‘I will,’ he said, then leaned into Phillip’s face. ‘You are not going to die,’ he growled. ‘Don’t you dare consider it. Stay here. I’ll be right back.’
Tucking his gun into its pocket holster, Marcus stood up on legs that shook, rushing to the master bath closet for clean towels and his first aid kit. It was paltry compared to the tackle box Scarlett kept in her house, but it would have to do.
Pressing one of the towels to Phillip’s bleeding gut as gently as he could, he pulled his cell from his pocket and dialed Scarlett’s number. Please pick up. I need you.
Cincinnati, Ohio
Tuesday 4 August, 8.40 P.M.
Deacon followed Zimmerman out, and Agent Troy rose as well, saying he needed to make some calls. Scarlett found herself sitting alone with Kate Coppola, who looked like she had something to say. So did Scarlett, but she waited, letting Kate go first.
‘I’ve heard a lot about you,’ Kate said. ‘All good.’
‘Likewise.’ Scarlett looked at the other woman speculatively. ‘Can I ask why and how you ended up here?’ She was wondering what Faith would think of Deacon’s old partner showing up out of the blue.
Kate’s smile was rueful. ‘I’m not chasing Deacon. And don’t deny that that’s what you’re thinking, because it’s written all over your face.’
Scarlett rolled her eyes. Marcus. ‘Damn that man,’ she muttered.
‘Deacon?’
‘No. A different man.’ She regarded the redhead evenly for a moment. ‘If you’re not chasing Deacon, this seems like a big coincidence.’
Kate didn’t seem to take offense. ‘It’s not, really. I was up for a promotion, so I knew I could end up anywhere, and my boss knew I missed working with Deacon.’
Scarlett’s brows rose again. ‘So Faith has no worries from you, but I should?’
Kate chuckled. ‘No. I’m not looking to partner with him again, but I had my choice of a few assignments and . . .’ She shrugged self-consciously. ‘My old team in Baltimore had become like family. I couldn’t stay there and maintain my career path because all the roles I wanted were already filled. But leaving family is hard to do. Especially when you’ve never really had one before. Seeing the Cincinnati post opening was the biggest relief. I felt like I could keep growing in my job, but be near family too, you know?’
‘Because Deacon’s like family? Yeah, I get what you mean,’ Scarlett said, thinking about the circle of friends he’d pulled her into. ‘I understand.’
‘But you have your real family here,’ Kate said with a small frown. ‘Your uncle, at least. Right?’
‘I still understand,’ Scarlett said. ‘The family you make on the job is different than the family you were born into, even when that family loves you.’ So much that it suffocates me.
Kate’s frown disappeared. ‘Don’t worry that I’m angling to drag Deacon out of MCES. He’s happy with you guys and doing what he wants to do. But this job is what I want to do.’
‘You have experience with traffickers?’
‘Unfortunately, yes. Baltimore and Washington don’t see as much as some cities, but Baltimore is a port and the Ravens made it into the playoffs last year. Sex trafficking spikes in cities with major league sports.’ Her expression had chilled, her eyes remote. ‘I got my first case six months ago. Sex trafficking. Some asshole had brought his “stable” in for the big game. We got a tip from a resident that something wasn’t right in the house down the street. Boy, was she right. We pulled four young women out of a hellhole that still makes me want to throw up.’
‘But you pulled them out,’ Scarlett said softly.
Kate swallowed. ‘After the fact. We couldn’t undo what had happened to them.’
‘I know what you mean. All we can do is stop the crime, and catch the criminals. But it’s not enough. It’ll never be enough. Yet . . . it has to be enough or we crash and burn.’
Kate’s eyes opened, her emotions under control. ‘I know. I’m sorry. I don’t normally whine about it.’
‘Neither do I, but when I did, Deacon let me.’ Scarlett grinned a little. ‘I imagine he helped you too. Which is why you’re here?’
A small smile from the other woman. ‘He said you were smart.’
‘Did you catch the fucker on that first case?’
Kate shook her head, the small smile fading. ‘No. He wasn’t there when we went in. He got wind of our raid and then he was in the wind. No trace. But we got the women out and placed in shelters. All four were under eighteen, two under fifteen. One was an American girl from Iowa, a runaway. The rest entered the country with their families, who’d come in on legal visas, just like Tala’s family. Tricked into coming in, then separated. The parents and sons were sold for labor slaves, the daughters into the sex trade. These young girls were threatened that their families would be killed if they didn’t comply. So they complied,’ she finished grimly. ‘Over and over again.’
‘So you’ve made this your calling,’ Scarlett murmured.
‘Something like that, yes,’ Kate said with a nod. ‘I’m specializing in it, that’s for sure. I’m sorry Tala was killed, but it is a break we never expected. We need to use it to make sure she didn’t die in vain. What can you tell me about this reporter she was meeting?’
Scarlett told her everything she knew, except for the part about Marcus’s reaction to seeing Tala’s bullet-ravaged head. That was private, and she would fall on her sword to keep it that way.
‘So they met by coincidence,’ Kate mused.
Scarlett shook her head. ‘Not entirely. Marcus knew what to look for. He saw the signs that something was wrong.’
‘And he got involved. Not many do. I’d like to go with you when you talk with the mother and sister. I’d also like to speak to your reporter.’
‘I’ll arrange it,’ Scarlett said, then glanced at her phone when it buzzed, blinking at the caller ID. ‘Speaking of himself. It’s Marcus O’Bannion. Excuse me a moment.’ She got up from the table and walked to the window, hoping for better reception. ‘What’s up?’ she answered.
‘You need to come,’ Marcus said quietly, too quietly. ‘Now. Please.’
Scarlett’s pulse rocketed, but she managed to keep her voice calm. ‘Where?’
‘My apartment. I’m texting you the address. Bring that CSU guy of yours. Tanaka. He’s your best, right?’
‘Our very best.’
‘Then hurry. Please.’
‘Marcus, are you all right?’
But there was no answer. He’d already hung up. A second later her phone buzzed with his text. 7 Hills Twr. Penthouse. 20B.
Kate ran to her side, her own cell phone in her hand. ‘Who should I call?’
‘Call nine-one-one. Tell them to get to Seven Hills Tower in Hyde Park, penthouse unit B. Where’s Deacon?’ She dialed his cell, not waiting for Kate’s answer.
Deacon answered on the first ring. ‘I’ll be another few minutes,’ he said.
‘I just got a call from Marcus. Something’s gone down in his apartment. He asked for Vince and the CSU team.’
‘Shit,’ Deacon muttered. ‘You go. I’ll follow as soon as I can.’
‘I’m going with you,’ Kate told her when she’d hung up.
‘Then come. Now.’ Scarlett ran toward the entrance, calling Vince while she listened with her other ear to Kate calling 911.
Don’t be hurt, Marcus. Don’t you dare be hurt.
Cincinnati, Ohio
Tuesday 4 August, 8.45 P.M.
Marcus pocketed his cell phone, knowing that Scarlett would worry and sorry that he’d been so abrupt, but he needed to put all his focus on keeping Phillip alive.
But his friend’s blood was pouring from too many places. Marcus couldn’t isolate all the wounds. Not fast enough. I’m not doing this fast enough. The panic started to climb up his throat, but he shoved it back down and got in Phillip’s face again. ‘Don’t you die on me, Phillip Cauldwell. Don’t you dare die on me.’