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“Not good,” Hansen said. “He woke up yesterday, but something went wrong and they had to operate again. Blood clot.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” I said. I meant it. I liked McAllen. He’d always treated me fairly despite whatever misgivings the asshat next to me had. Said asshat kept silent a little while as we drove through town, heading back the way we’d come only an hour earlier. In the end, though, curiosity got the better of him.
“Why didn’t you come to us when you found out a cop had been shot in the same place Andrea had been kidnapped?”
I stopped at a stop sign, checking for traffic before driving again. “The same reason none of us ever do,” I said. I had left the alley in a haze of confusion after being hit by the van. I hadn’t heard about the shooting of McAllen until later. Since no one had come for me by then, I figured I hadn’t been seen. “You would have thought I had something to do with it. Hell, you did believe that,” I explained. “That’s why we stay out of your way. You lot always misunderstand and throw out accusations first.” At least now he knew I was the intended victim, not someone who was to blame for McAllen’s injuries.
“Yeah…everyone you know looks at me like I come spreading the bubonic plague or something.”
I shrugged. “You kind of do.”
It didn’t take long before we were back at Mona’s house, the street as peaceful as earlier. No Agent Larkin in sight, only people out walking or raking what leaves had started falling in their yards. Picture perfect. Nothing to suggest the poor man inside the house, who couldn’t move his fingers even if his life depended on it.
“And why are we back here?” Hansen asked as we walked up to the front door.
“Because I have a bad feeling about this,” I said. “And put that away,” I added, pointing at his badge.
“Can’t do that,” he said. “I’m supposed to—”
“I don’t give a crap. Put it away. It upsets people.”
He sighed, point made, but at least did as I said, putting the thing in his pocket, as Mona opened the door.
“Did you find out anything?” she asked before I could open my mouth. Didn’t even care that I had brought a complete stranger to her doorstep.
“Maybe,” I said. “I won’t take up your time, Mona, but I asked the wrong question when I was here earlier.
“Okay,” she said, no idea where I was going with this, but trusting me nonetheless. “Fire away.”
“I shouldn’t only have asked you about Jake’s affiliation. I should have asked if there’s anyone else in your family with the same or a similar one.”
Her eyes widened at this. “Dr. Morris told me on the phone there was another boy with the same affliction. Do you think someone targeted them?”
Seemed Hansen wasn’t the only one sharp on the uptake today.
“Might be, yeah,” I said. It was too much of a coincidence. According to Dr. Morris, Michael had been attacked yesterday. Jake the day before. I wouldn’t be surprised if it happened again. “So…are there more in your family?”
She nodded and swallowed hard. “My nephew, Will. He’s related to my husband’s side of the family.”
“And his affiliation is?”
“Exactly the same as Jake’s.”
Chapter 7
“I’m just sayingthere’s useful stuff in the other car,” Hansen pointed out. He sat against the hood of the Beetle, arms folded.
“Well, it’s too late now,” I said, sitting inside the car, door open, dialing Will’s number again.
“It wasn’t when—”
“Now we’re here, and I am drivingthiscar.” I sighed. “Straight to voicemail again.”
We’d been trying to reach him since leaving Mona’s house, and so had she, no doubt. Will had come to Ashport with Jake, visiting his aunt and uncle, as well as going on a camping trip with friends and his girlfriend, who was local.
“What kind of kid keeps his phone off this long?” Hansen asked, shaking his head.
“The kind who’s sharing a tent with his girlfriend. Not like you were busy checking your phone the other night, either,” I said without thinking and saw his shoulders stiffen as he looked down a moment. I had forgotten about his embarrassment regarding the safe house. So much else had happened. I tried very hard not to laugh as I got out of the car. There was nothing else to do but head up Highfield Ridge and look for the kid.
