Arrest

Carter and I arrived back at the hotel and he began telling MJ about my nearly romantic encounter. I just sighed and went outside to watch Katja directing a pair of dragonflies through some sort of choreographed dance. Of course, they could simply have been flying around in normal dragonfly fashion, for all I knew.

Some minutes later, Badger called me.

“Hi, Alex. Our hunt was successful, in a manner. Are you done with your investigation?”

“Probably not done, but stalled out at the moment.”

“Fine. Can you meet us somewhere, we’d like to introduce you to our prisoner… oh, sorry, suspect.”

“You caught one?” I said, excited.

“Well, sort of. Local police caught him, but they’ve agreed to give us a shot at him before they book him; gotta love Mexico, right?”

“Just tell me where and I’ll be there.”

Badger gave me the address and I tapped Katja on the shoulder and pointed to the trailer.

Once inside, I explained, “Badger and Maria caught their suspect, with the assistance of local PD, who’s agreed to let us talk to him before they book him. It’s not SOP, but we’re in their playground, so we’re going with it. I’m headed to meet them. Does anyone want to join me?”

“If you three can handle this, I’m going to keep working through MJ’s list,” David said.

“I’m going to conveniently not be present so that it won’t look weird if comms miss something,” MJ said conspiratorially.

Katja just shook her head and left without saying a word.

Finally, Carter swore, “Damn. I’d love to soften him up for you, but I’ve got to report in via video call, so I’m out.”

“Okay, then. I’m taking the second SUV, so you lot will be stranded until we get back, but this shouldn’t take too long since they can only explain a delay in booking him for so long.”