“Don’t be surprised if you get a call from Landry asking about Dan,” Leland said. “He’s doing background.”
“All right.”
“Pull around to the back to let me out when we get there,” Leland said as they neared. “I don’t want to be seen going into the building.”
As the car neared the building, Minchin did as he asked, turning down a side street to drop him off at the back.
“Thank you for everything,” Leland said, shutting the door. He didn’t wait for the car to drive away before he fished his keys out and unlocked the side door. He found the service elevator and rode up to the top floor, keeping as low of a profileas possible. As soon as he arrived, he inspected the loft for cleanliness since its last use and texted the service he used to come as soon as possible the following day to give it a once over before Masters arrived.
Satisfied he had all ducks in a row for the night, he opened a bottle of white wine from his private stock and sat in his favorite upholstered chair with the overhead lights burning low and enjoyed being back in the comforts of a home. Living in his Chieftain wasn’t totally roughing it, but it was cramped quarters. And he didn’t know when he might be discovered living in a storage facility for RVs.
Taking a deep breath, he swirled the wine in his glass and breathed in the aroma before taking a sip. He’d missed this. He’d been forced to drink beer, albeit, IPAs and name brands, but it was still beer for the last two months. He’d worn jeans, t-shirts, shorts, and polos. To fit in with those who were staying at the RV park if he were seen outside of his Chieftain.
It would be glorious to put on one of his fine cut suits again. Have his hair cut, his nails manicured. In fact, he’d make an appointment tomorrow. Somewhere he never went before so no one would know him. Once he found out when the cleaning service was coming, he’d leave to give them time to do their job and he’d go take care of himself.
Twenty-eight hourslater Leland welcomed Seth and his men into his loft and showed them where they’d be staying while there. He offered them a glass of wine and they got down to business.
“I have to say this isn’t exactly where I imagined you were hiding out,” Seth said as they sat in the living room.
“It isn’t. I moved here to receive you,” he explained. “I hope I am not taking a risk in doing so, but I couldn’t expect you to rough it like I’ve been doing.”
Seth nodded. “Your spirits appear improved from the last time we spoke. Has the move made the difference?”
“Not entirely. Although I did visit my barber today. A cut and shave can boost a man’s spirits,” Leland said with a smile. “But that isn’t all that has me feeling optimistic. We located Dan, the one who went missing after the raid. It turns out he was shot and partially paralyzed on one side after the raid in June. He’s been in a rehabilitation facility in town recovering and will be able to rejoin my outfit soon. I’ve had my attorney vet this information for veracity, and it pans out. If it is a cover then someone worked hard to make it look this way.”
“Good,” Seth said. “I’m glad to hear it. As for your other men who have been screwing up?”
Leland gave a heavy sigh. “Well. I can’t do much about them I’m afraid. They are all I have at the moment. But I will replace them all and start fresh as soon as I move out of the Springs.”
“Wise decision,” Seth agreed.
A knock at the loft door interrupted their discussion and Leland excused himself to go answer it. It was the chef he’d hired to prepare the evening meal.
“Welcome. Let me show you to the kitchen,” he said, leading the man in the black chef attire through the loft. “The refrigerator and cabinets are stocked. You should have everything you need to prepare the meal we discussed.”
The man nodded and got to work.
Leland turned on some music as he went back to the living room area and rejoined Seth and his men. “Dinner will be ready in half an hour. I hope you are hungry.”
As they waited, they discussed his plans for moving from the Springs to another location.
“Have you given any thought of where you’d like to go?” Seth asked.
“No,” Leland admitted. “The Springs was an ideal location because of its connection to the interstate and the surrounding hills. It was easy for the missing girls to be suspected to have gone lost there instead of being thought to have been taken for other means.”
Seth motioned to one of his men and he sat a briefcase on the cocktail table and opened it up. He removed some papers and unfolded a colored map, setting aside the briefcase. “I took time to scout out a location that I think would be perfect for your new location. I was glad to hear you had thought of moving as well so it wouldn’t be a shock if I brought it up.”
“Where exactly do you think I should head?” Leland asked, scooting to the edge of the chair so he could see the map easier.
“Show him, Oscar,” Seth said.
The man pointed to the circled area in red. “It’s like the Springs with its proximity to the interstate and its hiking attractions, making it a perfect relocation. A bonus is it isn’t as populated. There’s more land per capita, houses are farther apart, meaning neighbors are wider spread. It will take law enforcement longer to reach one end of the county that it does around here.”
Leland listened and his mind started plotting. “Yes, that sounds like a good place to go.”
Rafferty openedthe condo door and led For All in on his leash, shutting and locking the door behind them. He carried the mail into the kitchen, laying it on the counter before taking the leash off the dog and letting him run free. Then he sorted the junk from the actual mail.
“Justus, you have a letter from the US Attorney’s office. How did they know you were staying here?” he said.
