The door closed and he peeked out the window. The man leaning against the car had moved and stood upright. The cigarette that was once on his lips dropped to the ground and he smashed it with the heel of his boot.

  “He saw that you entered.”

  “I wanted him too.”

  “What?”

  “You’re going to walk out of here as me.”

  “Oh, no, I’m not.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “If I do that it will mean leaving you here to fend for yourself. I won’t do it.”

  She patted his shoulder. “You’re sweet. But what will he do?”

  “Beat you within an inch of your life for information would be my guess.” From their distance he could still see the guy’s large hands. He’d fisted them together. Robert could almost hear the guy’s knuckles cracking from there.

  Sasha wouldn’t stand a chance.

  “I’m more than capable of taking care of myself.”

  Robert had heard some of the interesting moves Sasha had enacted on people, but this was different. She was almost twenty-five years older than she had been then. Besides, Sloan’s people were ruthless.

  She patted the side of the bed. “Why don’t we just talk.”

  “About?”

  “About the White Lily.”

  Robert had sat, but now he almost stood up and moved away.

  “Robert, I know that you worked on that case. I know that you stopped the shipments. Well, they are running again. Do you know how many buildings I’ve had broken into? How many were holding women, children, who came over on the White Lily? Some go up for ransom, some don’t. I’m doing my part to break the supply line, but I need your help to get rid of the ship. They aren’t just selling people, now they are returning them to hostile governments when they come here for asylum.”

  Robert shook his head. “I have no intention of becoming a rogue agent. I’m here to find my daughter and nothing more.”

  Sasha shrugged. “Then I guess I’ll go.”

  “What?”

  “Felix assured me that I would receive something in return for this little adventure. I don’t do things for free; you understand.”

  “I’ll pay.”

  She laughed. “Money. It is the root of all evil, and I have plenty. My late husband invested wisely. I don’t work for money. I work for causes.”

  Robert sighed and ran his hands through his hair. He’d noticed the salt and pepper look becoming grayer over the last few years. Roxanne had said it was distinguished but he knew she was a liar so that wasn’t helpful.

  “Stone, I need an answer. I will help you get out of here for assurances that you will assist me with the White Lily.”

  Robert started to protest, but she held up her hand.

  “I will allow you to find your daughter first. I’ll even help you find her. Then we’ll go together and stop Sloan from stealing and selling people. Deal?” She held out her hand before her.

  Robert eyed it. If he took that deal, then his time with his daughter would be temporary. He could return after taking down the White Lily, but only if he caught everyone responsible otherwise, Ericka would be in danger again. It was as if his life had come full circle.

  ****

  Andre kept the smile on his face as he pushed the silver bell sitting on the counter. He tapped his foot as he waited for someone to come.

  Darkness had descended on the area and the lights outside the building weren’t coming on.

  He narrowed his eyes and studied the times listed on the door. It was hard to make out from this side, but if he read it correctly the shop should have already closed for the evening.

  If that was the case, why was the door still unlocked?

  Andre began to look around. A red dot was on the floor. Then another, and another. The trail led to another door. Andre followed the trail. When he found Rochelle, she was leaned up against the wall and holding her chest. Her eyes were opened wide.

  Andre squatted down and used a nearby rag to lower them. He’d not touched anything other than the door and the bell at the counter. He’d make sure to wipe that down as well. A quick look around the shop showed there were no security cameras.

  Andre walked out of the shop pushing his hat farther back on his head. Across the street he turned and glanced at the shop once more. His heart skipped a beat.

  Rochelle.

  She’d been a good friend. She’d taken Eliott many places. To the store, to the movies, she’d even given him a picture of her to carry in her wallet. Now she was gone. Perhaps whomever was after him had come, and she’d gotten in the way.

  He spun in a circle and withheld the cry that threatened to escape. This was another death on his hands. It was why he didn’t mind leaving France or his job. For all the time he had left, he wanted a normal life with his son. Now his only lead to help himself and save his son had just disappeared.

  For now, he was on his own. There was one other he could call, but he wasn’t sure if it would help or hurt. He prayed for guidance. He also prayed someone would find Rochelle before too long. It was too dangerous for him to call it in.

  He whispered, “May God forgive me.”

  Chapter Seven

  The sun rose. Light filtered into the room and Ericka turned her eyes away only to receive a nose full of hair. She pushed it away and blinked.

  Bud lay next to her. His thick blond hair tickled her nose. She scooted back an inch or two and he moved closer. Obviously, he was used to snuggling with someone at night.

  Ericka tried to relax when she felt his breathing increase. When she did, his breathing settled alongside hers. It felt good to have him snuggle there. But it couldn’t last. The alarm would blare any moment. They had to hop out of bed and get ready for the day. Although she wasn’t sure what he would wear.

  The white shirt and plaid pants had seen better days.

  There was a knock on the front door. She looked at the clock and her eyes rounded.

  She must have forgotten to set the alarm!

