“I do need a man who understands my business and you do that. When I lost Nuchols, Polaski, and Bidle in the raid I lost three good men,” Leland said. “Minchin, even with his faults, is still reliable. You could be that for me I think even though you weren’t with me that long. Because I am having to regroup, bring in more new men. Move my organization from one point in Colorado to another.”
“I’ll do what I can,” Dan said. “As much as I can.”
“I like to hear that,” Leland motioned to the waitress, and she came over. “Bring us…what can you have, Dan?”
“Tea? Do you serve that.”
“I’m afraid not,” she said. “Soft drinks or booze.”
“A coke then. I have to avoid the alcohol still because of medication.”
“I’ll have a white wine,” Leland said.
He explained what he wanted Dan to do and was getting ready to tell him about the new location when the waitress returned with their drinks. She set the wine glass down and then the soft drink in front of Dan. But before she turned to leave several of the patrons in the bar appeared behind her and they all pulled guns on them.
“What is going on here?” Leland said looking at all the guns and then at Dan who also had a gun pointed at him.
“Leland Warshafsky, you are under arrest for Human Trafficking, kidnapping, and possession of controlled substances.”
Leland laughed, shaking his head. He’d been played and he’d been played well. An FBI agent with a vest proclaiming the agency logo came forward and cuffed him.
“Let me guess. You were never shot or needed to be in the rehab facility?” Leland asked, looking over at Dan.
“I was shot, but I was wearing a Kevlar vest. And no, I didn’t need to be in that facility. But we needed to make you believe that is where I was all this time,” Dan explained.
“Good one,” Leland said. “But you’ll never find those girls.”
“You’re wrong there. They were found this morning,” Dan told him. “Your man Minchin sang like a canary on where you’d be today.”
Rafferty hobbleddown the hallway on his crutches to the room where Justus and Chaney were admitted as soon as he’d been discharged. The nurse had offered to push him in a wheelchair, but he didn’t want to wait for one to be sent up to his floor. The policeman on guard opened the door for him, and once he got inside, he found they were both sleeping.
He closed the door behind him and hopped the rest of the way toward Justus’ bed. He sat on the edge of her bed, propping his crutches against a nearby chair. She stirred and looked at him.
“Rafferty,” she murmured, reaching her hand for him.
He scooted toward her until he was close enough to hug her. “How are you?”
“Groggy. I don’t know what we were given, but the antidote is about as bad,” she said. “Neither of us can stay awake for long. They say once we can eat something it should help, but I still haven’t seen any food being brought to us.”
“I’ll take care of that. What do you want?” he asked. “Pizza? Burgers and fries? I’m starving too. I’ll Grub hub and order.”
“Burger and fries,” Chaney said from the other bed. “Hey, Rafferty. How’s the knee?”
“Hey, Chaney,” he said. “I’ve had surgery and been discharged. Just waiting for Rawlins to get here to take me home. How long are they going to keep you both?”
“Not sure,” Justus said. “How’s For All?”
“Don’t worry. Liberty has been taking care of him. She’s been staying at the condo.”
“Oh good. That’s what big sisters are for,” Justus said, squeezing his hand. “I missed you.”
“I missed you.”
She leaned forward and they kissed.
“Okay, you two. I’m still in the room,” Chaney said and then chuckled when they didn’t stop.
The door opened and Rawlins, Asher, and Liberty came in.
