Epilogue Min

EPILOGUE: MIN

After Babe leaves, I turn to Caitlin. "How is Crossroads doing? Are you fully operational now?" I knew they'd planned the grand opening for the day we left for Chicago.

She grimaces. "No, not yet. We had to postpone it. We rescheduled it for next Monday."

"What happened?"

"My lead therapist, Athena, had some family problems she had to deal with. She was under so much stress that I offered to postpone the opening. That didn't stop us from taking in families. We have two families in residence."

"How is the grand opening going to work?" I ask her. "Isn't secrecy the whole point of Crossroads?"

Caitlin giggles. "It's not a grand opening for the public. That would be stupid. We're inviting people who most often cross paths with victims. Cops, medical personnel, EMTs, teachers, and therapists. We're showing them what we offer at Crossroads so they can direct those who need our services to us. I had Smoke and Byte vet every person before we issued them an invitation."

"That makes sense."

"I was hoping to talk to you about Crossroads. Would you consider teaching a self-defense class to the women and girls? Maybe you or your dad could teach the men and boys? We have a man staying with us with his young son. His wife is an abusive drunk. He stuck it out until she went after the boy. He mentioned wishing he knew how to take her down without hurting her."

I consider her request and nod in agreement. "I can teach a class. Have to work it around the bounty hunting business. My dad will probably be onboard as well. That's a good idea about offering self-defense courses for abused men. The situation isn't as rare as we think."

My phone ringing interrupts our discussion. Glancing at the display, I moan.

"Detective Schwartz. What can I do for you?" Evie gestures for me to put it on speaker.

"I need you to come down to the station."

"Why?"

"We found the office building. Someone burned it to the ground. There were four bodies inside. The ME identified one as Billings. The other is Blankenship. We're still working on the other two. I need you to come down to the station to make another statement."

"I can't. Babe and I returned to San Diego."

Schwartz sucks in a breath. "Why the fuck did you leave town? This doesn't look good. Did you kill those men?"

"Detective Schwartz, I gave you my statement. I killed Billings in self-defense before I helped the girls escape. I didn't see anyone else. Although, like Thea said, there was another SUV arriving as we were leaving. Maybe they killed Blankenship and set the fire to destroy the evidence."

"Maybe. It's a plausible scenario," Schwartz says. I can tell he doesn't believe me, so I wait for his next move. "I need you back in Chicago."

"Detective Schwartz, this is Evie Buchanan. I'm Ms. Yan's attorney. Do you have probable cause to ask her to return to Chicago? If you want another statement, we can do it over a secure link. But unless you plan to charge my client with a crime, then you can't compel her to return to Chicago."

"No, I'm not ready to charge her. But that could change soon."

"Why? What's going on?"

"The DA is considering charging you with the murder of Detective Noah Billings."

"What? Why? It was self-defense and Billings was a fugitive."

"That's the problem. There's no record of Billings being a fugitive."

My mouth gapes open at this information and I see the look of concern on Evie's face. This can't be good. Why didn't the police list Billings as a fugitive along with three men he helped escape? Was the police department covering for one of their own? I'm lost in thought and don't realize someone else has joined us at the table until I hear Shield speaking.

"What's going on?" He asks. Evie and Schwartz explain the situation to him, which has Shield yanking out his phone. "Hold on." He steps away from us as he talks to someone on the other end. When he returns, he gives Evie a nod while putting his hand on my shoulder. "I just talked with my lieutenant. He assured me that the department planned to file charges against Billings. They had to deal with the union rep first."

"Okay, I can stall on my end. May need to have a video call with Ms. Yan and her lawyer."

"We can set up something official at my precinct," Shield offers before we end the call.

I must not be covering my fear well enough, because Evie grabs my hand. "Don't worry. Like Shield said, once the charges are on file for Billings, the DA in Chicago will likely back off. Right now, he thinks you killed a cop, not a disgraced cop. Remember, we also have footage of Billings kidnapping you from the hospital. Not to mention, we have witnesses. I'm certain the girls you helped rescue will testify on your behalf."

I nod as I consider her assurances. The DA in Chicago is just doing his job. He doesn't know all the details. I just have to count on the system working.

Unable to eat anymore, I carry my plate back to the kitchen, where I find Smoke. He's pouring himself a cup of coffee. Seeing him reminds me I have a favor to ask. Maybe two.

"Can we talk?" I ask him.

He nods. "Of course. What's up?"

I tell him about Fenhua and the possibility of him coming to San Diego and going after my parents. I know I need to call them and warn them, but I want to work out the added security measures with Smoke before I do.

"We did the security on the dojo, so we know they have the best protection they can get there. I can upgrade their home security. I should have most of what I need here, so I can head over this afternoon and fix them up."

"Thanks, Smoke. Let me call them and tell them you're coming and why. I haven't broken the news to them yet that Fenhua is in the States. But, I have another request. Babe mentioned you might have the security footage of Billings kidnapping me from the hospital. I'd like a copy of the footage. The DA in Chicago is considering pressing charges against me. I'd like to have a copy for my protection."

"Of course, come with me. I can get it for you. We'll keep a copy here, too, but I get you wanting to have it." He leads the way to the security office they keep onsite. As he accesses the footage, I call my parents.

"Min? Are you still in Chicago?" My dad asks when he answers.

"No. We're back. Billings, the man who attacked you and set fire to the dojo, is dead. But that's not why I'm calling. I ran into Fenhua in Chicago. He's coming here to San Diego. I've asked Ghost's club to provide you with more protection at your home. They'll be installing a better security system at the house."

"Fenhua is here?"

"I think he's coming here. He knows Ghost is here."

"We'll be on guard."

"I have someone I want you to meet."

"A boy?"

I chuckle. Babe is certainly no boy. "He's not a boy. He's a man. One of Ghost's brothers. He's the one I'm working with as a bounty hunter. His name is Babe."

I see Smoke's eyebrows rise in surprise, but I just roll my eyes at him.

"You two are together?" My dad asks, his voice concerned.

"We are."

"Does this mean you won't be working as a bounty hunter any longer?"

I frown at his question and realize that Babe and I haven't discussed whether our relationship affects our partnership. I feel my temper rise as I consider the possibility. Babe steps inside the office and sees me, he comes straight to me, but stops when he sees my expression.

"What's wrong? Who's on the phone?"

"My dad. I called to tell him about Fenhua and about you and me. He's asking if our relationship will mean we're no longer partners in the business?"

"Why wouldn't we be? Do you not want to be partners any longer? I thought we made a great team."

I feel my anger evaporate when I sense the honest surprise in his response. "I still want to be partners."

"Good, because I think after our trip to Chicago, you're better at this than I am."

I grin at him just as I hear my father's chuckle over the phone. "You heard?" I ask him.

"I did. You have found yourself a good man. A true partner. Bring him over to dinner soon, so your mother and I can meet him."

I assure him I will before ending the call.

"I came in here to see if we could get more security for your folks," Babe says to me.

"I did. That's why I called my parents to let them know we'd be coming over."

"I guess that means I'm meeting the parents?" Babe asks, pulling me in for a hug.

"Is that okay?"

"Fuck yeah. It means you aren't planning on ditching me."

I chuckle, but Smoke grabs our attention when he lets out a shout. "Fuck! Just got an SOS from Ranch. He's under attack at the ranch!"

The End

Watch Chrome clean house in Chrome's Collision, Book One of the Chicago Chapter.

Discover what Ranch is up against in Ranch's Resolve, Book Ten of the San Diego Chapter.