Shore comprised three states—Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia—thus known as Delmarva.

“It seems they send members down who know what the fuck they're doing. Car thefts, drug running, money laundering, initiating new members,” Pete continued.

“Two weeks ago, traffic gave chase to a car speeding, dark windows. Had three guys inside, the driver with the Bloods colors and tats, with a fucking weapon on the seat next to him. Arrested him and then searched. Found drugs stowed in the trunk.”

“What can you tell us about the car thefts?” Hunter asked. “They keeping them here and chopping them up or getting them to Baltimore.”

“I have a guy on the inside, and the word from him is that it’s both. Some are reaching the Baltimore area intact for resale. Those are only going to be vehicles worth something. Otherwise, the money is in the parts.”

“Although,” Jeremy added, “a bunch of stolen cars end up in shipping containers for shipment to places like Nigeria and other third-world countries who buy them from the cartels who have paid the Bloods. It’s like a fuckin’ ant trail to follow.”

“What have we got here in our county?” Brad asked, despite being blown away by the cars ending up in another country.

Pete scrubbed his hand over his face. “These guys don’t keep the cars here, or if they do, not for long. They can steal, strip down, and chop a vehicle in hours, then load the parts onto a truck heading north. Some might head south to Norfolk or Newport News.”

“If they’re chopping them here, what are we looking for besides a place to do it?” Aaron followed up.

“That’s the kicker,” Jeremy said, shaking his head. “They could do it in someone’s garage. You could drive by anyone’s house and have no idea a stolen car is inside being dismantled.”

“So we got nothing,” Mark grumbled under his breath.

“It won’t be in a neighborhood where nosy neighbors will notice a rotating shift of cars going into a garage and never coming out.”

“Farms?” Mark asked.

“Maybe, but an active farm will have acreage but also will be worked. The farmer and farmhands are all over the place. They’d also notice vehicles coming and going.”

“We need to have the deputies notice garages, sheds, and places that are out of the way, not in direct line of people’s daily vision, and have back ways to get to them,” Brad surmised. He thought of Artie’s shed, but he’d notice if his workers were bringing vehicles in. There was a small shed in the fenced-in area, but Artie would notice that, too. The barn in the back was dilapidated, but even if not, the lane leading to it was overgrown with grass and looked like it hadn’t been traveled in a while. Even so, he was determined to check on them again. Something was off about how they had come in and almost taken over Artie’s business even though the older man didn’t seem distressed.

“Don’t forget that their colors are primarily red and black. Their tattoos are varied, but here’s a visual of what you might see.”

Brad was well-versed in many gang tattoos, but there were always variations to memorize. As they left the briefing, he, Mark, Hunter, and Luanne walked back into the detectives’ workroom. Aaron and Sam were assigned to an arson case, so Brad made a beeline to two other detectives, Jonathan Sullivan and Sheila Fordham. They looked up as he approached.

“Just wanted to say I’m changing focus after that briefing. No way is it with the car shops in the area unless the owner is in with the Bloods. You can re-check anyone you think might have that connection, but if the owner is real, they know what’s happening in their garages. I have one that I want to check on?—”

“Artie Williams?” Mark asked.

Nodding, Brad said, “He’s old. Can’t see much and does even less. He’s got some guys in who are running the place for him, and they're suspicious as fuck. Got nothing to go on but my gut.”

“Never discount that feeling,” Sheila said, nodding.

“I’m hoping to find a time when he’s alone. I’d like to check out his place. He’s got a couple of sheds I want to see inside.”

It was nearly closing time when Carol stuck her head out of the office. “Bess, you have a phone call.”

Wiping her hands on the dish towel, Bess passed Carol and walked into the office. Picking up the phone, she answered, “This is Bess. How may I help you?”

“Is this the baker?”

The voice was an elderly man, and she couldn’t imagine who was calling. “Yes, this is Bess, the owner of Bess’s Bakery.” She spoke slowly and clearly.

“I got a van here for you.”

“I’m sorry, what did you say?”

“It’s Artie Williams. I have a van for you to look at.”

Suddenly, understanding dawned, and her eyes flew open wide. “Oh, Mr. Williams! You have a van that came in?”

“That’s what I said. It’s got a For Sale sign in it. The boys must’ve got it ready because it’s sitting out here. Flip isn’t around today, but if it’s sitting outside my shop and has a For Sale sign in the window, I can sell it.”

She thought about what Brad had told her and didn’t want to go without him if the other men were around. “Are any of the men who work with you there today?”

“Nah, I’m here by myself. This is normally a day the garage is closed, but I walked over from the house just to look around. I like to keep my eye on things if I can.”

“If you can give me thirty minutes to finish up at the shop, I’ll be there.”

“Don’t suppose you could bring me any goodies, could you?”

“Oh, Mr. Williams, you know I wouldn’t come without bringing a treat! I’ll see you in about thirty minutes.”