  She jumped from the bed and grabbed her robe that was thrown across the back of a chair. Arms shoved into the sleeves, she hurried to the door. Before she opened it, she ran her hands through her hair and tried to smooth down the unruly locks. She let her lips relax into an embarrassed smile as she opened the door with one hand and clasped the robe tightly together with the other.

  Tito eyed her with one brow cocked.

  “I forgot my alarm.”

  He nodded and entered, walking around her in a wide arc. In one hand was a brown paper bag. “I think I picked the right size clothes. The booster seat is already in the car. So, I can help him while you get ready.”

  “He isn’t awake yet.”

  Tito tilted his head toward her bedroom door. She turned. In the doorway, Bud stood rubbing sleep from his eyes.

  “Where is papa?”

  Ericka felt her heart skip a beat. That was the first that Bud had mentioned about his parents. She walked to him slowly and squatted before him. “Do you remember the last time you saw your papa?”

  He shook his head. A tear escaped from the corner of his eye. She swiped it away with the back of her knuckle.

  “It’ll be all right, honey. Tito and I are police officers and we’re going to do everything we can to find your papa.”

  He nodded.

  “Tito is going to help you get dressed and find you some breakfast,” she casted a glance at her kitchen, “what I mean is, you’re going to get dressed and we’re going to stop and pick something up for breakfast.”

  “No need, I brought donuts!” Tito pulled another bag from somewhere. The smell of yeast filled the house.

  “Donuts! Yum.” Bud leaned closer to her ear. “I like him.”

  Ericka chuckled. “I like him, too.”

  Tito didn’t act like he heard their conversation as he said, “Let’s go to the kitchen and get that belly full then we’ll get dressed. What do you say?”

  “I like this idea.” Bud was already skipping to the kitchen.

  Ericka mouthed ‘thank you’ before heading back to her bedroom and gathering clothing for her shower. She was glad that Tito had calmed the kid. He was good with children. One day he would make a good father.

  The thought had heat flushing her face until she put her cold hands there. Just because she had that thought didn’t mean she would be the mother of his children. She had other plans.

  No children.

  If something happened to the parents, then they were left homeless. She wouldn’t do that to anyone else.

  Clothes grabbed, she shoved them under her arm and raced to the bathroom. She turned the water on full blast and stepped under the spray. She washed and cut the water within five minutes. The shower had been so fast, and she’d been so distracted, she honestly wasn’t sure if she’d washed every part. Despite that when she climbed out, she heard giggles of excitement. Hurriedly, she dressed and left the bathroom. Before entering she snuck a peek into the kitchen. Tito showed Bud something on his phone.

  He looked up at her, a smile tinged his lips. “Funny cat video.”

  “All right then.” She passed by and grabbed a donut. Tito had started the coffee, and she filled a mug for him and her.

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” She settled across from them at the table. They seemed to be having a great time. So great she dreaded mentioning that they had a date with work.

  The video came to a hilarious close, or at least it seemed that way. Tito straightened. “Sadly, Bud we have to go to work.”

  “What about me?”

  “Well, you’re coming with us.” Ericka popped the last bite of donut onto her tongue and let the sugar melt in her mouth. She barely withheld sighs of contentment.

  “I am?”

  “You are.” Ericka slapped the sugar from her hands and stood. “We believe there is a place for you to stay, and if not then you can sit at my desk and draw for me. What do you think?”

  “Okay. I can do that until we find my papa. That’s what you’re going to do at work, right?”

  “We are going to try our very best.”

  “Good.” Bud rose from the chair. He bit his lip.

  “The bathroom is down the hall. It’s that middle door right there.”

  Bud nodded at Tito. Ericka was glad that Tito could read little boy body language.

  When the bathroom door closed, Tito said, “We should see if Dr. Ellen will talk to him. If he’s remembered that he was with his father when they were separated than that was more than we had before.”

  “That’s a good idea.”

  “I’ll reach out and see if she has an opening.” Tito was already on his phone and calling as he walked closer to the front door.

  When Bud opened the bathroom door, Ericka led him to the couch and put on his socks and shoes. Then she took him by the hand and led him to the car. Tito opened the back door and helped Bud into the seat.

  Ericka climbed into the front passenger seat and settled against the black leather. If things ever settled down, she might purchase herself a car. Right now, she might want to make sure that she had a job to pay for a car. With the Police Assistance Unit being audited and Bud coming in at the same time, all this could be a bit tricky.

  “Are we ready?”

  “We’re ready.” Ericka and Bud answered in tandem. Bud’s tiny voice was sweet and melted her heart.

  Maybe the day wouldn’t be so bad after all.

  ****

  This day was going to be terrible. Greg woke up with a headache and a stomachache. Something that Heidi had forced him to try, that she cooked, must have been the culprit. Or it could have been the double dose of pizza.

  Whatever it was had made him feel like giant boulders were sloshing from side to side in his stomach.

  He rolled over and groaned, his alarm hadn’t gone off either. He was going to be late.

  He flung his arm across his eyes and breathed deeply. The last thing he remembered from that morning was seeing Tito, Ericka, and Bud drive away in Tito’s car like they were a family.

