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"And Bailey Hollis,” Agent Pierce adds. “Somehow, all existence of Bailey Hollis vanished about a week after her shooting. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you, Mr. Abrams?"
"I don't. I'm sorry. I know her family is very private."
"Miss Hollis doesn't have any family, Mr. Abrams." Agent Pierce's eyes squint and stare me down like he thinks I'm lying straight through my teeth.
"Am I under arrest, or am I free to leave?" I ask.
"You are free to leave anytime."
I place my lawyer's business card on the table.
"Be careful, Mr. Abrams. You are playing with dangerous people."
I almost reply that I’m not playing with shit, but I keep my mouth shut and leave quietly.
Pulling into my garage, I sit, staring at the steering wheel. I have no idea how I got here. My mind was so preoccupied the drive became robotic. I need to talk to Bailey. I need Susan to get me in to see her.
Andrea stands in the doorway, waiting for me. She doesn’t say a word, just remains in place, already my port in the storm of my life.
I jump down from my truck, stride toward her, and pull her into my arms, desperate for the calmness only she can provide.
"How'd it go?" she asks, sliding her hands into my shirt and running her nails across my back.
"Not good. I need to talk to Bailey. I'm beginning to think I didn't know Bailey at all. Did you bring your new computer with you?"
"Of course. It's on in the dining room. I was in a heated game of Blackjack when you came home."
We settle into the dining room chairs and Andrea pushes the computer over to me.
"Can you do it? I've never been good at the Google thing."
"Sure. What are we looking up?"
"Let's start with the Diablo Family Cartel." The color drains from her face as she types the wordcartel. I told her I was a dark cloud, but I don't think she was prepared for this. Hell, I wasn't prepared for this.
"Says they are a criminal organization based in Los Angeles with ties in Colombia and Guatemala. They are one of the larger cartels involved with weapons and cocaine sales here in the U.S. They have an arrest and seizure page over two pages long.” She bows out a breath. “Daniel, these are evil people. Was Bailey involved with them?"
"The feds seem to believe so. Okay, look up Juan Carlos and Marco Villanueva."
Her fingers click rapidly over the keys, then the color drains from her face. Her quick intake of breath is audible in my quiet kitchen.
"Andrea? What is it?"
"That's Carlos."
"Are you sure?"
"I don't remember much about that night, but I remember his face, specifically the scar on his right cheek. He had a story about being attacked by a rooster as a kid in Colombia."
"He’s been following me." I grit my teeth.
"Daniel, am I in danger?"
"I don't think so. Marco had the opportunity to hurt you and chose not to. He was looking for information. I need to talk to Bailey. I need to find out the truth about what Bailey got me—and my shop—involved in."
"Have you heard from the nurse today?" Andrea asks.
"I've tried a few times with no response. Part of me wants to storm the hospital and demand to see her, but deep down, I think I'm afraid to know the truth. Bailey is… was… my best friend."
