Page 8 of Dangerous Rhythm

“You mean the rat stabbed with a stiletto knife isn’t obvious enough?” Lina jeered. “Come on, Detective Durham, you know what happened. The Stilettos knew someone ID’d Rocco for Sean Murphy’s death. The dead rat was meant to scare my client from testifying against him.”

“Well, there won’t be a trial now that Rocco’s dead,” Detective Bolts said.

“Yup. Can’t prove it yet, but bet your ass it was payback for Sean. This whole thing is going to blow up,” Detective Durham sighed. “Listen, Mr. Bisset, I don’t think you’re in danger. The Stilettos will focus on the Murphys now. But while we figure thisout, it might be a good idea for you to get out of the city for a while. We can arrange for protection.”

Curtis didn’t hear confidence in Detective Durham’s voice, and apparently neither did Lina.

“Like you protected his identity from getting out?” Lina deadpanned. “I’ll take care of Mr. Bisset. You better figure out if there is still a threat against my client’s safety. You and I both know what kind of person Serafina Stiletto is, detectives. That box arrived yesterday before someone shivved Rocco to death. It was a warning. Now that her son is dead, I worry about what that will do to a mother as dangerous as Serafina is.”

The detectives didn’t look happy being dressed down by a woman. From the way they regarded Lina, Curtis suspected they knew Lina’s military background. But she was now a civilian and a private contractor. She had no authority over them, but they knew she had a point. Curtis got a chill just listening to it all.

“We’ll do our best.” Detective Durham stood. “Just get him out.”

“Marcus will be in touch with you,” Lina informed him. It wasn’t a request.

Begrudgingly, Durham nodded, then the two detectives left with the box.

Lina didn’t waste any time. She turned to Curtis and told him, “Pack a bag. Light. Bring your passport just in case. Our ride will be here in ten minutes.”

“What? Where are we going?” He looked at her, confused. Everything felt surreal. He still couldn’t process what was happening.

“Curtis.” Her voice was firm and sharp this time. “You need to snap out of it. I know this is a lot, but I need you with me. Do you understand?”

Curtis blinked at the reprimand. The seriousness on her face made him straighten his spine. He nodded.

“Go,” she ordered.

Without another word, Curtis went up and threw some clothes into a duffel bag without thinking about what he was packing. He didn’t need much. He was done in five minutes and was about to go back down when he remembered something. He grabbed it before meeting Lina by the front door, already in her coat.

He grabbed his own leather jacket. “Ready.”

She eyed the duffel for a mere second but frowned at his guitar case.

“I don’t travel anywhere without at least one of my guitars,” he said.

She didn’t argue. “Let’s move.”

five

“Here. Eat.” Lina handed him a brown bag that Carl had left in the nondescript small black Honda CR-V he’d delivered to them. She and Curtis were now driving north on the FDR.

Curtis, in the passenger seat, looked into the bag. “Salt bagel. You remembered.”

Lina heard the appreciation in his voice, though it was lacking the luster Curtis usually displayed when she’d presented him with food in the past. He bit into the bagel-sandwich filled with cream cheese and lox almost in auto mode. But he took another bite and chewed in silence. She didn’t think he knew he was hungry until he’d smelled the food. Getting a package with a dead animal would’ve stolen anyone’s appetite. But it was now close to noon, and the only thing he’d had was espresso shots.

“Thank you for that,” he said when he finished his food. “You want the other half?”

“I’m fine for now,” she answered as she concentrated on driving.

“This isn’t what I expected,” he said. Now that he had food in his system, his disposition seemed better and the initial shock seemed to have dissipated. “I thought you security people have a fleet of black Suburbans.”

“We have those, but this car blends in with traffic better. The Honda CR-V is the most common car in New York State. And guess what the most common car color is.”

“Black.” He smirked. “Where are you taking me?”

“Upstate. To Marcus’ cabin,” Lina answered. “You’ll be safe there. We’ll give the police a few days to figure out what’s going on.”

“This is serious, isn’t it?” he asked, sounding flat this time.

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