Free The Body Market: A Leine Basso Thriller by D.V. Berkom

agent Santa had told her about, Bob Herrera. If the Russian had been hanging out for any period of time, he’d more than likely heard of him.
    She kept to the shadows and moved along the back streets before cutting between buildings to reach the parking lot. No guard greeted her at the entrance. As she approached her rental a prickle of awareness tracked up her spine.
    Someone was watching her.

Chapter 10
     
    A drenaline spiking, Leine slowed down and took stock of her surroundings. The absence of the guard gave her pause. The parking lot, though touted as secure, held several dark spaces from which a person could attack. She stopped mid-stride and reached for the switchblade secured to her calf, acting as though she were adjusting something on her shoe. She straightened, careful to conceal the weapon in her hand.
    Without appearing to, Leine scanned the area as she skirted her vehicle, alert for anything out of the ordinary. She turned left as she exited the lot and jogged to the end of the street. She checked behind her and, seeing no one, slipped around the corner. As she continued along the dark boulevard, she pulled out her phone and hit speed dial.
    “Herrera,” a man’s voice answered.
    “Agent Hererra, my name is Leine Basso. We have a mutual friend—Detective Santiago Jensen?”
    “I’ve been expecting your call. Santa contacted me earlier, letting me know you were going to be in town. What can I do for you?”
    “Did he fill you in on why I’m here?”
    “It’s about the two missing teenagers, right?”
    “Right. Can you think of any reason I might be followed?”
    “Not unless the police were given advance notice. Have you spoken with anyone in town regarding the case?”
    “Yes. Two bartenders. One from the Blue Manatee, one from the Gypsy. But I haven’t been in town long. Less than an hour.”
    “A local businessman named Felix Otero is majority owner of the Blue Manatee so he’ll know you’re here, eventually. He’ll probably have his guys keep an eye on you. Anybody asking questions about something as potentially explosive as a murder and kidnapping in this city is going to be subject to intense scrutiny. An hour’s pretty fast for them, though.” Herrera paused. “We should meet. There’s a carne asada place about two miles outside of town on the free road. Has a big white sign with the picture of a happy cow on it. Meet me there in half an hour.”
    “I’ll be there.” Leine disconnected the call and continued along the sidewalk. She reached the end of the block, crossed the street, turned right, and then continued to the corner. There, she turned right again and entered an alley. She stepped behind a dilapidated pickup parked next to the building and waited. Sirens wailed in the distance. Somewhere a dog joined in with a low howl.
    Several minutes ticked by before a shadowy figure with an unsteady gait walked past the entrance to the alley. A few moments later the same figure reappeared and stopped on the sidewalk, hesitating as he peered into the darkness. Leine waited patiently, willing him to step under the lone streetlamp so she could get a better look at him.
    The man glanced both ways before proceeding slowly into the alley. Something about him seemed familiar. She took a step back into the shadows as he approached. He passed the pickup, unaware she waited nearby.
    Leine grabbed both of his arms from behind. He stiffened and struggled to break free of her grip as she wrenched one hand up between his shoulder blades.
    “Hey—what are you doing?” he said in English, his voice ratcheting up an octave as he continued to resist.
    “I might ask you the same question,” Leine replied through her teeth. She forced him behind the truck and shoved him face first against the alley wall, pinning his free arm with her body. She gripped his elbow, letting him feel the tip of her knife next to his left kidney.
    An American accent, she thought. Probably not cartel. Realizing her