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After I return with my jammer, she powers on the tablet. The home screen is blank except for the notepad app. She opens it and reads the message audibly.
“Mia, you were told to leave this alone, but you always were stubborn and self-righteous. In light of our history, I’m giving you one more chance to do the right thing and protect those you care about. The people I work with aren’t as generous as me, especially after the stunt you and your team of bargain-basement avengers pulled last week. That won’t go unanswered. But if you come to me willingly, I’ll do what I can to keep you safe. Meet me Sunday at noon at Pier 60 and come alone. I’ll know if you bring your little squad of heroes or the cops. I’ve always been one step ahead of you. You can pretend that there’s no one you love, but you don’t fool me. I know you’ve been watching them for years. It’d be a shame for something to happen. All because of you. Again. Noon at the pier. Only you. Don’t be late.”
She sets the tablet down and blinks wildly. “What time is it?”
“Mia, look at me.”
It takes her a few seconds, but she eventually trains those gorgeous green irises on me.
“It’s not your fault. It wasn’t your fault back then, and it’s not your fault now. You got me?”
She nods, but it doesn’t convince me of anything. “What time is it?” she asks again.
After a quick check of my watch, I answer, “Ten thirty-seven.”
“Good. You have time to get him before noon. Go get the guys ready. I need to call my sisters. Show Big Al this. It should be all he needs to get on board.” She hands me the tablet.
Bending close to her, I wrap my free hand around the side of her neck and kiss her forehead. “I’ll be right next door if you need me.”
As I’m leaving, my phone buzzes with an incoming text.
Son of a bitch.
It’s Gloria.
We left her at the house this morning to look after Ma for a few hours. But she needs to leave soon. Her granddaughter has gone into labor, and the whole family is gathering at the hospital.
Thumbing through my contacts, I find Kate’s number and fire off a Hail Mary text.
While I wait for a reply, I rejoin the team and show them the message on thegift. As expected, Boss gives us the green light and steps away to call Detective Patterson at CPD to give him a heads-up. Boss doubts the threat on the tablet will be enough for an arrest, but we’ll have tried. He’s forever trying to keep peace with local law enforcement.
Kate replies when we’re grabbing gear in the armory. She can come but not until early afternoon. We don’t have time to wait.
Think, think, think.
Bailing on the mission won’t bode well with Boss or the guys. And how would that make Mia feel? Although she’d understand, it would be like I was abandoning her.
And I want to get my hands on that cocksucker Tony.
All geared up, I stand outside Mia’s office and rack my brain for a solution. I could call Kri and Shep, but they had plans with Val today for some mathletes thing and brought Junior with them. Leo is taking care of Sue. I could potentially send Sammy to sit with my mother, but they’ve never met. That could be a nightmare for my mom and Sammy.
Only one viable option doesn’t involve me bailing on the mission.
Mia.
My mother has gotten comfortable with her this last week, and Mia can handle her if she gets agitated.
Best of all, Mia wouldn’t need to sacrifice her role in the op. With her laptop and mine, she can keep tabs on us from there.
I’m sure she’ll do it, assuming that calling her sisters after this many years of no contact doesn’t upset her too much.
Shaking it off, I reply to Gloria, letting her know we’ll be there in less than an hour.
Nothing left to do but wait until Mia comes out.
So I wait. And wait some more.
Chapter46
