Page 52 of Deadly Threat
It wasn’t a question. Caleb looked out the window, avoiding her gaze. “Malachi feels guilty because he didn’t collar Horvat before your kidnapping. He’s been a bear about it since the beginning. Horvat was actually a skip trace for us; he’s been on our books for nearly two years. We never carry any that long, especially not one that my twin is after. Malachi’s the best at tracking these assholes, but we’re all better than that. It just seemed like he was the one that got away. Every lead was a dead end. When you were kidnapped and we found out Lopez—Horvat—was behind it, he went crazy.”
Weird emotions hit her. Realization did, too. She thought back to that day in the library, that night at the peer group meeting. Was it coincidence that Malachi had shown up at both? Was he helping her simply out of a sense of guilt?
She took a step back. “I see,” she said, even though she didn’t. “That must be what he meant about owing me.”
Josie seemed to understand the conflict going on in her heart. She grabbed Mia’s arm, giving it a squeeze. “We can all see he’s totally infatuated with you. No one here wants to find Amber more than he does, but it’s not only because Horvat outsmarted him—he’s head over heels for you.”
For a brief second, Mia considered calling Sue for a ride. She needed to think. Clear her mind. Sort this out.
But where would she go? Her apartment would never be the same, Malachi’s presence would always be there. Her parents’? She wouldn’t be alone or able to think there, although getting a hug from her mom would sure be nice. Seeing her dad, too.
Malachi stormed through the entrance, looking like he’d just been through hell. “Where’s Joe?”
“Here.” Joe rushed out, pocketing his phone. “Does anyone know a good divorce lawyer? I’m pretty sure Sam is going to kick me out.”
Malachi touched Mia’s arm. “You okay?”
This is about Amber, not me. “I’m fine.”
Malachi nodded, looking at each of them in turn. “We’re playing possum here. The Taskforce and Dupé will be on our asses any minute.”
“They already are,” Joe said. “Sorry to throw you under the bus, Mal, but I pretended I had no idea you were going to do that.”
“You’re off my Christmas list,” he retorted with all seriousness. “But that’s exactly what you needed to do. Pretend I’ve gone rogue, okay? If you end up having to talk to any of them, play dumb. This is all me. Meanwhile, Caleb and Joe, you hit the list of places I gave you. Josie, you coordinate things from here and man the phones. Someone, somewhere, has seen this bastard and they will call for that reward, I guarantee. Rats are rats. If there’s money involved, one of his friends will turn on him.”
Caleb and Joe began suiting up, filling their vest pockets with various items. Josie nodded. “You did good, Malachi. I like this plan.” She glanced at Mia and gave her a wink.
“Mia and I are going back to the lab and landfill after I ruffle some feathers,” Malachi told them.
Mia would confront him later regarding Horvat and what happened. About him owing her. “We’ve already searched those locations.”
“That’s where you were held,” he said. “I’m sure of it, and we didn’t go inside the lab itself. The SWAT team was looking for Amber, they might have missed something that will ring a bell with you. Now that we know about the false floor and tunnel, I want to check for more hidden spots. See if we find other clues. Horvat and King will believe the place is safe, now that it’s been searched. If Horvat decides he needs to go into hiding, that may be where he returns.”
Mia was skeptical. “They might come back?”
His eyes were hard, zealous. “It’s a possibility, and if so, I want to beat them there and get my own eyes on it. I’m going to put cameras up, inside and out. Horvat will be wanting to hide since I’ve just made him too hot for King and Newt. He’ll need to lay low. What better place than an abandoned building the Feds have already crossed off their list? We’re going to hit a couple of different spots, too—pet shops, Komosu territory, you name it. We’re going to talk to street people near those venues and flash Horvat’s picture everywhere. We will find him, Mia, and in turn, your sister.”
“At least we’ll be doing something rather than sitting around analyzing stuff.”
“If we catch him,” Malachi told her, “we have a way better chance of getting him to turn on King and cough up Amber’s location. If Newt’s here, Amber’s running out of time.”
Caleb systematically checked his pockets once more. “Don’t do anything stupid, Mal. If you sight Horvat or get a lead, wait and we’ll get there ASAP to help with the takedown. He’s a slippery SOB, and he’s also incredibly savage.”
The three brothers exchanged hand clasps and back pats, then Malachi grabbed Mia by the arm and began suiting her up.
Twenty-Three
Three hours later, Malachi had nothing and he was damn frustrated. After showing Horvat’s photo to dozens of people, he was still empty handed.
What he did have was a tail. Not a Taskforce member, like he’d expected after ignoring multiple calls and messages from Harris. No, this was an older Subaru, exactly like the ride service woman—Sue—drove.
Mia was crossing another place off their list when he pulled over, waiting for the Subaru to do the same. As anticipated, it stayed several cars back, parking behind a delivery van.
Malachi checked the rearview, thinking on his options. “Stay here. I’ll be back in a minute.”
“Where are you—”
He shut the door on her question and purposefully strode to the sidewalk, keeping out of the sight of the Subaru and using the van for cover.
