An envelope. Inside was a Polaroid of Ashley. She was bound and gagged, a hand forced her to face the camera.For Tommy, was written in black marker across the polaroid’s white strip.
The image of Al raising his right arm flashed in front of my eyes. The black rose tattoo on his right forearm was larger than life in my memory.
“How could I be so stupid?”
“Blaszek?”
“The black rose.” I handed the photo to John. “Al had a black rose tattoo on his right forearm. They wore long sleeves most days because they kept the room I was in cold as fuck, but I saw it when I shot him.”
“Can you be sure it’s him from just the arm?”
“Yes. Plus the note says, The next time you kill someone, make sure they’re really dead. It has to be.”
Knowing Al was behind recent events explained the level of cruelty. Using a stuffed cat to traumatize the Yorks was something he’d take pleasure in doing.
I sank onto the couch. My elbows landed on my knees as my head dropped into my hands. “How?” The why was obvious, but how?
“How’d Al survive? How’d he find me? How’d he find out about Ashley? How the hell do I find her?”
I didn’t realize I was talking out loud until John answered me.
“This isn’t on you.”
“But it is.” I lifted my head. “I didn’t finish the job.”
“I can’t speak to that, but you aren’t responsible for a madman’s actions.” He put a grounding hand on my shoulder. “Tell me what you know about him. Where is he most likely to hold her?”
A deep breath in. “He’ll want seclusion.” Hold. “He won’t be alone.” Deep breath out. “He’s a weapons expert.” Hold. “He likes to inflict pain.” Involuntary shudder.
I stood and dug into the box. Taped to the bottom were coordinates. Singularly focused, I was typing them into my phone before remembering the team.
“He gave me coordinates,” I said, still typing.
“Us. Unlike last time, you’re not in this alone.”
My thumbs paused while I looked him in the eye, nodded, and said, “Hooyah.”
Because the rest of the team returned without me realizing it, the round of “Ooh Rahs!” and “Hell yeahs” as they chimed in caught me off guard.
Calm washed over me.I was never meant to be a lone wolf.Falling back into a leadership position and issuing orders felt like coming home.
“Sharpe, can you pull up satellite footage for the coordinates?”
“On it. I’ll get the drone ready, too,” Doug answered.
“Thanks. Sheppard,” four sets of eyes turned to me. “Right.” I huffed a half laugh at my mistake. “John, can you bag all this?”
I was issuing the next order before he finished nodding.
“Jaden, we need an entry plan.”
“Obstacles?”
“Expect booby traps and an ambush.”
I heard Meg gasp.
“Just another Tuesday, right, Jack?” AJ asked with a grin, holding out his fist.
