Looping the pendant back around his neck, Janco squinted in the sudden light. He spent the next couple hours observing. The activity slowed well after midnight, with only a few people remaining outside. The desire to nose about the complex to learn more pulsed in his chest. Perhaps he’d spot Owen’s Master Gardener. The man or woman had to be in charge of this operation. And Janco even wore the long green tunic and pants that the Greenblade men preferred. His light brown hair and tanned skin matched them as well.
However, Janco remembered the last time he’d pushed his luck. He’d ended up not only getting caught but also causing the rest of his team to be captured. Dax had died, Hale went missing and Leif had almost died.
Being sensible for the first time in his life, Janco left, jogging along the road. He’d report back to Ari and, after they sent the information to Fisk, they’d return and have a good snoop.
*
Janco arrived in Longleaf late the next morning. Instead of trying to go undercover in the garrison, they’d decided to rent a small house in the nearby town and keep an eye on the flow of traffic going to and from the base.
With a sudden burst of energy, Janco sprinted to the narrow wooden house wedged in the middle of a row. He rushed into the front room and was about to shout his good news, but Ari’s tense posture stopped him in his tracks. Ari wore his I-want-to-strangle-someone expression. One that was usually aimed at Janco, but was directed at a young boy. Poor kid.
At six feet four inches tall, Ari loomed over most others. The skinny-mini standing next to him appeared tiny in comparison. Must be one of Fisk’s...spies. Hard to call kids under the age of fifteen spies, but the little tykes had come in handy since the Cartel decided to take over Sitia. And the guild members had saved their asses back when Bruns had them. Gotta give them their due.
Sensing trouble, Janco asked, “Something wrong?”
“We’re being recalled to the Citadel,” Ari said. Frowning, he ran a big, beefy paw—er...hand—over the short curls of his blond hair.
“Who and why?”
“Valek’s orders. Tell him,” Ari said to the boy.
Janco braced for bad news as Skinny-Mini detailed Yelena’s capture and her agreement with Cahil—which explained Ari’s murderous glare. Despite the results, using lamplighters for an ambush was a sweet move. He’d never look at them the same way again.
“I need to inform the others. Master Fisk is pulling all agents from the garrisons,” Skinny-Mini said.
“Go,” Ari said.
“Wait.” Janco grabbed his shoulder. “Are you returning to the Citadel after this?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“Tell Fisk we’ll be delayed a few days.”
“We can’t disobey a direct order,” Ari said.
“Don’t worry, Ari. Valek will forgive us. He’ll probably give us a medal.”
“Why?” Ari and Skinny-Mini asked in unison.
He told them about the complex. “We can’t return without checking it out. It might be the key to stopping the Cartel.”
Ever cautious, Ari asked, “How many guards are there?”
“Doesn’t matter. We’ll be like ghosts—invisible.”
“Ghosts aren’t... Oh, never mind. We’ll check it out, but I’ll decide if we go into the complex or just watch from a distance.”
“Hey, who put you in charge?” Janco asked, outraged.
“Valek.”
“Oh, yeah.” All his annoyance disappeared. “No problem. I know you’ll want to take a closer look. It’s irresistible, like candy and babies.”
“I know I’m going to regret asking this, but you find candy and babies irresistible?” Ari asked.
“Hell no. They’re both sticky.”
His partner waited.
“Some people find them irresistible. And, you know...” Janco waved his hand. “They’re easy to steal...or something like that.”
“I was right.”
“About what?”
“I regret asking that question.”
Janco clapped him on the shoulder. “But you’ve learned something. Never pick up a sticky baby, ’cause you’ll never be able to let go. And I—” he yawned “—am going to catch a couple z’s while you go shopping and pack.”
As Janco shuffled off to bed, Skinny-Mini said to Ari, “I thought you were in charge.”
“Only when it counts.”
*
It was almost sunset by the time they saddled Diamond Whiskey and The Madam. While Janco missed his horse, Beach Bunny—named after a beloved pet rabbit—he had to admit The Madam’s calm demeanor was a nice counterpoint to his own fiery personality. Unconcerned, she watched Janco with gray eyes that said nothing could surprise her anymore. He stroked her neck, smoothing the hair on her gray-dappled coat.
Now with Whiskey, Ari had finally found a horse that didn’t look like it would collapse under the big, muscular man’s weight. The large dark brown horse had a white diamond blaze on his forehead. Strong and quick despite his size, Whiskey shifted, ready to go.
“After you,” Ari said, sweeping a hand out.