She smiled. “I looked you up.”
I should have done the same. “I’ll get the drinks. What’ll you have?”
“Matcha latte, please. I’ll find us a table.”
I nodded as the line moved. When Danny Bolls left without noticing me, he turned toward Glory Hole Studios. I had to wonder if it was just a coincidence—or was I becoming paranoid?
I got our coffees and carried them to the table in the back of the café, where the lawyer had chosen to sit. I put her drink in front of her and took the chair facing the room, thankfully. I was too used to facing the room.
“Thank you. I’m sorry I checked you out, but I’m not accustomed to meeting with bail bond agents. I received a call from the court today confirming that my client had passed away. Attorney-client privilege survives death, Mr. Hansen,” she reminded.
I nodded. I wasn’t stupid after all.
Ms. Springs studied me for a minute before she spoke. “Honestly, all I can tell you is that if you check Pedro Vega’s criminal history, you’ll see that he received a temporary restraining order by service two months ago.
“He wasn’t allowed to have contact with my client, nor her minor son. If he did, as you suggested, take custody of the child, I need to contact Ruiz’s court-appointed advocate and the sheriff’s office.” She took a sip of her coffee while I stared out the front window, mulling over the information.
If he took Ruiz against court orders, the chances he’d give the boy back were slim to none, especially since Maria wasn’t thereto fight for her son. If her parents were still in Mexico, would Pedro give the boy to her mother and father to raise?
“Do you know anything about Vega that you can tell me? Maria’s Aunt Rita showed me a vest of Maria’s that had patches indicating she was a member of the Viper Kings, or however they perceive the partners of their club members. Did Maria mention it?”
“I can’t say.” She did, however, nod. At least she knew that much.
“Can you tell me if Maria gave birth to Ruiz in the States?” It was worth a shot.
She smirked and put her manicured index finger on the tip of her nose while she winked at me. That meant Ruiz was a US citizen, and Pedro taking him from Rita Ramirez was kidnapping. If he took the boy to Mexico, it was an international issue that should get the federal authorities involved.
“Parental abduction is a serious crime. I know someone at the Center for Missing and Exploited Children if you need a name.” I raised an eyebrow at her.
She smirked. “Mr. Hansen, I have a few contacts of my own, along with a friend at the DEA who would like to get his hands on a Viper King. Are you going to try to find Pedro Vega?”
I exhaled. “People have told me to let it go. It’s just that the things I’ve learned from Rita about Maria don’t give me the impression she’s a hardened criminal. For instance, why did she steal a two-thousand-dollar Chimi handbag from one of the Miracle Mile Shops? What was she going to do with it?”
“Hypothetically, what if it wasn’t the purse but what might be inside the purse?” She reached for her coffee cup and took another sip.
“Where is the purse?”
“I’m guessing it’s in LVPD’s evidence locker.” She finished her drink and stood from her chair.
“I need to leave. I have guests from out of town. It was nice to meet you, Mr. Hansen. If you find anything productive that might help get Ruiz back to his grandparents in Juarez, please don’t hesitate to reach out.”
I finished my coffee and followed her out. It was just before six, and I had a dog to get home to, which was a new thing. I wished I had a man and a dog to get home to, but hopefully, that would happen soon enough.
I needed to reach out to Spitzer and ask him if he had a friend who worked in LVPD’s evidence locker who would let him look at the Chimi handbag that had been stolen by Maria. Maybe it was tacky, but it was something to consider.
Chapter Fifteen
Bailey
I fell asleep in my shitty apartment on my horrible mattress after talking to Jagger, who was dog-sitting. He sent me pictures of Dixie, the Sparks Bail Bonds mascot, and I could tell he was in love with the dog. Hell, I wouldn’t mind a dog.
“Yeah, she’s a real sweetheart. I’d kidnap her, but I’m afraid Monty would beat my ass. He loves that dog as much as he loves Sparky. I guess I’d think more seriously about getting a dog if I didn’t have to go out of town so often for work.” Jagger was baiting me, and I took it hook, line, and sinker.
I said, “What if you had a buddy to watch the dog when you had to travel, would you think about it more seriously?”
I loved his playful tone when he mentioned getting a dog. There was nothing about that man that I didn’t love. I just needed to tell him when I was back in Vegas.
Jagger laughed. “A buddy, huh? Well, that’s something to take into consideration.”
