Leo opened and closed his mouth like he was a fish out of water. “What? Who?”
“Amy,” Mal supplied.
Leo looked Mal up and down. Nico was starting to think the sneer on his face was permanent. “What about her? She took her kid and ran. I’ve got men looking for her, though.”
“She didn’t run away. Her kid is fine. Someone took her,” Mal said.
Leo shook his head, giving Mal another irritated look. “How would you know? Who are you?”
“There was a rumor that this Amy woman had a problem with either Frankie or Jason. One of them was harassing her,” the Dai Lo explained to his son. “Is that true?”
Again, the man looked both annoyed and confused. “What? That was months ago. Frankie was getting a little handsy with her. Jason took care of it.”
“Jason took care of it? Why didn’tyoutake care of it?” his father barked.
“Because Frankie doesn’t listen to anyone but Jason, andyouinsisted that Jason be part of my crew. You know they’re a package deal. Either way, it was handled.”
“Are you sure?” the Dai Lo asked. “Maybe Frankie saw an opportunity and took it. Are you sure he doesn’t know where she is?”
Leo scoffed. “You really think Frankie would waste his time on some run-down seamstress? She was an easy target. When Jason slapped his hand, he moved on. He’s been in the warehouses every night, and when he’s not there, he’s keeping half the hookers in this town in high heels.”
“Do you know anyone else who might have had it out for her?” Mal asked. “Anyone who was paying a little too much attention?”
Leo shook his head. “No. Jason made it known that she was off-limits. That she was too important to the operation for him to have to babysit the others and that she was under his protection.”
“So, who in your organization would be willing to overlook Jason’s orders?” Jericho asked.
Leo shook his head. “Nobody. They know what happens when they disobey direct orders.”
They all sat there, letting the threat hang in the air.
“So, where does that leave us?” Nico finally asked. “Someone has to know where she is.”
Thomas leaned forward, catching the Dai Lo’s eye. “We’d like permission to look into some of the men, starting with Frankie.”
“No way,” Leo said. “You can’t go snooping into our operations.”
“Watch your tone,” his father snapped. “Do you have any idea who you’re speaking to?”
Leo looked like he wanted to snap back but seemed to reconsider, seeing as how he was still being held up by two of his father’s men.
“Forgive me,” the Dai Lo said to Thomas. “But my son has a point. Having outsiders involve themselves in our operation is just bad business.”
Thomas nodded. “Of course, but isn’t it in your best interest to find Amy as well? Your men have clearly been looking just as hard as we have and they’ve found nothing. Consider us a fresh set of eyes.” The Dai Lo looked at Leo for a long while. Thomas added, “From what I understand, she disappeared before she could train the others. I imagine your counterfeiting operation is at a standstill until she’s returned to you, no?”
Was Thomas suggesting they return Amy and Casey back to these people? What was happening? Thomas was supposed to be one of the good guys. Well, as good as anyone who killed peoplecould be. Nico gnawed on the inside of his cheek, his leg jiggling rapidly until Mal set a hand on his knee.
Nico let the warmth of his hand bleed into his skin through the thin fabric.
“I don’t suppose you’d be content with just letting us investigate and letting you know what we find?” the Dai Lo asked.
“We would feel a bit more at ease if we could do it ourselves,” Thomas said diplomatically.
“And what are you going to do if or when you find out who’s responsible for her disappearance?” Leo asked warily.
“That depends entirely on the state Amy’s in when we find her,” Jericho said. “What would you do if the situation was reversed?”
Leo gave a noncommittal grunt, then looked away.
