“And?”
Beth gave a wry smile. “I was worried about John and the risk he was taking. Wild horses couldn’t have held me back.”
Knowing she’d won, Dylan squeezed Beth’s shoulders. “Thank you. I knew that you of all people would understand. Ifyou’ll close up the house, I’ll gather Andrew’s things, and then we’ll get on our way.”
“Andrew and I don’t need to go. We’ll stay here.”
“Abandon you here without any means of transportation?” Dylan shook her head. “Your husband would kill me.”
“He’ll kill me if I don’t tell him what we’re doing.”
“So…?”
“So I won’t tell him till it’s done.”
The package with the severed finger had been removed from Mitch’s desk. A custodian had cleaned and sanitized all the surfaces, but to Mitch it still smelled like a fresh meat market. He used that as an excuse to move to the far side of the CAP unit where there was a vacant desk and a lot more privacy.
John had given him five minutes before they reconvened. He hoped that by then, he would have something substantive to report. He called the number of the US marshal that Tucker had given him.
A scratchy smoker’s voice answered. “Greer.”
“My name is Mitch Haskell.” He hastily identified his police department and rank. “I’m calling about your charge—What’s his name? Something Davis?”
“Marvin.”
“Right. I don’t know if you’ve been notified yet, but Roland Malone is dead. Gutted. Gone. Marvin Davis no longer has to fear reprisal, so I’d like to talk to him, see if he’ll cough up something about Malone, his associates, the operation, and Oz, the leader of their band.”
After several beats, “Who did you say you are, again?”
Mitch’s head dropped forward. He shot a look over hisshoulder and saw Nix marching through the unit toward John’s office, Lear trailing her. He wasn’t surprised that John had invited them to join their meeting.
He went back to the marshal and repeated his name. “Jim Tucker gave me your number because any information Davis gives over could help us apprehend someone who we suspect is Oz. Will you let me talk to Davis, see if I can shake something loose?”
“Hmm. This came from Tucker?”
“Directly. He and I worked together at the DEA.”
“Okay, I’ll see what I can do. Might take some time to set it up.”
“Sorry. I don’t have time. It’s gotta be today. Say within half an hour.”
“Half an hour? We just ordered lunch. It’s on the way.”
Mitch glanced at John’s office again. The three were conversing. He wondered what they were talking about without him. “Have your lunch, then give me access to Davis. Please.”
“Why didn’t Tucker call me himself?”
“He’s got his hands full today.”
“But he knows about this?”
“How else would I have gotten your cell phone number?”
He gave it some thought, then said grudgingly, “All right. I’ll bounce it off Marvin. He’ll probably want to wait on his lawyer, though.”
“That could take forever. I need to talk to Davisnow.”
“Who’re you after?”
