Cash Landing Read Free Page A

uncanny knack for ending up dead or in prison. The “hunches” an investigator followed early on were critical, which in Andie’s mind underscored the need for the FBI to take control of the crime scene.
    Where the heck are you, Littleford?
    â€œI’ll want to talk to all of the guards,” said Andie.
    â€œBetter move fast. Braxton Security will have its lawyers here any minute. That’s rarely a good thing for the flow of information.”
    Andie checked her watch. Littleford was hands-on, and she knew he would want to be part of the witness interrogations. She’d give him two more minutes, tops.
    â€œTell me more about the CCTV cameras. What’d we get?”
    â€œNot much more than the eyewitnesses gave us. Outside cameras confirmed the getaway vehicle was a black Ford F-150. Also picked up a plate number, but it turned out to be stolen from some old lady’s Cadillac in Doral, so that leads us nowhere. Inside cameras show both perps, but at the end of the day, we’re left with two males of average height and build wearing ski masks and sunglasses.”
    â€œI’ll get my tech people to see about enhancing it.”
    Andie sent a quick message to her tech agent, then walked toward the cargo lift. Watts showed her where the black pickup had parked and pointed out the bag that never made it to the truck. It was still on the floor where the thieves had dropped it.
    â€œExpensive case of the dropsies. Check for prints,” said Andie.
    â€œI’m sure we’ll get some, but not any from the perps. Witnesses say they wore gloves.”
    An FBI van pulled up outside the open cargo doors. Several agents jumped out and entered the warehouse. Another van was right behind. Special Agent Littleford hopped up on the loading dock and entered the warehouse.
    â€œFill me in,” he said to Watts. “And FBI takes jurisdiction from here.”
    The direct approach. Andie listened as Watts gave Littleford the same quick recap, and then Littleford followed up with some questions of his own.
    â€œNo shots fired? You confirmed that?” he asked.
    â€œCorrect. None.”
    â€œHow well armed were the perps?”
    â€œAt least one handgun, for sure. Witnesses agree that it looked like a semiautomatic.”
    â€œI’ve already told tech to work on the security video,” said Andie. “Hopefully we’ll get a make and model on the gun.”
    â€œWhich they’ve dumped by now, if they’re smart,” said Littleford.
    Watts agreed. “Seems to me they came here knowing that none of the guards would be armed and wanted to have as manyhands free as possible to carry out the money bags. But it would be safe to assume more firepower in the truck to ward off any pursuit. The BOLO says ‘armed and dangerous,’” he added, referring to the “be on the lookout” alert.
    Littleford started across the warehouse, taking Andie with him. “Let’s talk to the witnesses,” he said, but then he stopped short at the bag of cash that the thieves had dropped.
    â€œThis is our best friend right here,” he said. “Even if they wore gloves and we don’t lift a single print.”
    â€œHow so?” asked Andie.
    â€œWe have no shots fired, no blood, and no one hurt. Well, that’s all about to change. I don’t have to be the fly on the wall to hear them arguing already: ‘Dude, you’re the one who dropped the bag. That comes out of your split.’ Oh, yeah. It’s gonna get ugly. Real ugly.”
    Andie returned the thin law enforcement smile. This wasn’t the undercover work she’d transferred across the country to do, but she liked the way Littleford operated.
    â€œCome on,” he said. “Let’s go find their insider.”

Chapter 3
    F ive sealed canvas bags lay in a heap, a virtual mountain of concealed cash lying on the cracked and oil-stained garage floor.
    The