[16]

Steven read the medical examiner’s report that had been emailed to both him and Quinn. He glanced at his partner, who was engrossed in whatever he was reading on his computer. “So the guy in the trunk isn’t in the system either.”

“No.”

“Okay, and no John Does at the hospital matching Carter James’s description.”

“Right.”

“Maybe he’s in an out-of-town hospital.”

Quinn grimaced. “Or a shallow grave no one’s discovered yet.” He shoved aside a stack of papers and reached for a pen. “I’ve got feelers out. Now what are we going to do about Richie? His lawyers are working to get him released as we speak.”

Steven’s phone buzzed and he glanced at the message.

Haley

Going to see Micah at the hospital around 12:00. Do you want to go?

He did.

Steven leaned forward. “What kind of illegal stuff is he involved in? Surely there’s something else we could nail him on.”

“Drugs, guns, prostitution, you name it. The only problem is, he’s a little farther up the food chain than the ones we bust on a regular basis. I did a little more digging and I’ve got to give the man props for covering his tracks.”

“And his minions are too intimidated—”

Quinn snorted. “You mean terrified?”

“Yeah, too terrified to talk to us.” Steven nodded. “All right. What about his finances?”

“If I had a reason to check them, I’d get a warrant. But . . .”

Steven rubbed his chin. “You know, Zeke said Richie wouldn’t hurt his mother because he wouldn’t mess up a source of income.”

“What’d he mean by that?”

He gestured to the computer. “The only source of money I can find for her is government assistance. But it’s a lot of assistance. Like thousands of dollars.”

“She’s cheating the system and getting more than she should?”

“Yes. Or the money is right, due to Micah’s health issues. But it’s enough that it would attract Richie’s attention.”

“Or he’s her pimp.”

“I thought about that, but there’s no record of her being arrested. She’s clean, although that could just mean she hasn’t been caught yet. A Google search brought up a funeral notice for her mother last year and no mention of a father.”

Quinn lifted a brow. “So if he’s not her pimp, you think he’s taking her checks—or cards or whatever she gets?”

“With Micah being sick, she’d get disability money direct deposited into an account. So, if he’s taking it, it wouldn’t surprise me. It’s several thousand a month. He’d consider it worth his while to take. Although the pimping wouldn’t surprise me either—and I’m not saying it’s not possible—but she couldn’t leave Micah alone all day or all night long. She can’t leave him at all, really.”

“Unless Zeke is staying with him while she works the streets.”

“Maybe, but I don’t think so. We sat outside her house all night and she never left it. Didn’t have any visitors either. I’m leaning toward the checks.”

Quinn lifted a shoulder in a light shrug. “Guess we can ask her.”

“Or Zeke.”

“If Richie’s somehow set this all up, Belinda’s not going to say anything. Zeke, on the other hand, might.”

“Or we just catch him. But in order to do that, we’d have to follow him, get him on camera either cashing a check she wrote to him or simply using her card at the ATM. Do we have the manpower?”

“Never hurts to ask,” Steven murmured as he ran his fingers over the letters in his text back to Haley. “But proving he’s coercing her into giving him the money is another issue altogether.”

“True.” Quinn slammed a hand against his desk and Steven jerked mid-answer. “What?”

“Richie’s out.”

“Already?”

“I told you they were working on it.” He sighed. “You let Haley know Richie’s back out and I’ll see if I can get someone on him as soon as he leaves the building.” Quinn picked up his phone and Steven heard him ask for Captain Thorne.

Steven went back to his text to Haley.

I’d love to come. Want me to pick you up? Also, Richie was just released after making bail.

Haley paced the conference room floor behind her chair. Olivia stood at the head of the table while Katie and Maddy sat to her left. Charlie, Olivia’s brother and a contract employee of the agency, was working with Maddy’s current client. Lizzie, another contract employee, had eyes on one of Katie’s clients. And that’s the way it would remain for now.

Two new faces took up the other two seats to Haley’s right. Christina Sherman and Laila Rabbinowitz. Haley had met them briefly before the meeting and had instantly liked them. Christina, tall, blonde, and magazine-model worthy, had dark eyes that didn’t miss anything. Laila, a more petite woman with her dark skin, chocolate brown eyes, and shy smile, packaged deadly skills and a razor-sharp mind.

A small sense of relief flowed through her and she chastised herself for her worry. Olivia would never bring someone into the agency who wasn’t a good fit for them all.

“Haley?”

Haley jerked at the sound of her name. Olivia was looking at her. “What? Oh, sorry. I was thinking.”

“You want to tell us what you need in regard to your grandfather and the Hampton family’s safety?”

Haley let out a slow breath and gathered her thoughts. “Yes. As you know, several attempts have been made on my life in the last few days. I’m not sure who or why, but unfortunately, we have several options to speculate on. One, it could be that Richie Derrick, a violent man who I have made angry, could be seeking to hurt me out of spite. Or two, I have a rather interesting past that has just come to light. It could be that someone doesn’t want me to come back to life—so to speak. Someone who murdered most of my family when I was five years old.”

Her friends reacted in unison. “What?” Katie asked.

“Who?”

“Why?”

Haley held up a hand. “Hang on and let me explain.”

They fell silent.

“Who are you leaning toward as the guilty party?” Laila asked.

Haley hesitated. “I hate to guess in case I’m wrong.”

Katie reached out and grasped her hand.

Haley squeezed her friend’s fingers. “Due to all of the craziness, I haven’t been able to really sit down with my grandfather to dig deeper. Maddy, could you cover him just in case? Right now, Quinn has friends watching him, but they have their regular shifts coming up and will need to leave soon.”

“Of course.”

Haley turned to the new women. “Laila, would you help cover Zeke, Micah, and Belinda at the hospital?”

