One of the cops ran over to Kenna and crouched to speak to her. The other approached Jax’s side. “You’re the one who called the lieutenant?”
“That’s right,” Jax said. “My daughter, she’s nineteen. She was just kidnapped from the back seat of the car by men driving black SUVs. My wife is pregnant and needs medical attention.”
“No, I don’t.” She held on to the cop’s arm, standing up out of the car.
Jax’s stomach clenched, but he didn’t order her to sit back down.
“And this guy?” the cop beside him asked.
“He’s about to tell me who hired him for a contract kill.” Jax folded his arms across his chest.
The killer lifted his chin. “I didn’t kill anyone. I don’t have anything to do with what just happened here. And you can’t prove either of those things to be untrue because they aren’t.”
Kenna leaned against the car, like she was shaking off a daze. “We know you didn’t finish the job, but you accepted payment for it.”
“Who paid you?” Jax asked.
“All I have is a username.Grand Master.”
Another car bumped the curb and sped into the parking lot. Ryson’s brakes squealed, and he shoved the door open to race over. “You guys all right?”
Jax moved to Kenna, gathering her into his arms. “We’re all right. Maizie was taken.”
She leaned her head on his shoulder. Jax threaded his fingers through her hair so he could feel her heartbeat in her throat again. To reassure himself that she really was okay. The baby needed to be checked out, but she hadn’t been harmed. Just knocked out by whatever they’d used.
“I’ll put this guy in the car.” The officer took the killer’s arm and led him to the black-and-white patrol car.
Ryson stood in front of them, his attention on Kenna. “Why take Maizie?”
Jax swallowed hard. He didn’t have an answer. “What about her laptop?”
Kenna didn’t move out of his arms. Ryson went to the back seat and looked. “It isn’t here.”
Jax shook his head, but he didn’t know what to say. Maizie had been through so much. MSI knew that, and they still did this? They’d destroyed any goodwill they had with him, and probably also with Kenna, by doing this.
Ryson asked, “Is it possible they needed her for something?”
“They could have asked.” Jax clenched his jaw. He was probably holding Kenna too tightly, but she didn’t seem to mind. She was doing the same.
“They’re still in town. We’ll put a BOLO out for the vehicles, but it would be better if we had license plate numbers.” Ryson scratched his jaw.
The other uniformed officer wandered back over with his partner—though they’d arrived in separate vehicles. “Your guy in there is talking now. Says he’ll give you what you want to know about this Grand Master person. You guys know what he’s talking about?”
Jax nodded. Kenna slid her arms from around him.
Then an ambulance pulled into the parking lot.
Kenna stiffened. “I don’t need to see a doctor.”
“You might not, but the baby does, and that is nonnegotiable.”
Thankfully, she didn’t argue. Ryson held out his hand, and she took it. He walked her over to the ambulance, where the EMTs climbed out.
Jax went with the officers. “What did he say?”
One of the cops said, “I think he saw you and your wife. Maybe he’s got a soft spot.” He opened the front passenger’s door, and Jax slid in, facing the back.
Through the grate, Jax could make out the killer’s features in the dim light. “I need all the help I can get right now. Which is good for you because it means I can put in a good word. You can make a deal.”