She looked at Carol with excitement. “I might be able to get a van after all. I’ll have to check it out and see if it’s what I want.” She pressed her lips together, her mind whirling. Pulling her phone from her pocket, she called Brad. As soon as he answered, she barely gave him time to say hello when she said, “I’m so sorry to call at work, but I just got a call from Artie, the man who owns the garage?—”

“Yeah, babe, I know who you’re talking about.”

“He said he’s got a van in that I might be interested in. I want to look at it, but maybe you could go with me.”

“Perfect timing. Mark and I can swing by, and then I can check it out with you. If you like it, then I can drive your car home.”

“BeBe? You’ll drive my BeBe?”

“I think I can manage the old girl.”

She heard the mirth in his voice. “Well, she can be cantankerous. But come on, and I’ll be there.”

He lowered his voice. “Don’t get there before we do. I?—”

“It’s okay. I asked if the men working with him were there, but he said he was all alone.”

“Interesting,” he muttered. “Give us ten minutes, then we’ll head out. Meet you there.”

Disconnecting, she looked over to see a grinning Carol staring at her.

“I’m glad you like my bro-ther. He likes you, too. I can tell.”

Laughing, she couldn’t deny how much she liked him. “He’s going to meet me at the garage.”

Lottie stuck her head through the door. “What’s going on?”

Telling her about the van, Lottie said, “Why don’t you leave now, and we’ll finish here and close the place for you.”

“Thank you!” With that plan in place, she twirled a little dance in the middle of the kitchen, then, to the laughter of her employees, headed outside to BeBe.

Patting the dashboard as she started her car, she said, “Baby, you might be getting a brother!”

She arrived fifteen minutes later and looked around as she pulled in front of Williams’s Auto Garage office. Pleased that she didn’t see anyone else around, she noted the fence that was now in the back of the garage. She stepped into the office as Artie rose from his sofa.

“I spied you a comin’,” he said, his gaze already on the plastic container in her hand.

Laughing, she handed the box to him and said, “I brought some glazed donuts and a couple of cupcakes.”

“Oh, lordy, Miss Crowder,” he cackled as he popped open the top and took a big bite of one of the donuts. She waited until he finished and set the box on the counter. “You sure know how to bake,” he said.

“Learned from both my grandmas.”

“I remember them, God rest their souls. Ms. Jules and Ms. Rosie.”

“My dad’s mom, Ms. Jules, is still living. She’s in Florida now but will be back soon. My parents are still down there with her since she had a fall.”

“Well, well,” he said, shaking his head. “Time gets away from me nowadays, and I don’t remember things so good.”

She patted his arm. “That’s okay, Artie.” She glanced out the window. “So you have a van you think I might like?”

“Sure do. Let’s go take a look at it.”

She followed him outside and around the side of the building. He twisted to look at her and said, “My workers built a fence around the area to keep the vehicles safe. Sometimes, we gotta keep one for a few days until parts come in or we get ’em to sell. With thefts in the county, we can keep them locked behind the fence, and they’ll be safe.”

She peered ahead and saw a couple of older cars and a pickup truck that he indicated were waiting on parts. A small minivan sat to the side with a For Sale sign in the window.

A seed of excitement blossomed as she walked around the deep green minivan. She was thrilled with how well it appeared to have been taken care of. Artie opened the side door, and she spied back seats that would fold down, which would be perfect if she had a large number of bakery items or cakes to transport. The upholstery was also deep green and looked to be in excellent shape.

“It’s eight years old, and Flip said the couple that brought it in wanted to trade, but the dealer over in Virginia Beach wasn’t gonna give them much for this. He said he thought he could sell it, so he bought it from him.”

She straightened and turned to look at him. “Are you sure it’s for sale, Artie? The last time I was here, there was a van with a For Sale sign in it, but one of your workers told me that it wasn’t for sale.”

“I don’t know exactly what the men do sometimes, and that’s on me. But my name is still over the door, and it’s still my business. So if this has a For Sale sign, I’m gonna sell it to you if you want.”

“The sign doesn’t say how much it is.”

Artie rubbed the whiskers on his chin and scrunched his face so that it dissolved into wrinkles, reminding Bess of a Sharpai puppy. “Well, I don’t know what he thought he was going to get for it, but you and your family have been good customers of mine for years.”

He rattled off a price, and she smiled, breathing easier. It was something she could afford. “I guess the next question is what shape is it in as far as the engine?”

Before he could answer, she looked over as an SUV pulled in front of the office. “There’s my friend. He’ll help me take a look at it.”

As Brad and another man got out, she started toward them when Artie said, “What’s them detectives doing here?”

“Oh, don’t worry. He’s here for me?—”

“They done been here asking questions.”

Her mouth opened in surprise, but she shut it quickly, having no idea what to say. Thankfully, Brad and his partner approached.

