“Now you know the guy is all but invisible.We discussed matters online, in a secured but deserted facility I had to be driven to. So much fuckin’ drama.” Hammer snorted. “But I gotta tell you. This shit is getting downright weird.”
“How so?”
“I was hit with a lot of questions about Noel Jr.”
Noel blinked. Hammer hadn’t planned to ask anything about a baby. Just about that code on the locket and rumors about unauthorizedmissions. “What?”
“I know. Nothing about the possible attempt on you. We didn’t talk about Angel or that code. Just questions about a baby.”
“What did you tell him?”
“That the kid was none of his fucking business.”
“Not smart.”
“I was trying to get a rise out of him. I ended up getting a lock on the location he called from. Before I could enter the hotel, a SWATteam showed up and arrested a major drug dealer. It was crawling with cops, so I waited. When I tracked down the computer on the other end of the server, I found it in a hotel room down the block that had been sterilized. Everything wiped down. Just a black phantom mask left behind on the bed.”
“Hell.” Phantom’s involvement with the kid couldn’t be good.
“What do you want me to do?I’m thinking I should come back. I don’t like how this is shaking down.”
“Me neither.” He paused. “I think another attempt was made on me today.” He described the attempted hit-and-run.
“Seriously? That’s sloppy, Noel. A drive-by. Poison. Getting you alone and plugging you with bullets. That’s art. But this? It’s rinky-dink, if it’s even real. Not Business, man.”
“I know.”Noel sighed, then asked the question he dreaded broaching, but he wanted a second opinion. “I invited Addy to come out for a Friday night date. Should I cancel?”
“Nah. You can protect her if there really is someone after you. And hell, maybe draw them out so you can ask some questions. Better to fight them in a crowded city than on the island, right? You don’t want that shit near your home.”
Hammer understood.
“Right.” Noel felt a sense of relief he didn’t need to cancel on Addy. “I’ll be here through Saturday afternoon. Deacon’s on point with the kid. You staying or coming back?” He’d almost said “coming home.”
“I’ll give it another few days then head back. I have something I want to try with our ghostly dude.” He paused, then Noel heard the smile in his voice.“I wouldn’t rush back if I were you. Deacon left a message on my voicemail, and he didn’t sound happy. I gather he’s not into changing diapers.”
Noel grinned. “No, he’s not. But he’d better get used to it. Or you should, come to think of it.”
“No way. You can think whatever you want. I didn’t father a baby. No way, no how.”
“We’ll see soon enough, won’t we?”
“Fiftybucks says it’s Deacon.”
“I won’t take that, because I agree with you.” Noel started up his car. “I know I asked you two not to leave.”
“More like ordered us to stay.”
“Big Joe isn’t giving you a hassle about the time off, is he?”
“Nah. He’s plenty busy with the rest of his stable.” Hammer paused. “You know Big Joe has a half dozen contractors active and running aroundat any given time. The three of us being on break is no biggie. And even if he did know we’re hanging together, it’s not unusual for us, right? He knows we’re friendly.”
Friendly, but not exactly friends. “I don’t know if I like him knowing that.” Noel felt uneasy. The Business didn’t frown on interoffice relationships, but they rarely dealt with them, the nature of a contractor’s workbeing solitary. “Do you think he has any idea about the kid?”
“Nope. I mean, hecould,but that would mean he has eyes-on. We know our phones are clean. And we’ve all been very vague about the situation when communicating. Far as Big Joe knows, we’re off doing our own thing.”
“I guess you’re right.” Still, he had a weird feeling in his gut.
“But Noel, these accidents you keephaving… Keep your eye out. I’ll talk to you when I know more.” Hammer disconnected.