  Why had he gotten up and tried to walk to the kitchen? It had made him feel worse and he’d seen them leave.

  He’d barely made it back to bed. Now he was going to try again.

  The phone rang. He grabbed it and put it to his ear.

  “Jake here. How are things with the kid?”

  “The kid?”

  “Greg! The kid you called me about last night.”

  “Oh, yeah, that kid.”

  Greg rose from the bed and made it to the recliner before he collapsed. He plopped into the chair and leaned his head back against the plush cushion.

  “He’s good.”

  “So you’re going to keep them the few days until I can get everything worked out.”

  “Yup.”

  “All right then. I’ll check in later. Call if you need anything.”

  “I will.”

  The phone clicked off. The few words had hurt his head and made his stomach feel ten times worse. If it was any other day, he would call in sick to work. Maybe he should call.

  He had a good reason. He was sick. Sick in several ways. But today the big wigs were coming by to review cases, to look at offices, to look at them. The officers who worked the cases at PAU were under investigation as well.

  He couldn’t miss.

  His stomach growled. He grabbed his mouth and raced to the bathroom. After a few more episodes of hanging over the toilet, he felt better. He shuffled his heavy feet to the sink and leaned over the basin. He splashed cold water onto his face. A look in the mirror didn’t inspire confidence. Black circles lay under his red eyes. He looked like he had a hangover.

  Moving slowly, he went back to the bedroom and gathered clothes. After a quick shower, he dressed and brushed his teeth.

  He almost felt like a new person.

  Almost.

  His phone rang again and he reached over to grab it on the bathroom counter.

  “Hello?”

  “Boss? You sound terrible.”

  “Thank you, Quinn.”

  “Um, are you coming in today?”

  “I’m going to try. Why do you ask?”

  “We need you, of course, but I think you should stay away.”

  “Why is that?”

  “Do you remember Marsha Evers?”

  Greg closed his eyes and internally groaned. Marsha Evers was the running senator who had disagreed with starting the Police Assistance Unit. She believed they needed to hire more regular officers to do the job and not start more specialized units that might cost the city more money.

  She’d run on that platform, she hadn’t won.

  “I do.”

  “Well, she’s here. The sitting mayor has given her the right to review our cases.”

  Greg shook his head. That wasn’t good. “I shouldn’t come in.”

  “You shouldn’t.”

  “She hates me.”

  “She does.”

  Greg knew that Quinn knew. He’d been there for most of her tirades against the unit as they were putting in furniture and setting up the office.

  “Why would the mayor put her in charge?”

  “I think because he wants her to get rid of us.”

  “I see.” Why would a sitting mayor want someone to get rid of a unit that was solving crime in his city. Unless someone else was pushing for him to do it.

  “So, you’re staying home?”

  “I guess I’m staying home.”

  “I wish that you’d offered to keep the kid. Ericka walked in with him, and Miss Evers’ face scrunched up so hard I thought it was going to break.”

  He couldn’t have kept him if he’d wanted to, but he did feel bad about it. “I guess just keep me posted.”

  “I will. And get to feeling better. You sound terrible.”

  “Noted.”

  The phone went dead, and he put it on the table and climbed back into his bed. He hadn’t spread up the covers yet, so it was helpful.

  He let sleep overtake him.

  He needed it.

  Maybe when he woke up the world wouldn’t be so topsy-turvy. He’d still have a job and Ericka and Tito wouldn’t be playing house. It could happen.

  ****

  “9-1-1, what is your emergency?”

  “I don’t want to get in any trouble, but I think you need to send someone to check out Rochelle’s.”

  “Sir, may I have your name?”

  “No need for names. I just wanted to let someone know there is a nasty smell coming from Rochelle’s and there doesn’t seem to be any one inside, at least that I can see.”

  “Sir, did you enter the building?”

  “I did not.”

  “Would you mind entering the building and telling me what you see?”

  The line when dead. She’d pushed too hard. She drew in a deep breath as she plugged in the information. Maggie knew where Rochelle’s store was located. Units didn’t often respond to the area quickly. The area was riddled with crime and dangerous for normal people and cops.

  Maggie sent an alert for an officer to check out the area. Her phone alarm went off. She’d been at the 911 dispatch office for exactly two hours.

  Happiness filled her. She was getting out of this office and going to her actual job. Next time someone else could fill in.

  Chapter Eight

  Sloan had told his man to keep a close watch on Robert Stone. After taking out Josef he couldn’t be too careful about who he trusted.

  The text on his phone caused him to lower his binoculars. Not that there was much to see. The house was empty. A woman, child, and a dark-skinned looking man had left sometime earlier.

  Roxanne had to have found the wrong house. Robert Stone’s daughter lived alone. There was no man and child.

  He looked at the screen.

  On the move.

  Robert had finally decided to come out of his hole. Sloan had known he couldn’t hide forever. Plus, Sloan had also guessed that Stone would come the most direct route to New York. That was the one place Sloan knew for certain that Robert’s daughter was. That was the only information they both had, really. But the city was a big place.