Operation Arctic Deception: A thrilling winter survival adventure in the north woods of Canada (Poppy McVie Mysteries Book 5) by Kimberli A. Bindschatel

Author:Kimberli A. Bindschatel [Bindschatel, Kimberli A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Turning Leaf Books
Published: 2018-04-29T22:00:00+00:00

At 7:35 a.m., I was on the train, on my way to the shop, when my phone buzzed. The boss was calling an unexpected, mandatory meeting today at noon.

I texted Dalton. He’d gotten the same message. No idea what was up.

By the time noon came, I’d paced a hole in the carpet. What could it be about?

Back I went to the same drab downtown building, the same office with the fluorescent light. Tom, Mike, Dalton and I sat around the same table, waiting.

Finally, at 12:15 p.m., the door swung open and in she came. She took her chair at the head of the table and looked at Mike. “Well, fill me in.”

“Some significant new information has come to light on a suspect, one Hal Gruba.”

What? I stared. Significant new information? We’d agreed we wouldn’t bring him up to Ms. Hyland until we had more concrete proof. Had Mike learned something new since last night? Why didn’t he tell me?

“He’s a regular down at Wilson’s shop. We don’t have much intel on him because he never buys anything. He comes in, asks Jim some seemingly benign questions, and then leaves again. His behavior has never made sense, so I’ve been keeping a close eye on him.”

Wait. What?

Dalton looked at me, eyebrows raised.

“And?” Ms. Hyland said.

“I had suspicions about him before we arrested Jim. But like I said, we couldn’t pin him down with anything. For months, I’ve been watching, waiting.”

No way. You didn’t know who he was until I pointed him out at the banquet.

“Somewhere along the way, I learned he was a party planner, so when Poppy here mentioned some party planner had made the offer to sell an owl, well, I got to wondering if that guy and Hal were one and the same. Turns out, bingo.”

Okay. Maybe he was trying to cover for me, make an explanation for the connection.

“When I saw his name on the list of attendees at the banquet—”

Well, you saw his name? I saw his name.

“I invited him to the private party, to see if I couldn’t get him talking. Turns out he’s been looking for an investor for his trafficking operation. Well, with my cover as a rich guy, I worked it. Then last night, at a meet I set up, he revealed to me that indeed, he is bringing owls across the border. He’s made the offer to show me the operation.”

“Great work connecting the dots, Wessell,” Ms. Hyland said, visibly impressed.

My pulse rate went for the stratosphere.

“I’d like to pursue this,” Mike went on. “As soon as he comes back with an actual meet up, I’d like to know I have a green light.”

“You do.” She nodded, considering something. “One conversation, though, and he’s offered to show you the operation?”

Actually, I’ve had several conversations with him. I’ve been working him for days.

Mike nodded. “Money talks.”

“Maybe. But that’s still too easy. Make sure to keep backup protocol with Special Agent McVie.”

Yes!

“That’s not going to work,” Mike said. “He’s shown concern about anyone else and it’d be awkward, bringing the girlfriend along.

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