[Anita Blake 17] - Skin Trade by Laurell K. Hamilton

probably had no idea what was in it, but they did sell the guns, and one of them was used in a holdup where there was a death.”
    Shaw looked at the heavy equipment bags. “You can’t carry all that on a hunt. Some of those bags must weigh more than you do.”
    â€œI’ll store them, then take what I need for the hunt. I’ll get it down to a backpack and some weapons.”
    Grimes said, “We can store them at our place. We’ll be with you when you serve the warrant, so you can come back and load up with us.”
    I nodded. “Sounds good.”
    Grimes gave me that smile again; I still wasn’t sure if it was a real smile or his version of cop face. Some give a blank face, some give smiles, but all police have a face you cannot read. I might not even learn which it was on this visit, because the lieutenant would not be going in to help serve the warrant. He’d be back at the command center, commanding.
    â€œSonny will drive us back, then you can stow your gear.” I wasn’t sure who Sonny was, but I’d figure it out when someone got behind the wheel.
    â€œI’ll need to be taking Marshal Blake for debriefing,” Shaw said.
    â€œYou want to ride with us, Sheriff?” Grimes asked.
    Shaw seemed to think about it for a second or two. He took his hat off and wiped some of the sweat, showing that his haircut was shorter than the SWAT. He had what the marines call a high and tight, nearly shaved on the sides, and not much longer on top, as if he’d never left the service, or at least not its barbers.
    â€œI’ll follow you; let’s just get out of the heat.”
    They all nodded, and I just waited for someone to move toward the car we’d be taking. I’d expected more speed when I hit the ground. Everyone was being way too calm, but then, so was I. Whatever we were feeling inside, outside it was all business. There’d be time for emotion later, maybe. Sometimes you keep putting off an emotional reaction until it just becomes moot. It becomes just one more thing that you couldn’t afford to let yourself feel.
    I picked up one of the big equipment bags and started to reach for another, but Rocco got there first. I let him get it. Hooper reached for the last bag, and I was okay with that, too. It was when Grimes started to reach for the bag I was carrying that we had problems.
    â€œI’ve got it, Lieutenant, thanks.”
    We had a moment where he hesitated, and we looked at each other. I finally said, “You can get the luggage if you want.”
    He gave a little nod and went for the luggage. I learned that Hooper was Sonny, because he was the one who opened the back of an SUV. The back was full of his own equipment. His assault vest was visible, as well as two different helmets. There was a lot of stuff, but no guns were visible.
    He answered as if I’d asked, “Gun safe.” He moved the pile enough for me to see it.
    â€œAftermarket add-on?” I asked.
    He nodded.
    â€œI’ll have to look into that. It would satisfy the new law, as written, and be a heck of a lot more convienient.”
    â€œWe have to be ready to roll at any time.”
    â€œMe, too.”
    There was enough of his equipment already in there that adding my bags stuffed it full. Grimes joined us with my single suitcase in tow. “The pilot said this is all the luggage.”
    â€œIt is,” I said.
    â€œThree bags, longer than you are tall, full of weapons, but only one suitcase for clothes,” Rocco said.
    â€œYep,” I said.
    They all sort of nodded as they worked to find room for the suitcase in the back. I’d learned a long time ago that if you packed like a girl, you lost brownie points with the police. The idea was to try to be one of the guys; that meant you did not bring your entire wardrobe on a job. Besides, it was the continental United States; there’d be a mall somewhere if I ran out of clean