Page 16 of Deadly Threat
He did wander over to the board and snap a photo of the foster’s number, just in case. In case what, he wasn’t sure. Yes, a dog would be nice, but did he really have time for one? Could he be a good dog parent when he was gone at all hours, sometimes for days at a time?
Caleb and Josie would watch it for him, but they had several cats. What if Boomer didn’t like cats?
Great, I’ve already named it. That couldn’t be good.
Mia finished, a deep crease between her brows as she turned from the counter and returned her wallet to her bag. Vet bills were expensive and Malachi wondered if she needed cash.
Back inside the truck, he assisted with getting Ladybug situated between them on an old sweatshirt of his. Then he glanced at Mia. “The FBI knows you’re with me and they’ve been calling. Do you want to talk to them?”
She worried her fingers in her lap. “Guess I should. I don’t know what I can tell them that I didn’t already recount to the police.”
“I assume you don’t necessarily want them at your place. We can use my office, if you prefer. I’d also like to bring my brothers in on this to help. We’re not law enforcement, as I told you, but we have a lot of combined knowledge about this city and the criminals who occupy it.”
“Sure.” She stifled a yawn. “Whatever I can do to up the odds of finding her, I’m in.”
She was going to be a zombie if she didn’t get some sleep. He couldn’t provide that just yet, but maybe a meal would help. “Have you ever had a breakfast burrito?”
Her brows rose in a question. “Can’t say that I have, why?”
Shifting into gear, he grinned. “There’s an all-night food truck near the office. Family run operation with the best Mexican this side of the border. The coffee’s borderline, so I don’t recommend that, but the food is delicious. You’re going to love it.”
She didn’t protest and he drove to the all-night stand. The owner, Yoán, hailed him when Malachi got out, and Mal bought extra for everyone he expected to be at Bondsman Brothers.
He was glad he did. The lights inside the building seemed harsh, probably because he was so tired. Caleb hit him with, “What the fuck?” before the chime over the front door finished itsbing-bong.
“Everyone, this is Mia.” He handed Caleb one bag and Joe the other. Then he made the round of introductions. “Mia, meet Josie, Sam, Caleb, Joe, and Jack-Jack.”
Mia cradled Ladybug, who leaned over her arm to sniff as Jack-Jack greeted them. The Jack Russell terrier stared up with curious eyes and offered a bark that Malachi assumed was a hello.
Ladybug lifted her chin and looked away. Jack-Jack seemed confused and Malachi tried not to laugh. The ladies usually loved the former street dog. “Give her some space,” he told Jack-Jack. “She’ll come around.”
The group gave Mia hellos and chin nods, already digging into the extremely early morning breakfast. Josie, the best office manager around, had coffee brewed and a selection of cold drinks available. Each of them grabbed a foil-wrapped burrito and their choice of beverage and headed for the conference room. Jack-Jack followed.
As Mia laid Ladybug, half-wrapped in Malachi’s sweatshirt, in the corner, he made a place for her at the table. Jack-Jack lay down not far from the visiting dog, his nose going crazy between sniffing her and the air with the tantalizing scent of food on it. Mia joined them and Malachi sketched out the events of the night, along with what the two of them believed about the abductors.
As everyone asked questions around bites of food, Caleb left and came back with his laptop. “The Quattro Gang doesn’t have any leadership. They scattered after Marcher’s arrest.” He licked two of his fingers, wiped his hands on a napkin, and opened the computer. “I’m sure most were just laying low, but this seems intricate for them to pull off so successfully. You said the guy who spoke to you sounded Russian?”
“Or possibly Eastern European.” Malachi downed a swig of coffee. “I’m bad with those accents. The others sounded Chinese, or perhaps Korean.” He glanced at Mia. “What do you think? Any idea what nationality he is?”
She swallowed and nodded. “Definitely Eastern European, but not Russian.”
Caleb typed. “He had scars on his face?”
Malachi finished off his burrito. “From acne.”
Josie leaned over to read Caleb’s screen. “You think you can get a hit off that little?”
“I’m adding the Quattro Gang as a parameter. Did any of the others who kidnapped you have accents?” He directed this at Mia.
Malachi saw her purse her lips before she answered. “Not anything distinct, and Marcher only ever allowed a few of his men near me during my ordeal. They moved me around, but didn’t speak to me.”
“Can you walk us through the night they took you?” Sam asked.
She sat back, frowning. Her gaze stayed glued to the tabletop, and Malachi’s stomach flip-flopped seeing her obvious distress.
“You don’t have to,” he told her. “If it’s too traumatic.”
Sam gave him the hairy eyeball, but stayed quiet, waiting.
