Page 48 of Code Name: Harbor

They both respond immediately and are at my desk inside three minutes, parked in the two chairs across from me.

“By the look on your face,” Cole drawls, “I’m guessing you have something new?”

I swing my third monitor around so they both can see it and walk them through my “new” findings.

“That’s really great work, Josie,” Cole murmurs as his eyes roam over the data.

“Thank you, but that’s not all,” I say, ignoring the small flutter of nerves in my stomach. Because this is the big lead I’m getting ready to disclose and I’m not building a query framework but rather using direct information Finn helped me with this morning.

I reach into my bag, pull out a map of the San Juan Islands, and spread it out over my desk. “I’ve been running more scenarios on BOB using tidal data to overlay the darkest nights of the year with remote docks that have easy access to roads.”

This is sort of true in that’s how I identified the Fidalgo dock.

What I’m not sharing as I point out five marked docks that Finn circled in Sharpie this morning at his kitchen counter is that I got these from a direct source. He starred four random destinations and then one he’s seen Mikhail use before.

I tap that star. “This one is the most likely if we have to choose just one to stake out.”

Cole rubs at his jaw as he considers this along with the other information I gave him, probably trying to work out our resources, which are spread a little thin.

Reid looks at me with a smirk. “Why are you even bothering to show us this? We figured you’d just storm it yourself to make the arrest.”

I roll my eyes at him, not even slightly miffed to have him remind me of my last blunder. It’s the type of poking that good friends and teammates do with one another. “Funny guy, but I think this is the best move to make. We can put some eyes on Karpov and the warehouse, but if we want to have our best shot at Mikhail, then this is where we should focus.”

I tap the star again.

Cole stares at it a moment longer. “You have a source.”

“What?” I practically gasp, eyes nearly bugging out.

“I’m not doubting your abilities at all, Josie, it’s just… this is a lot of great information all at once.”

“Cole… I don’t—”

He holds up a hand and my mouth slams shut. “I don’t want to know who it is. You clearly need to protect it and I respect that.” Reid looks surprised, his gaze cutting back and forth between us. “But you know if any of this is actionable and it produces something, your source might be revealed.”

I had considered that, as had Finn. We both agreed this morning that it would be a problem for another day.

I merely nod because to say anything would almost signify that I am indeed withholding information from my teammates.

Cole rises from his chair, staring down at me. “If your source has anything else—any other piece of intelligence that’s important—we need it sooner rather than later. We don’t have time for sequential reveals.”

“I think I know better than anyone we don’t have time,” I say, thinking back to the moment that Finn told me Mikhail had come to see him.

Cole nods. “We’ll get ’em, Josie.”

“Damn straight, we will,” Reid echoes as he stands up.

“I’m going to go over this with Malik.” Cole takes the map and folds it. “And Josie… no offense, but if we make a move on the dock, you won’t be with us.”

I nod in understanding. I’m a witness in this case and far too valuable. “I figured. Just take all this information I’ve given you and go do something good with it.”

Cole smiles. “Will do.”

There’s a roast pork loin with rosemary and garlic in the oven and an arugula salad chopped and chilling in the fridge. I’m freshly showered, lotioned and wearing a luminous, dewy layer of makeup. Ella Fitzgerald croons from my Spotify.

I am, I notice, humming to myself with a smile on my face as I pour a glass of chilled white wine.

It’s true I’ve almost died, have a killer chasing me and I’m essentially lying to my employer, but I’m smiling because in about half an hour, a gorgeous, sexy man who gives me the shivers is going to walk through my door.