“Have you seen the news?”
“Nah, what did I miss?”
“Ten women have gone missing in the last fortnight from Maine. One was spotted in Camden. The police announced it tonight.”
“Fuck.”
“We’re coming to you. The father of a victim has contracted us. We’ve got a lead in Camden. You need to set up base camp. We’ll arrive at six in the morning.”
“I’ll get shit organised. You want rentals?”
“Yeah, brother,” Jude replied.
“On it. Text me the flight and airport. I’ll send an encrypted file with everything.”
I didn’t bother saying bye and cut the call. Then I started a search for what they’d need in terms of a base and headed out to bathe the girls. By the time I got them settled, I’d ordered four SUVs, found a converted barn to rent nearby, and ensured they had internet.
Once Raven and Robin were down, I organised the rest. They were landing at six-ten in the morning. I arranged for the cars to be waiting, as I knew they’d be carrying supplies on the plane. While ACI didn’t have an actual base, we had several stashes around the country, including one in Camden. I dialled mybabysitter; I had to start organising the equipment needed.
I was surprised when, instead of the babysitter, her husband answered. He told me she’d had a fall and was at the hospital. I wished them well and hung up. Fuck. I couldn’t wake the girls and take them with me, and leaving them alone was out of the question. Jude would understand why shit wasn’t done, but that weighed on me.
I checked my contacts and ruled out the school moms, not at ten o’clock in the evening.
There was one number I hesitated over before shrugging and punching it. She could only say no.
“Dynamo.”
“It’s Mike,” I said, surprised she’d answered.
“What do you want?”
“A favour.”
“Cut to it, Mike, I don’t have all night.”
“I need someone at my house. The girls are in bed, and I gotta be somewhere. I can’t take them with me, and my babysitter’s had an accident.”
“Are you asking me to watch them?” Dynamo sounded stunned.
“Yeah. There’s no one else that I would trust with them,” I replied.
Silence fell. Shit, she’s mad.
“Don’t worry, I’ll figure something out…”
“I’ll be there in twenty minutes,” Dynamo said and cut the call.
I was unsure how to feel about that, but at least she was coming. A quick check around ensured thehouse was tidy. Quarter of an hour later, bike pipes roared, and I opened the door.
Dynamo swung off her Harley and gazed at me before walking up the path. Her hair was pinned up, and she let it swing loose as she came. Dynamo wore tight black jeans and a slouchy off-the-shoulder sweater. Her cut, as usual, was dominant.
“Don’t make a habit of this, asshole,” she said, passing me.
A small smile crossed my lips. She’d come.
“I will be a couple of hours,” I stated.
“Go then,” she ordered, and with a sharp bark of laughter, I left. The quicker I got this done, the better. I headed out for our stash.
