Free A World Without Secrets by Thomas DePrima

streets. If he isn't arrested tonight, he'll be sacked out and dead to the world by nine a.m. Your guys should be ready to move in by ten. That'll give him time to really fall into a deep sleep. If they play it right, they'll have him cuffed before he's even awake. I'll fax your pickup team a layout of the house."
    "A layout of the house? Where'd you get that?"
    "It's just a crude diagram, not architectural plans."
    "Okay, I'll call Vinny. Four men be enough?"
    "If they're the same guys as last time— more than adequate."
    "Good. You'll spot for them like you did in Brooklyn? They said you saved their asses."
    "I'll be looking on and giving help."
    "Good. I'll talk to you tomorrow."
    * * *
    When Vinny called from Newark the following morning, I gave him the address. I had already confirmed that Sutton was sacked out in the house, and I had marked the layout to show the room where Sutton slept. I sent the image to Vinny's smartphone and told him to call again when they were ready to move in.
    I was enjoying my fourth cup of coffee when my cell phone rang.
    "We're ready to move in, Colt."
    "Okay, Vinny. He's sleeping soundly."
    "Right. We're moving."
    I watched the sleeping form as the enforcement agents moved in. They were in the bedroom before Sutton was alert enough to understand they were there. He was reaching for a pistol when the first man jumped on his prone form. I had constantly reassured them that Sutton posed no threat until they were in the bedroom and had told them where he kept his gun. After they had Sutton in the van, I signed off and put the gizmo away.
    * * *
    Harris had the money waiting for me when I arrived the next morning and didn't play any games this time. He had figured out that I wouldn't stand for it, and he wanted me willing to find more skips for him. He couldn't argue with the success he'd seen and the super low prices he had paid.
    "Anybody else right now?" I asked.
    "Not right now. I'll give you a call when I do."
    "Right. You know how to get in touch. See you."
    "If you need something to keep busy with, Triple A Bail Bonds could use you to find one of their skips. I spoke with Marsh Adams last night. I owed him a favor so I told him I'd pass the message on to you. I gave you quite a buildup."
    "Thanks. I'll stop over before I head home. Pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Harris."
    Harris scowled. "You mean it's a pleasure taking my money."
    I smiled. "That too."
    I smiled and waved to the three people in the outer office as I left, and they waved back, indicating a sort of acceptance as one of the group now.
    It was a two-block walk to the other bail bondsman's office. As soon as Marsh Adams learned I was there, he came out of his office and pumped my hand and arm like I was delivering the Publisher's Clearing House Sweepstakes Grand Prize.
    "Thanks for coming by, James. I'm in a bad way. I have just a day and a half to find my skip or I forfeit a hundred large. Harris says you're the best he's ever seen."
    "I'll help you if I can. Harris told you I only locate, right?"
    "He said you spot for the guys while they move in and alert them to possible danger."
    "Yes, but I don't assist in the actual recovery beyond support information."
    "That's acceptable. Harris said your fee is five thousand."
    "My fee varies with the skip and the urgency. For your man, who has to be located within twenty-four hours if your people are to have enough time to retrieve him, my fee will be ten grand, cash, payable the day after he's picked up."
    Adams hesitated for just a couple of seconds. He was probably trying to figure out if he should negotiate, but then agreed. I wrote down all the information and left after telling Mr. Adams to have his people ready to go tomorrow. If the skip was local, they'd pick him up. If he was out of the area, they'd travel to where he was.
    It only took me fifteen minutes to track down the skip using the gizmo. I was getting better at finding my way around the courthouse and