Quelling the desire to send him a clingy text like Where the hell are you? I havent heard from you every hour on the hour, just like a cuckoo clock, she turned her attention to her very valid reason for being here. Even if it was an excuse.
I wanted to touch base with you about Marcie and Bens wedding, to see if youre going to need anything from Ben regarding the ceremony or the vows. That way I know when to start badgering him, make sure he has it done.
Good idea. Dana beamed. I spoke to Cass the other night. Shes doing the big-sister thing. She isnt really sure if its good for Marcie to get married so young, but the fact theyre waiting until spring helps.
Janet suspected Cass worried that Ben hadnt yet made enough progress in dealing with the debris of his past to make a good husband, but he would be. He was an impossibly strong-willed man, but all five of the K&A men were. They were also incapable of ignoring their primary imperativethe well-being of the women they considered theirs.
We all expected theyd marry, Dana continued, but I wasnt sure if theyd be the type to go on for years before making the decision. I expect Ben would have done just that, hes so new to all the relationship stuff, but Marcie probably threatened to date other guys if he didnt marry her within a year of her moving in.
Janet could well believe Marcie would pull such a move. What had Ben said? She made me agree to marry her, not I asked her to marry me. Ben was the most hardcore of all of them, a sexual sadist definitely not for the fainthearted submissive, but Marcie embraced and even craved that side of him. I think shed better remember he has the resources to create an actual dungeon beneath his house.
That would only excite her, Dana said, confirming Janets thoughts. Since the minister didnt wear her sunglasses in the church, Janet saw her pale green eyes twinkle. Then Dana put a finger to her lips, a self-admonishment in deference to their surroundings. But anyhow, yes, there are a few things you can put on his calendar. Theyve agreed to a series of sessions to discuss the significance of marriage with Reverend Morris, and then
Reverend Dana? There she is. Yo, Reverend Dana.
Two teenagers had appeared at the entrance to the nave. The one whod spoken came down the aisle at a trot, dragging a slighter boy behind him. They were both dressed in oversized jeans and T-shirts, a hoodie flopping off the narrow shoulders of the one being dragged.
Jimmy, slow down. This is a church, not a gymnasium, Dana scolded, but she had her hand out as they came to her. Whos with you?
Terence. Hes got something he needs to tell you, right now. Janet saw the slighter boys cheeks had dried tear tracks. Dana picked up on his distress, because she rose, settling her hands on his shoulders. Despite his age, he was still a few inches taller than her. The other boy towered over them both. Cmon, man, tell her fast. He dont have time for you to dick around. To waste, he corrected himself, casting an apologetic look toward the altar, much as Dana had when she was referencing Marcies sexual preferences.
Your driver, the big dude
Max. Janet spoke before Dana could, stepping up beside her. That faint unease in her gut was suddenly doing a meringue across her vitals. What about him?
Terences eyes slid to her. Danas hands tightened on him, however. Shes all right. You can trust her. Tell us, Terence. Whats happened? Is Max all right?
Hes totally fucked, is what, Jimmy said, then winced as Dana sent him a searing look. Sorry, Reverend D.
He asked me to find out something for him, Terence blurted out. A few months ago. I almost forgot about it, and I wish I had. But I gave him the info this morning, and he left. But it wasnt
He burst into tears then. It shattered the street toughness, made it clear he was barely in his teens. Even so, Janet had to restrain herself from shaking the rest out of him. Dana caught that vibration, because now she had one hand on Terence, one on Janets forearm. Some guy gave me money to tell Max something, the boy continued, but thats just like Judas, isnt it? I needed it for my mom, but when I told her how I got it, she said I had to come tell you, and I know it was wrong, but I cant take it back
Never mind that now. Tell me what happened.
Max wanted to know if this particular dude came back to the neighborhood. A Mexican guy called Dino. A long time ago, he used to be hooked up with the 9th Streeters, ferrying their shit to them. He hasnt been around in a really long time, but he showed back up. I dont know how he knew I was on the lookout for him, but one of Dinos guys came to me, told me if Id tell Max hed be at this one place, hed give me a grand in cash. But Max couldnt know that wed talked. It had to be like Max would think he was surprising Dino, but that means they were gonna be the ones doing the surprising.
