"Could that be why he thought you were being kidnapped?" the detective asked.
Dalton shrugged. "I suppose anything is possible."
"Okay." Detective Jones took the warrant back from me. "Would you be willing to come down to the station and sign something that says you weren't kidnapped, Mr. Darby?"
"Of course, but can it wait until after I've had breakfast? I never got a chance to eat dinner last night, and I was told Mary was cooking up a storm."
"Mary always cooks up a storm," Newt said. "I think she's afraid we'll waste away."
Detective Jones glanced at his watch. "Can you come in by noon?"
"Yeah, I can do that."
"Thank you. I apologize for any inconvenience this situation might have caused, and I'll make sure that Mr. Brasov knows you haven't been kidnapped."
"I'd appreciate it, Detective." Dalton grimaced. "I really want nothing to do with the man. He was a pig while I was working for him, and I doubt it will change now that I've quit."
"Well, hopefully, you won't have to deal with him again."
That was the hope, but I doubted it would happen. Brasov wasn't going to give up just because he couldn't get the police to retrieve his merchandise.
I waited until the detective left before turning toward Knox. "That was too easy."
"Oh, I am aware," Knox replied. "The other shoe will drop at some point. We just need to make sure it doesn't drop on us."
I was all for that.
"I don't think that guy was in Brasov's pocket. He accepted our words without argument."
"I've never seen him down at the club," Dalton said. "Brasov usually goes for people in positions of power. A lowly police detective wouldn't have held much interest to him."
"Then it was most likely one of his supervisors," Knox said. "Something else I'll have the Russians look into."
"That would be good," I said.
"Who's hungry?" Newt asked. "I can let Mary know we're ready to eat."
"I could eat," Dalton said. "But I need a moment with Andrew."
"Okay, we'll meet you in the dining room."
Once the others had left, I pulled Dalton close to me and then reached up and brushed a lock of hair back from his face. "What's wrong, babe?'
"I was serious when I said he's not going to give up, and this is just going to piss him off. Maybe it's better if I just head out of town. I don't want any of you getting hurt."
I smiled at the warmth that filled my chest at Dalton's words. "It's been a long time since someone worried about me."
Dalton smiled. "It's been a long time since I had someone to worry about."
"Guess that kind of makes us a good pair, huh?"
"Yes, but—"
I leaned down and kissed Dalton before he could get another word out. Man, he had the most luscious lips. They were made for kissing. Since he wasn't going to be working for Brasov anymore, maybe he could look into being a lip model.
Was that a thing?
I jumped and spun around when the front door slammed open and Ivan came hurrying in. I could tell from the frown on his face that the other shoe had dropped.