Brad nodded, thrust out his hand, and greeted, “Artie, good to see you again.”

“Detective,” Artie said, shaking Brad’s and then his partner’s hand.

Then Brad winked at her, causing her insides to melt again. He introduced her to Mark, who then moved to Artie and asked him about the shed on the property. As they walked away, she turned to Brad with a lifted brow. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing for you to worry about, but Mark and I were going to stop by here sometime when we thought we could see Artie alone, and you provided the perfect opportunity.”

Arching a brow, she chuckled. “You should put me on the payroll if I’m helping you get inside info like crime dramas on TV.”

Now, he laughed and shook his head. “I’m sorry. That didn’t come out exactly right. I’m here for you. I want to help look over whatever purchase you’d like me to look at. And while I’m enjoying your company, Mark will check out a couple of things on Artie's property.”

Laughing, she playfully slapped his arm. “I’d love to say that I know everything about automobiles, and I hate to sound like I need help making a purchase. This van looks great. He said it’s eight years old, which seems good to me—not so old that it’s falling apart, yet not so new that I can’t afford it.”

“We’ll look under the hood, but honestly, see if he’ll let you drive it for a few days to find out if it’s what you want. You can even ask if you can lease it for that time.”

“That’s a good idea.” She glanced to the side and noticed Mark was walking toward one of the sheds with Artie. “Why don’t you go on with Mark and check out what you're curious about? I’m fine here, and then you and I can talk to Artie about this van.”

“You don’t mind?”

“Why on earth would I mind? This is your job, plus you’re here in a place where I can watch you work.” She rolled her eyes, then added, “Not that I haven’t seen you working before, but it would be nice to admire the hot detective when I’m not distressed or furious.”

He barked out laughter and shook his head before bending and placing a chaste kiss at the corner of her mouth. “Let me go see what Mark is finding, if anything.”

She watched as he walked away, then curiosity got the best of her. She followed and overheard Artie say, “Them boys ain’t never give me a reason to suspect anything.”

“We understand, Artie, but we’re just trying to check into every place we can, as long as it’s okay with you.”

“I ain’t got no reason to hide nothing.” He searched through the keys he fished out of his pocket and unlocked the padlock on the door to the first shed. Pulling it open, he stepped in and was followed by Mark and Brad. Bess leaned to the side so she could see in, too. The three men looked around, but all she could see were old tools, car parts, and dust.

“We keep some parts in here, but over the years, it’s kinda gotten to be a bit of a mess,” Artie said with a sigh.

“That’s fine,” Brad said. “There’s another garage off to the side. Would you mind if we took a look in it, too?”

“Like I said, I ain’t got no reason to hide nothing.”

As Brad and Artie walked out, Bess noticed that Mark had pulled out his phone and snapped several pictures inside the shed, especially of some of the car parts.

Mark caught up to Brad and Artie, and they looked inside the other garage, which Bess wandered to. It was mostly empty, with just a few boxes and tools. Once again, she noticed that Mark took pictures before the three men approached her. She and Artie walked back into the office to chat about the price while Brad opened the hood and checked the engine.

Artie had stuck his hand back into the box she’d brought and was chewing on a soft pastry. A puff of powdered sugar covered his whiskers, but he didn’t look like he cared. “What do you think about the van, girly? I don’t mind if you want to take it for a few days and drive it. I wouldn’t do that for just anyone, but I know you, and you ain’t leaving somewhere.”

“How about if I put down a deposit, drive it for a few days, and then let you know?”

He waved his hand dismissively. “Don’t give me no money now. You drive it. Figure out if it’s what you want, and then I know you’ll be back, and we can settle up then.”

She shook Artie’s hand, took the key fob from him, and then turned to Brad. Practically bouncing on her toes with excitement, she caught his grin. She climbed behind the wheel after giving Brad her car keys. They waved goodbye as Mark pulled out first, and then Brad looked over as she sat in the driver's seat. “Head to your place?” She nodded quickly, and then he added, “I’ll call in an order for Chinese and run by, pick it up, and come to you.”

“You’re not going to disappear in a cloud of smoke if people see you driving BeBe to a Chinese restaurant, are you?”

Chuckling, he rested his forearm on the driver's window. “Not going to take a hit to my masculinity, babe. Everyone knows that powder-blue bug is yours. I figure that just helps to stake my claim.” He leaned forward, and she met him halfway, their lips sealing in a kiss.

“Okay,” she whispered, her insides like warm chocolate once again. She followed him out of the parking lot but then turned toward her apartment as he went straight. The van ran perfectly, and the idea of getting a magnetic sign for the side that announced her bakery now filled her mind. That, and the gorgeous detective who would soon be at her side bearing gifts of Chinese. And then she hoped she could entice him to stay for celebratory sex and another night tangled together in the sheets.