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Kit comes over and sits down next to me. “I’m glad you’re okay, Kate.”
“Thanks Kit. I’m glad I’m okay too,” I smile. “You’re a little unorthodox and a bit of a pervert, but I like you. I even like Race too. He’s your better half, keeping you on the straight and narrow. Thanks for um—making sure I’m all right. But I think that maybe there’s another reason you are here.”
Race comes up to me. “You were our primary concern, Kate. You, Cole, Kit and I, we’re family now.”
“Thanks Race.” Cole comes and sits down on the other side of me. “I think I’m ready to tell you what happened.”
The detective and Luke join us in the living room. The detective sits across from me in a chair. “Do you remember me, Mrs. Holt?”
“I know you’re the detective from the incident with Cooper, but I’m sorry. I don’t remember your name.”
“That’s all right. My name is Warren Franco. You’re welcome to call me Warren. Take all the time you need and try to remember everything you can.”
“Okay, please call me Kate. I think that Cole and Luke need to explain something to me first.”
“What is it?” Cole takes my hand.
“Who’s Shane?”
Cole tenses. He glances up at Luke.
“Shane, if that’s her name, doesn’t work for me. Somehow, they intercepted your phone calls. We aren’t sure how, we’re still trying to figure that out. So when you wanted to go out, instead of me receiving the text, she did. Or whoever she’s working for, and then Shane showed up to escort you. I’m not sure what their plan was at that point. But I think because,” Luke stops and smiles, “because you are you, that their plans fell through.”
“You mean because I can’t go anywhere without being difficult.”
“Something like that. Either they took your phone, or the Elvis impersonator really stole it. Whoever did hasn’t turned it back on. I’m guessing it was Shane. We pulled surveillance from the grocery store, but we couldn’t tell.”
“You should have told me.” My anger bubbles up. “She was in the bathroom when I came out of the stall. I assumed you or Cole sent her in after me. I didn’t even question it.” I retell my story about Mr. Not Important, and how I got away, or he let me go. “The whole point was to give you a message, Cole. He said to tell you to sell a company you own, Lawton Shipping. I asked him who you’re supposed to sell it to, and he said the highest bidder.”
I notice Race and Kit exchange glances. Cole just tightens his hold on me.
“These tie into the threats you’ve been receiving, now that you know exactly what they want, do you have any idea who would want you to sell this particular company, Mr. Holt?” the detective asks, making a note on his pad.
“Yes, I have a few, but there’s one name that stands out. Raphael Mezzo, he owns the Mezzo Corporation. The man Kate’s describing sounds like his enforcer, a man named Melvin Martins. They’re based out of New York.”
“The guy who threatened me, his name is Melvin?” I laugh out loud. “No wonder he wouldn’t tell me his name. I wouldn’t tell anyone if that was my name, either.”
“I’ve heard of him as well, but that is not the name he’s recognized by.” Detective Franco stands.
I glance at Cole for the answer. “I don’t really want to tell you. Please don’t make me.”
I’m probably better off not knowing, especially at this moment, so I shake my head in agreement.
Detective Franco slides his note pad in the front pocket of his suit coat. “If I send over some mug shots, do you think you could identify him?”
“Sure,” I shrug.
“I’ll come back in the morning. I hope you feel better, Kate.”
“Thank you.” Luke and Cooper show detective Franco out. I curl up against Cole, lying my head on his chest.
“Are you hungry?”
I shake my head no. “More water.”
“I’ll get it.” I open my eyes to see Race move towards the kitchen.
“You should really try to eat something.” Cole runs his fingers through my hair and down my arm.
