‘The Drug Squad, sir. They need to set up obs on the barista, Shaun, who I’ve left in situ at the moment as he’s already passed the drugs on, although obviously I have no idea if he has more.’ She checked in her rear-view mirror and manoeuvred across the lanes. ‘The current situation is we’re tailing a red BMW Series 4, registration number…’
As she paused, Mason filled in the gap. ‘Bravo Yankee six-nine Sierra Mike Romeo.’
She blew out a breath, hoping the distance he kept wouldn’t arouse the man’s suspicions. ‘The driver took the drugs. Big guy. Black Caribbean. Six-four.’ She remembered the bump of his shoulder against hers, the tops of his arms wider than her thighs. No fat, pure muscle. ‘Eighteen stone. Aged…’ she blinked to bring the man back into her mind. ‘Twenty-three to twenty-six.’ Smooth, glossy skin. ‘Definitely no older.’
‘Okay, Sergeant Morgan.’ There was a pause with a vague tapping of keys in the background. ‘Car registered to one Lamonte Junior.’
‘Is that his official name, or is he a younger version?’
‘Official name, Jenna.’ Her lips kicked up in a smile at the dryness of Taylor’s voice, evidently unamused at her little quip.
Ryan’s soft snort had her narrowing her eyes as she concentrated on keeping her distance. ‘Ironic. Doesn’t Lamonte mean something like man of law?’
‘How would you know that?’ Jenna grimaced at the radio as though it were Ryan himself.
‘One of the instructors at the gym is called Lamonte. Specialising in the weights section. Funny guy, always telling us its Lamonte’s Law when he instructs us.’
‘Right.’
Ryan filed away information like a memory drive. Always useful when you needed to sift through data. His quick, lively mind forever willing to share.
Interesting, but irrelevant; she needed to get them back on track with limited time. Big Lamonte couldn’t be travelling far.
‘He was carrying four coffees which makes me assume he’s about to meet up with three other people. I don’t think it’s a knitting club, sir.’
The little snort of laughter burst through the static. ‘Can you hold back till I get my ducks in line?’
‘No, sir. If I do, I suspect I’m going to miss out on a four-way drugs pass. I need to be on it right now. As I said, I have DC Ellis and DC Downey with me. We’ll be fine, but backup would be appreciated as soon as…’
There was a second’s pause as Jenna followed the others at a distance onto the retail car park. ‘Leave it with me, Sergeant, and I’ll get it sorted. Keep me informed.’
Lamonte pulled his BMW up in front of Rude Health, the new gym on the retail park, a mere four and a half minutes’ drive from The Coffee Shack. Handy.
Mason bypassed him and made his way to park in front of one of the cheap stores, far enough away for him not to raise any suspicion. Ryan pulled up short in front of Sainsbury’s, slipping his car in between two others on the lot. It was quiet at that time of the morning, but Sainsbury’s opened early and had a healthy stream of customers.
Jenna cruised her own car several spaces away, positioning herself beyond a small white Kia Picanto. She cracked open the passenger window an inch to keep the air circulating for Fleur and hoped the little dog didn’t freeze. Her body had a permanent tremble.
As Lamonte unfolded himself from the seat and emerged balancing the tray of four coffees in one hand, Jenna’s radio exploded into life almost popping her heart out through her throat.
‘Shit. Sorry, Sarge.’ Ryan’s voice stumbled a little before he continued. ‘I know him. It’s not a coincidence, he is the bloody instructor from the gym.’
‘You’re only just telling us now?’ Incredulity laced Mason’s voice.
Ryan’s voice wound up to a higher pitch, just short of squeak. ‘I didn’t see him come out of The Coffee Shack. He was already in his car when I realised we were on a case.’
‘It’s okay.’ She kept her voice even, they needed to move, but the information Jenna required from Ryan was more pressing. ‘Tell me about him. Make it quick, Ryan.’
‘He’s one of the instructors at Rude Health. That’s the one I registered with about six weeks ago now. He’s been spotting me on the weights.’ Ryan let out a groan. ‘He knows I’m a police officer.’
Shocked, she couldn’t help herself. ‘Do you tell everyone what you do for a living?’
‘Well. Yeah. I’m proud to serve.’
Sometimes discretion was the better part of valour. Call her cynical, but he’d learn. Not everyone thought the police were wonderful. Not everyone wanted to be your friend once they found out what you did for a living.
‘Jesus.’
Jenna ignored Mason as her mind whirled through a quick realignment of the possibilities. ‘Right, Mason, you and I will go in. Me first. I want to see if he’s passing over more than just coffee to these other three. Mason, you just tail me until something happens. If he doesn’t pass the drugs, I want to know where he stashes them.’
‘Right.’ Mason agreed.
‘Ryan,’ she instructed, ‘two minutes and I want you to follow up the rear. Keep the exit closed off in case anybody bolts.’
‘Sarge.’
‘And for the love of Jesus, don’t let him see you.’
‘Yes, Sarge.’
Jenna glanced into the footwell and pointed a finger at Fleur. ‘You. You can stay where you are.’ The little dog’s bulging eyes gave a slow blink as she lowered her head onto her front paws as though she understood every word.
Jenna nudged open her door and slipped from the car. Not looking back as she slammed the door, she depressed the key fob to lock it.
She lengthened her stride to catch up with Lamonte and arrived at the entrance to the gym, slipping inside before the automatic doors fully closed.
Adrenaline spiked through to make her heartbeat speed up. Not through fear or anxiety, but a kick of energetic excitement. This was the job. This was what she loved.
She glanced at the small lift in the left corner of the confined, sterile entrance and caught her reflection in the brushed steel doors. She tilted her head to catch the sound of Lamonte’s footsteps tapping up the L-shaped stairwell above her. Big, he may be, but he could move.
Careful to keep on her toes, she took the stairs two at a time. The trick was to keep far enough behind so he didn’t notice her, but not so far that she’d lose him before he reached his targets so she could witness the drug swap before she made a move.
She bumped open the door at the top of the stairs and moved fast into a hallway. She kept him in sight as he rounded a corner to enter the main reception area.
Breath coming in quick snatches of excitement, she put on a spurt and slipped through the automatic doors at the end of the short run of hallway. She followed him as he grunted at the receptionist, all belligerent arrogance and rolling shoulders.
Evidently unimpressed with his attitude, the receptionist raised her hand to tuck a thick swathe of gunmetal hair behind her ear and pursed her lips, so a fine spray of wrinkles feathered out from her mouth. As her gaze clashed with Jenna’s, her eyebrows twitched skywards, and she broke into a genuine smile.