Free CrossFire (Love & Lies #1) by Alex Strong

business travelers and flustered families, the man in a fedora stood out like a sore thumb. He had no luggage and wasn’t standing in any of the lines, just leaning against a trash and can smacking his gum. Casimir wanted Reid to know that he was being watched, perhaps to keep Reid from veering off course. All that meant was that Reid had to be at least two steps ahead.
    Reid walked up to the counter.
    “Hello,” he said to the smiling agent behind the computer. “I need a ticket for the first flight you have available to Washington D.C.”
    Her smile faded as she typed away at the keyboard.
    “I have a flight that leaves later this morning, but it has a layover in Atlanta and you won’t land in DC until ten o’clock eastern time tonight.”
    Reid glanced over his shoulder in the direction of the man watching him. He just had to go through the motions. If Casimir thought he was on a plane all day, that gave him several hours to get a plan in motion.
    “That will be perfect,” he said.
    “Great, I just need identification and a credit card.”
    Reid pulled out his wallet.
    “And will you be checking any luggage?” she asked, taking the cards from him.
    “Nope, I’m good”
    Reid waited for her to print off his tickets and then walked over to security. His companion followed him only as far as another nearby garbage can to lean against. This was perfect. Reid made it through security and disappeared around a corner. He peeked back around just in time to see the man pull out a cell phone as he started to walk away.
    Reid rushed to an exit point and made his way towards the nearest skybridge leading to the parking garage, when he saw a man in a white fedora exiting the double doors at the opposite end. Reid raced across the vestibule and came out in time to see him step onto an elevator. Since it was only ground transportation on the lower levels, Reid hit the up button and watched the LED screen above the elevator Mr. Fedora had stepped on. Every time another set of doors opened, Reid pushed the up button again, ignoring the confused stares from other patrons. He had to know where this elevator was headed. Reid lucked out; it made one stop only on the fifth level before heading back down. Now he jumped into the first open elevator and took it up two floors. He ran along the aisles, trying to keep his head low, until he caught sight of his man in the far north corner and Reid hurried over before his opportunity was gone. The man climbed into his car. Reid hid behind a pole. All he needed was a license number. Creeping between two vehicles, he pulled out his phone and snapped a picture of the plates as the driver backed out. Reid dropped to the ground and rolled under an Acura as Mr. Fedora swung out wide to straighten his wheels before driving off.
    Reid rolled back out and called Aaron while making his way back to his own car.
    “Jackson, where are you at?”
    “About to leave Sea-Tac. I was being followed, but I just lost him. I’m sending you a picture of his license plate. I need you to get me a name and address and then meet me at my place.”
    “That’s easy enough. See you soon.”
    Reid started his car and put it into reverse, but then immediately slammed it into park again. He climbed out and started feeling along the undercarriage until he found what he was looking for. A tracker had been placed under the passenger side door. After a quick glance to make sure no one was watching, Reid climbed onto the running board of his car and stuck the magnetic tracker onto the topside of a metal bar that was running along the low ceiling of the garage. Now he was ready to go.
     
    Back at the house Reid went upstairs and grabbed a Kevlar vest and holster from the back of his closet before heading back downstairs to the laundry room. He opened the door of the built-in ironing board cabinet and pressed hard against the right side of the back panel. It clicked opened to reveal an array of guns and other small