Balkhi’s face cracked into a huge smile. “Excellent.” He reached across the table and placed his hand on top of Wilkes’, squeezing it. “I look forward to it.”
Just then, they heard footsteps approach and Balkhi snatched his hand away, and the two of them turned toward the entrance to the tent.
“Boss?” Marcus Bay pushed through the canvas flap.
“Yes, Bay?” Wilkes hoped he sounded casual, and didn’t have guilty written all over his face.
The younger man didn’t seem to see anything amiss as he continued. “You’re needed out front. A local politician has come to touch base. Or at least I think that’s what he wants. Can barely understand a word. Sorry, Balkhi.”
Wilkes and Balkhi stepped away from the table.
“Okay, let’s go,” Wilkes said.
Bay let them out of the tent, and because the serge
