My cellphone rings and I grab it from my bag, to find Lucas’s number on caller ID. “Talk to me.”
“Last contact between Marilyn and Rip was six and a half months ago. And it was about fourteen months ago when his number first started showing up in her records.”
Seems the kinky blonde bitch was honest about at least some things. Let’s hope that means everything. “Stand by, Lucas,” I order. “I’m going to need you.” I disconnect and glance at Marilyn. “Good news. I confirmed your story. I’m going to pick up your immunity agreement. I’ll call Jay when I have it and you two can meet us at the lockbox. And as a side note, if you’re afraid of Jay, don’t be. He’s my personal bodyguard and a good guy. He took a bullet for me and I’m pretty sure he didn’t even like me at the time. Questions?”
“Who were those men?”
“Cartel,” I tell her frankly, and I do so because a) it’s the truth, and b) she needs to have as many reasons as possible to cooperate. “Kane is not his father, who you must know was a very bad man, but I can’t change the fact he’s his son. They’re still protective of him. And this is what happens when you start throwing the Mendez name around.”
“Oh my God. Are they here for me?”
“Just a misunderstanding,” I say. “And I’ll keep it that way.” I motion to the front of the building. “Unlock the door for me.”
With that, I head in that direction, not about to exit into that shit show out back. Marilyn hurries forward and unlocks the door. Kit motions me to the right, toward a black Mercedes. I hate Mercedes. They drive like a basic bitch of a car but still cost a small fortune. Kind of like a cupcake that looks beautiful and tastes like cardboard.
I hesitate at the passenger door, frustrated by the scene behind the coffee bar, debating a return to Kane and Miguel.
“Don’t do it,” Kit says over the roof, about to climb into the car on the driver’s side. “Let Kane do what Kane does.”
And I have to do what I do right now, I remind myself. I inhale and force myself to climb inside the car. Kit starts the car. “Where to?”
“To the precinct to see Chief Houston.”
By now, everyone on our team knows where to find Houston, and Kit sets us in motion. And by doing so, we leave Kane behind with the cartel.
And while I have no doubt he will survive them just fine, surviving what I have in store for him is another story.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
On the ride to the precinct, I call Andrew and give him the rundown.
“Holy mother of God,” he says.
“At this point, I don’t think we need to bother her. We need that data file. It could give us the best guess on who’s a target, and who might be our killer.” I shift subjects. “What happened with the fake Naomi sous chef?”
“Her name is Ann Casey. She has family in Boston. We have the Boston PD aiding us. They’re questioning the family.”
“Anything in the car?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“What do we know?” I ask.
“Basics. She’s twenty-eight and was a waitress at a hotel in New York City.”
“Did she have a background or hobbies that suggest she might be trying to sell some sort of product or invention?”
“She wanted to be an actress, so no indication of such, but I’ve asked the Boston PD to dig around and find out if there’s more to her than meets the eye. I’m going to be optimistic and say she could be our killer.”
“She’s dead, Andrew. Killed just like the others.”
“She was done. She killed the people who taunted her. Now, I’m betting the farm that she killed herself.”
“First, you have no farm to bet, or I’d take the bet, and take it from you.”
“My car then.”
“You know I should say yes just because you’re my idiot brother. But think about it. If you’re so sure of your assumptions, and they are assumptions, then why bother to pull me into the case?”
“The killer pulled you in, Lilah.”
“Exactly. Then the killer isn’t done with me yet or there was no point in that jar of blood with my name on it. The dead girl is not the killer.”
“You want this kept silent or let it go public?”
“Let it go public. I want Marilyn to think her plan is working. What hotel did Ann work at?”
“The Clementine,” he states.
“Interesting. That’s where Marilyn claims she attended Rip’s events. I’m headed to the precinct now. Coordinate with Houston and call the Clementine to confirm. Find out if there were any big events put on by Rip Vaughn. If so, we need to know who attended the event. And a guest registration list for that night. If they won’t get it for you, I’ll have Lucas hack it.”