“She’ll be fine.” Dawn gave Mandy a kiss on her cheek.
“Is he your boyfriend?”
“Yes, he’s my boyfriend,” Dawn replied. “His name is Luca.”
“Is he nice?” Mandy said.
“Yeah, he is.” Dawn nodded.
Luca pulled out his cell phone and made a call. “Dad, I have a situation here. Can you bring Gabe? I’m on Waverly Street in front of the dumpster across from the Dorcet Motel.”
“What happened to the pretty bird?” Mandy asked Dawn while Luca was talking to his dad.
“He had to fly home to be with his family. I need to buckle you in, honey. We’ll be heading home soon.”
Luca finished up his call.
“Okay, everything’s set. I called Dad, and he’s going to call Captain Moore with an anonymous tip. SWAT is going to swarm Keene Street Convenience.”
“Why? What’s going on there?”
“I’ll tell you in private.”
He opened the passenger-side door, and she got in. As soon as he was in the driver’s seat, she asked, “What about Suzie?”
“Joe will come with backup to haul her out of the dumpster and take her in.”
Dawn reached out and placed her hands on his cheeks. “Does that mean this is over?”
“I think so.”
“Thank you.” She kissed him fast and fierce. “Oh, here’s the gun by the way. It wasn’t loaded.” She handed it to him.
He shook his head and shoved the gun under his seat. “Let’s get Mandy and her dad reunited.”
* * *
Luca pulled out onto the street and drove like a maniac to the safest place he knew…
The Fierro family home. From there, he’d call Jack.
“What happened?” Dawn whispered as soon as they were inside.
Gabriella came bustling out of the kitchen, bent over Mandy, and gave the girl a big warm hug. “Sweetheart. Your daddy is on his way over. He’s so glad you’re safe. We all are. Would you like a glass of milk and a cookie?”
“Yes, please!”
Gabriella chuckled and gave Luca a smile that conveyed relief, gratitude, and something else… Awe?
Luca filled Dawn in on what he’d overheard in the alley behind Keene Street Convenience.
“I can’t believe it,” Dawn said. “I mean, I can believe it, but it’s so crazy. That horrible sergeant actually had his own sister-in-law offed and wanted to do the same to his niece?”
“I had no idea how ruthless he is. But I guess part of it is trying to save his own neck. I heard him talking to Joe the other day about his upcoming vacation to Cancun. I bet he’s looking to make a getaway and disappear for good.”
“You mean leave his family?”
“In order to escape jail time? I’m sure of it. Psychopaths really don’t think of anyone but themselves. He’s probably doing this one last deal to get a big cash haul.”