“Just tell me how to get there.”

Haley really liked the soft-spoken, steely-eyed woman and looked forward to getting to know her better. “Thanks.”

“And me?” Christina asked.

Haley hesitated. “I need you to have my back.”

“You’ve got it.”

Haley turned back to Olivia. “I hope all of this goes away fast. I don’t like using almost the entire agency’s man . . . er . . . woman-power.”

Olivia shook her head. “We’re here for you. I’ve got a few more people on the list to call if I need them to help cover our clientele. This is an unusual situation, but we’re a team and we’ll roll with it. Everyone just needs to be flexible.”

Haley let out a slow breath. “All right. Thank you.”

“So what’s next?”

Haley looked at her phone and saw Steven’s response. “Christina, Laila, and I all head to the hospital.”

Steven stood just inside the door to the hospital, where Haley said she’d meet him. He saw her emerge from the covered parking deck, flanked by two other women. She moved with an easy stride across the street, head held high, always watching, ever alert. She spotted him and lifted a hand in greeting. He returned the gesture and held the door for the three of them. “Thanks,” she said, then introduced him to the two new members of the Elite Guardians agency.

“Nice to meet you.” He focused back on Haley. “Richie’s here.” Which had derailed his plan to ask Belinda about the checks and if Richie was cashing them—or forcing Belinda to do so and give him the money.

Haley sighed. “Seriously? How?”

“I got a text from the officer on the door. Officer Savakis tried to keep him out, but Belinda insisted on letting him in. Zeke started arguing with her and Richie shoved him out the door and told him to calm down. Zeke is sitting with Savakis now.”

Haley’s eyes took on a fierce glow, but she simply drew in a deep breath. “All right then. Thanks for the heads-up. Laila is going to stay with Zeke. He’s her client for now.”

“Good idea.”

They walked to the elevator. Once on Micah’s floor, Steven and the three women made their way down the hallway to the boy’s room. Steven spotted Savakis. Zeke sat in the chair usually reserved for the officer. The teen’s eyes were narrowed slits and his fists rested on his thighs. He looked up and spotted Haley and Steven. Steven thought he might have seen a flash of relief before it was covered with a hardness that Steven worried might become a permanent thing.

“He’s in there?” Steven asked.

Zeke gave a short nod.

“Zeke, this is Laila,” Haley said. “She’s going to be hanging around you for a while.”

“Why?”

“To make sure you don’t get killed in another drive-by.”

“Oh.” Uncertainty flickered, but he didn’t protest.

Haley stepped around him and knocked. Then pushed inside without waiting for an answer. Steven followed. Once inside the room, his eyes went first to Micah, who looked to be sleeping. Belinda sat on the chair next to him and held his hand. Richie stood with his back to the window, hands shoved in his pockets, mouth tight, eyes glaring.

He wasn’t happy.

Belinda’s gaze jumped to Haley’s and the woman walked over to wrap Haley in a hug. “I’m so glad you came.”

“How is he?”

“He needs a transplant and soon.”

“Where is he on the list?”

Belinda bit her lip. “Not high enough, I’m afraid,” she finally whispered.

“What are you doing here?” Richie broke his silence.

Haley glanced at him and Steven crossed his arms, keeping his hand close to his weapon.

“Visiting a friend, Richie. What are you doing here? Couldn’t find anyone else to bully?”

His nostrils flared and he took a step toward her. Haley didn’t flinch or look away. She simply raised a brow. Steven inched his hand a little closer to his gun.

Then Haley narrowed her eyes. “Relax, Richie. I’m just here to check on Micah.”

“He’s fine and we don’t need you checking on him. So why don’t you butt out and go find another charity case?”

Belinda’s sharp indrawn breath drew Steven’s gaze to her. Anger darkened her features as she stared at her boyfriend. “Really? Charity case?”

“Shut up, Belinda.”

“Richie—”

“I said SHUT UP!”

Belinda cringed as if she’d been slapped.

“All right,” Steven said. “You want to get arrested again?”

Richie turned vicious eyes on him. “For what? Yelling at my girlfriend?”

“For disturbing the peace.”

“For existing,” Zeke grunted from behind Steven. “Get out of here.”

Richie growled and came at Zeke. Steven simply stepped in front of him.

Richie stopped, turned back to glare at Belinda. “You sure you want to do this?”

Belinda grimaced. “Richie, not right now, okay? I need to take care of Micah—”

“You’ll regret this.” His gaze swept the room. “All of you.” And then he shoved past Steven, shouldered Zeke out of his way, and slammed out the door.

Quiet descended.

“Well, that was intense,” Micah said, his little voice breathless and small.

Belinda whirled and took his hand again. “Don’t worry about him, baby.”

“Dump him, Mom. You don’t need him.”

Belinda bit her lip.

“He hits Zeke,” Micah said. “You all think I’m too sick to notice anything, but I heard him punching Zeke the other day.”

“What?” She swayed, and Steven moved closer to the woman in case he needed to catch her.

Zeke frowned and clenched his fists. “Micah, stop—”

“No, you stop.” Micah coughed and closed his eyes, then opened them again. He looked at Haley. “You can make him stop.”

Belinda whirled to stare at Zeke, who met her gaze. “He hits you?”

Zeke shifted and hunched his shoulders. “Only a couple of times and I don’t let it bother me.” He narrowed his eyes at his younger brother. “You shouldn’t have said anything.”

Micah shuddered. “Yes, I should have. Should have said something before now.” He closed his eyes again.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Belinda whispered. “Why?”

Zeke’s shoulders dropped. “For a lot of reasons.”

Belinda shook her head and Steven could tell she really hadn’t known. She dropped into the chair behind her. And wept.