“We saw hiscar,” Kane declares. “We assumed he was in it, which is why we sent Romeo. Then we saw a second car… then a third.”
“So you’re telling me no one has seen this prick sinceyesterday?” Tim growls. “And we still put the girls on his fucking plane?”
“I’m saying we’re not in panic mode yet, but we’re observing the fuck out of this situation, and we intend to figure things out before they land. This isn’t just about your family, Malone. It’s ours too. Don’t get loud with your bullshit.”
“What about trackers?” Cato asks. “Has no one thought even once in the last seventy years to drop a microchip in Cordoza’s cereal?”
“We have trackers on the girls,” another voice rumbles through the line. Someone I don’t recognize. Someone I don’t know. “They’re exactly where they’re supposed to be, at the right altitude, going the correct speed. Cordoza’s car is being tracked, too, but it’s where we already know it is. Romeo’swatching it. It’s empty for now, which means we have nothing to listen to.”
“Unfortunately, we can’t hear what’s happening on the plane,” Kane continues. “Soph was worried Cordoza would listen to everything they say, so she has scramblers blocking him out.”
“But it blocks us out, too?” Cato groans. “Great!”
“We stay calm,” Jay reiterates. “We check in with our men, and when that jet lands in New York, we’ll be right here watching it.”
“How fast are we going?” Cato spins toward the cockpit. “Can we go faster and land before them?”
“Don’t think that’s allowed,” Jay chuckles. “Just be cool, kid. You breathe through it, because no one hits a target from twelve hundred yards while they’re having a panic attack.”
MINKA
“What’s going on, Estefan?” I long ago ran out of patience, and the whole ‘make sure you speak respectfully’ thing flew away with Aubree’s flapping wings. “I figure, since we’re in the air, this is a bit like being in international waters, no?”
Cordoza shuffles along the cabin, white-knuckling his cane and, when he arrives, plopping onto a couch opposite mine. “International waters, Chief? You might have to help an old man out and explain.”
“I mean, up here, and on the water, we’re not within regular jurisdiction. It means I propose we adopt the same mentality right now, since you worked so damn hard to get us alone. We’re not in Copeland, nor are we in New York. Thus, I propose we discuss this without all the formality andGodfatherpretense.”
Ellie clenches her teeth.
Estefan only chuckles. “The Godfather? As in, the movie?”
“Have you seen it?” Aubree quips. “It’s pretty good.”
“Cut the shit.” I stomp back to my seat and sit with a huff. Leaning forward, I rest my elbows on my knees. “What do you want? Why do you need it without the Malones in sight? And why the hell would you lie to Archer about me last week?”
He considers me for a long beat, studying me through wise, weary eyes and three deep breaths. Finally, he looks Mariana’s way and lifts his chin. “The file, please.”
“Of course.” She whips an overhead compartment open, jittery and overenthusiastic in her actions, then she sprints in four-inch heels and thrusts a manila file in his direction. “Here you go, Mr. Cordoza.”
“Good.” A lazy smile curls his lips, then he tips his chin toward the cockpit. “Please leave now. Close the door and don’t return until I say you can.”
She nods. Nods. Nods some more. Then she makes a sound in the back of her throat and twists away.
“Privacy from your own staff?” Ellie snatches the file straight out of his hands, surprising us all. Perhaps Estefan most of all. Flipping the file open, she peruses the pages. “Why would you ask for privacy from your own staff, Estefan?”
“You astound me, Michelle. I would expect Chief Mayet to forget her manners in such a spectacular way.”
“Wait.”Am I offended? Should I be?“Why me?”
“But you?” He doesn’t even bother fighting to get his paperwork back. He merely settles into his chair and just… breathes. Long, laborious inhalations. “New York’s influence seems to have worn off a little.”
“My sparkle tends to dull when my friends are being screwed with, and you’re hiding things from your own employees.I don’t…” She flips through pages. Flips. Flips. “I don’t know what this means.”
“Perhaps Doctor Mayet could assist?” He looks my way, entirely too relaxed, considering his lack of guards. I could end his life and… what?Hope the pilot doesn’t kill us all? “Would you do the honors, dear?”
Suspicious, I tilt in Michelle’s direction and accept the file, flipping it open to the front page and perusing its complete… innocuousness. “These are blood tests…” I scan each line. Each non-informative number. “Red blood cells are within range. White blood cells, too. Platelets are fine. Lipid profile is fine; LDL is within range. HDL is good.” Pausing, I bring my eyes up to his for a beat, then down again as I continue reading. “Triglycerides indicate your heart isn’t at risk. Blood glucose is slightly elevated, but hardly worth mentioning. Liver enzymes show decreased function, but again,” I lower the file to my lap. “Within range, considering your age and lifestyle. What are you showing me?”
He gestures my way with a flick of his wrist. “Keep going. I know I said your medical education was not entirely relevant for this meeting, but since you’re here and since you did, in fact, study…”
