“You know damn good and well what I mean. You slept with her. What are your intentions when this is all over?”
“Christ, what are you, her dad?” he complained. “She’s a big girl, and she knows what she’s doing. In fact, Mr. Smarty Pants, it was her idea.”
“Really?”
“You don’t have to sound so surprised. I’m quite a catch.” There was a short pause before they both burst out laughing.
“Let’s eat. We’ll talk about this later,” Adam said sternly, giving Mitch his bestI’m watching youlook.
“Hey, Mags. Adam says he’ll get lunch. What are you in the mood for?” Mitch hollered as he made his way to thekitchen. “Mags?”
He froze after reading the note on the counter.They have Steph at the store. I had to. I’m sorry. Maggie (12:30 pm)
“I’m coming,” Harold said in Maggie’s small voice.
“Oh, fuck!” Mitch plowed a hand through his hair.
Adam came up behind him and read the note. “Shit. Shit. Shit. I’ll go now. You stay here!”
“How can I stay here? She just left to give herself to a crazy murderer!”
“Hear me out. They’ll use her as leverage to get to you. You’re the bigger fish. If you waltz right into their arms, they have no reason to keep her alive. Think about it for a second,” Adam said rationally.
“Okay. I see the logic. But what if theyhurther? I swear to God, Adam, if they lay one finger on her, any of them, they’re all dead.”
“I get it. I know. We’ll find her. They must have threatened her not to tell or bring anyone. If we call for backup, we could blow everything. She left thirty minutes ago, so they’re probably long gone from the store, but I’ll head down there and find out what I can. If they left Steph, and she’s still there, I’ll talk to her and get as much information as I can.”
“Oh, God. All right. Go. I’ll call Morrison and get the tracker activated.” Mitch went to open the front door and noticed his knife missing from the entryway table. “Hey. I think she took my pocketknife. It was right here, next to my gun.”
“That was good thinking on her part. If she can keep it hidden, it might come in handy.”
“True.”
“All right. I’ll call as soon as I know something. I’ll let you know if I see anyone watching your building, too.”
After Adam left, Mitch ran for his phone to call Morrison, the detective who had lent him the tracking device.
“I’m not on duty, man. It’ll take me over an hour to get tothe office.”
“Is there anyone else who can track it? I don’t have time to wait,” Mitch pleaded.
“Honestly, Mac, no one knows I gave it to you, and I could get in big trouble if they did. Plus, you’ll have to get permission to turn it on. It’s useless unless it’s activated.”
“If I call the LT and clear it, is there anyone else who can track it?”
“You can ask whoever’s working and see. The device I gave you is an older one. Some of us know how to track it, but not everyone. I’ll head back to town now, just in case. Shit, dude, I’m sorry. I didn’t think you’d actually use the thing.”
“Neither did I. I’d have purchased a top of the line one myself if I thought it was truly needed. Damn it. Anyway, thanks, man. And please hurry.”
Mitch hung up and immediately dialed the LT. He explained quickly and precisely what he needed. The LT gave him the okay to have the device turned on and tracked.
“So, you’ve been using your time off to protect this woman? That’s mighty nice of you.”
“Turns out she’s a family friend. The reason we didn’t say anything about the threat at her apartment, or try to arrange for police protection, is because we’re pretty sure there is someone on the inside leaking information.”
“Well, shit. Any idea who?”
“Unfortunately, no. It has to be someone that knows Maggie identified Manuel, which she did that day I punched Adam in the lobby. The only officers in the lobby were Wilson, Garcia, Mathison, and Davis. Adam talked to them, but said they all seemed clean.”