The kid was sobbing. I knew it was wrong, so I went asking around, but it was too late. He went straight there. I talked to some homeless dudes and they said Dinos guys carried something out in a sack. Something the size of a guy like Max.
Janets heart faltered, her vision getting skewed, but she dug her fingers into the top of a pew, holding fast as Terence kept talking.
Theyre supposed to hold him somewhere until Dino gets in tonight, to deal with him himself, settle some score he has with Max. Nobody round there knew where hed been taken though. Hes gonna be dead, Reverend Dana. And itll be all my fault.
Where did you tell Max to meet Dino? Dana asked firmly, giving him a shake to keep him on track.
As Terence relayed the location of a derelict building in the warehouse district, Janet already had her cell phone out. When the man answered on the other end, she took a breath. Dale, we need your help. Max may be in trouble.
Dale came to the church. Marcie arrived about the same time, with a zippered black duffle bag almost bigger and heavier than herself, but the lissome, athletic blonde carried it easily. Dana had called her right after Janet spoke to Dale. Janet had also called Alice, managing to tell her in a calm voice shed decided to take the rest of the day off to get some errands done. Shed given her direction on FedExing out several contracts and disconnected. She didnt want Alice involved in this.
So explain to me why were not calling the cops? Marcie asked, putting down the bag. Theyd moved to an activity room at the back of the church where it was quiet. Dana had sent Terence and his friend to talk to the minister, so it was just the adults now.
Beyond the fact we dont have a location at this point, when we do, if the bad guys hear sirens, theyll just kill him and cut out. There are also too many questions thatll be raised about why they took Max in the first place. Theres a reason Dino has laid low as long as he has. He knows Max took out two of his buddies and has been on the lookout for him for a while.
Dale spoke bluntly, but Janet had told him everyone in the room could be trusted. The fact he took her at her word meant hed gauged her character at their one meet and found her to be someone he could trust. Any other time shed been flattered by it, but all she felt was a pounding urgency to get moving, to do something. But she had to trust him as well.
Thats kept him scared enough to stay in the shadows, but time blunts fear. Thereve also been some power shifts happening in his cartel, so thats probably why Dino popped back on the grid. Hes ready to move back into the limelight with the 9th Streeters, capitalizing on his old contacts with them. Max is a loose end in the way of that. Dale propped a hip on a table. Ive already gone by the warehouse where the kid sent Max. Saw evidence of the scuffle, but no ones there. If they put him on a boat, wed likely be screwed, but my guess is theyre not going to take him far. It sounds like Dino has a vested interest in making the kill here, so he can reestablish his power base.
Janet parsed the words, boxing up kill so it had nothing to do with Max. She concentrated on Dales information, on what needed to be done. Dana had made a good call with Marcie. Though the young woman blinked at the information, pressing her lips together, she held firm.
I have feelers out to figure out where they took him, Dale said. Shouldnt take long. Wherever they hold him, it will be a defensible position, with lookouts outside, anticipating any trouble, and more watching him inside. Some crews like the impressive show of numbers, but Im hoping well luck out and it will be more low key than that.
He tapped the cellphone on his hip. I have reinforcements coming. Four operators are near enough to be called into action. Theyre on their way. Once they get here, well figure out a way to get eyes on the inside, create a distraction, and then make our move from there.
What evidence? Janet asked. When Dales gaze turned to her, she firmed her chin. You said there was evidence of a scuffle? Blood?
Yeah, blood. Broken crates, what looks like a fist plowed into the wall of the warehouse.
Blood. Why had she asked? Maxs face, his torso, all those perfect lines of muscle, flashed through her mind. An empty corpse, lying in a pool of blood.
But no body, Janet. Dale gave her a hard look. Keep that in mind.
Im fine, she said shortly. And she was. Ice was flowing through her veins, a simmering rage. At Max, at Dino, at Dale, at the whole situation. She needed to get a grip on it. She could tell Dale registered her tension, and she couldnt be less than invincible right now.
Ive got surveillance equipment to help with the eyes inside stuff, Marcie spoke. And I stopped at your house to get the things you wanted. She directed that to Dana. It was tough to leave the assault rifle behind. That was sweet.