Chapter 705 Chapter 705
Shaking her head, she adjusted her position and looked through the scope again. She went back to the camp to check that there was no movement. It was barely visible now with the light off in the tent. Good. That guy was grabbing some sleep, so she could relax. She was about to sit up when she thought she’d better do a once over of the area and make sure he wasn’t out wandering around.
Satisfied that everything down there was sleeping, she sat up. Her phone slid down inside the suit, and she cursed in her head as she dug around inside it. He had his phone. Setting the rifle on the canvas, she got to her knees and stretched her arms over her head. She was definitely not cut out to man a rifle for long periods of time.
Not much time passed before he hopped up onto the ledge. She hadn’t even heard him climbing. He dropped the bag and then walked behind the tent to shift.
Deva stood there, hugging her waist, and waited. She wanted to know what was in the bad, but she didn’t want to encroach on his ‘find,’ so she didn’t go look. That and she didn’t trust she wouldn’t smack the man for scaring her.
He came back around as he was pulling his shirt on. “Is good I go to look.” He nodded and then went over to the tent and opened it. Reaching in, he got his jacket.
“Taggart, where did you keep your phone?”
He stood up and grinned. “I show you.” He went back around to the back of the tent and came back carrying fur. Her eyes widened. “Is man Niklaus know. He make it for us all.” He came over and opened it. “Is only hold phone, but it no get wet.” He took out his phone and held the fur out to her.
Deva took it and immediately knew it was real fur. It was a fur collar that blended right into his animal’s coat. “Is it…”
“Is from lynx, yes. Was only way to make it match.”
She turned it over in her hand and then handed it back to him. “It’s quite an idea.”
“Some time is no time to carry all, but phone is needed, so we has it.” He tucked it into his pocket and went over to the bag he’d dropped. “Niklaus use tape to check how big my cat’s neck is and tell friend who make it for me.”
The part where they had to drop everything and run sent a shiver down her spine. “What was so important you took it from the tent? What happens when they notice it missing?”
He picked up the bag. “They no find out. Man was on phone talking to other man.” He opened the bag. “Was Efem’s language, so I no understand all the words, but I do enough.”
“He was talking to the other ones down there?”
“Yes.” He reached into the bag and pulled something out. “He say they come back when is light and pack to go to new location.”
“They’re packing up and moving to the next area to search.”
He glanced at her. “Yes, is what I understand.” He held up something, but it was too dark for her to make out exactly what it was. “Is wallet for three men in tent.” He nodded and reached into the bag again and took out a book. “Is book to write in. No in language I read, but I see numbers for to call and more numbers I think is address.”
She went over and held out her hand. “You think it’s a list or record of some kind of where they’ve been?”
“I no sure, but I show Efem and he tell me.”
She took the notebook and opened it. She couldn’t make out a word, but it clearly listed phone numbers and addresses. “If these are addresses, we’ve just been handed more people involved.”
He nodded and came over. “On page two it say Chicago and Oregon. I no this places.”
She flipped the page and scanned it. Written in line with symbols, or they could have been letters she didn’t understand it did say those places. “Okay.” She bobbed her head. “I don’t have to shoot you after all.”
“You has to shoot Taggart?” He held out a wallet to her.
“It was a thought when you shifted and went into the tent.”
“Man was busy talk on phone. I safe.”
“You had no way of knowing that.” She jammed the notebook into the bag he held and took the wallet. Opening it, she saw some ID. She pulled it out and looked closely. They were good for being fake. She doubted the man who owned it was actually named Joe Smith.
“I need to see if they has weapons in the tent. A gun or two is okay, more is bad.”
She moved just her eyes and looked up at him. “Any gun is bad. In any form, you can’t outrun a bullet.”
“I know this is true.”
She handed him back the wallet crossed her arms over her chest, and hugged her waist. “We need to let Calum know that they’re coming back in the morning, so he can let the others know.”
“Yes. Is over in morning. We get them.”
She pulled out her phone and then looked at him. “We will follow the plan that Kenzo and Wynter have.”
“Yes. Of course, we do.” He gave her a look. “Deva is mad with Taggart. Why?”
She sucked in a deep breath and then exhaled. “I had hoped that what we talked about – that you were actually thinking about it, but I don’t think you are.”
Putting the wallet back in the bag, he did it up. “I do think on the words we say.” He tossed the bag in the direction of the tent. “I no go over sea. I no run into risky place.” He motioned toward the trees. “I go take a look and listen. Is easy.”
She stood there looking up at him. It was true, what he said, but it still hadn’t been easy to stay up here and watch. “I’m going to send a message to Calum and then try to get some sleep.”
“Okay.” He looked over the edge.
“He went to sleep. The guy in the tent.”
“Good. We rest until is light again.” He moved over to the tent. “I eat some things.”
Deva squatted down, so she could use the phone and have her body block out most of the light. She took off her gloves and typed it quickly. Taggart came out of the tent with the bag their food was in. Her phone buzzed in her hand. She read it and then put the phone away. “Calum says he’ll have them call us when they’re on the move in the morning.
Taggart chewed slowly while nodding his head. “Okay.”
Deva stood up and went over and reached into the bag he had hanging off his arm. She grabbed a bar and opened it. “I’m having bacon and coffee as soon as we’re back at the factory.”
He smiled. “I cook for you.”
“They have kitchen staff there.”
He shrugged. “Is okay. They can sit and take break, so I cook for you.”
She looked out over the trees. “Do you think Wynter and Kenzo are okay?”
“They be fine. Stay in animal is warm for night.”
She thought they likely did that. “What about Hadleigh.”
“Maybe she go back to truck for sleep.”
“I guess she can get there and still be back in the morning.”
“Go sleep, Deva. I watch for a time then sleep.”
She looked over her shoulder at him. “Do you think we need to watch all night?”
“Is no bad idea to be sure.”
“Okay. If anything happens, wake me up.” She went over to the tent and unzipped it.
“I do that. Sleep sweet.”
She smiled as she went inside and took her boots off. Now all she had to do was sleep in this tiny space next to a man that smelled like her favorite scent she didn’t know existed. It was going to be a long night.