Page 72 of Renegade

“Okay, Raven.”

He got up and left the room with Sarah Connor. I glanced at John. “What are you going to tell them when you call?”

“I’ll tell them…I…ah—what should I tell them?” John asked.

“Why can’t you tell them Raven and Miguel drove out of town somewhere and that you’re followin’?” Jarrett asked.

John nodded. “Yeah, that’s a good idea. That’ll give me time to pick up Niloufar and Daniel and stash them somewhere.”

“Where are they?” Damon asked.

“Here in L.A. I have them in a long-term rental house in Van Nuys, not far,” he replied. “They’ve been living under an assumed name.”

“Bring them here then,” Thayne said. He looked at Mark. “That’s the best way to keep them safe until we can get them into WITSEC or something.”

“You have contacts with the Marshals Service too, I suppose,” John said.

When the others nodded, he just snorted. “Well, that’ll work then.”

“I think you should bring Vonne when you go to pick up Daniel and his mother, Sutter,” I said.

John frowned at him. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Miguel. He hates me.”

“No, he doesn’t…or he won’t when he hears about everything,” I said, clapping him on the back. “Raven and I can go with you to collect them if you want.”

He sighed, clearly wondering what the best thing was. No matter what, Vonne was going to be hurt, but he’d understand when he heard what John had been going through over the past eleven years. He’d be sick about it just like I was. When John’s gaze finally met mine, he nodded.

“Okay, but we’ll ask Vonne to come here to us so we can explain everything before I go get them,” he said. “We should hunker down and figure out a plan to scoop these fuckers up while we wait. Like I said, I have to call them. Hopefully, they buy my story but if they don’t, they’re going to go looking for me and they’re gonna start with your house.”

“Then there’s no time to waste,” Mark said.

We all looked up as Sarah and Raven came back into the conference room. Raven looked much more relieved as he sat down in the chair beside me.

“She’s armed,” he said with a grin on his face.

“What?” I asked.

Raven chuckled. “Dolly carries a gun in that massive purse she lugs around with her. She said that no one—and I’m quoting here—“no one is gonna hurt this big ol’ black woman or anyone she loves.”

I laughed as the others groaned. “Well, she doesn’t live in the greatest neighborhood,” I said, “but I never knew she was armed. Did you tell her not to shoot SAC Connor’s agents when they turn up at the house?”

“I told her myself, Miguel,” Connor said, grinning. “And I respect a woman who takes care of herself.”

“What’d you tell her?”

“That there was a threat and that I was sending four of my finest agents to watch over her. I also called Cassidy Ryan and Mike Williams. They weren’t happy that you haven’t been forthcoming with everything you and Raven have been going through lately, but I explained that this all happened in the last week. Cassidy said he’ll meet my agents over at the house and they’ll all stand vigil until we have these people in custody.”

“And I said we’ll owe them a huge favor when this is all said and done,” Raven said.

“Or barbeque,” Jarrett drawled. “They love a good barbeque.”

“Who’re Cassidy Ryan and Mike Williams?” John asked.

“Friends at the LAPD,” I replied.

His eyes widened as he nodded. “So, you really do have friends in all the right places, Trigg…ah…Miguel. That’s good to know.”

“It’s nearly eight,” Mark said, looking at his watch. “You should make your call, Sutter.”

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