Chapter 22

Danny walked casually up to the counter at Pan’s Asian Groceries. “Hey,” he said to the clerk, who was now wearing a name tag that read Bo.

Bo glanced at Danny’s empty hands. “Can I help you find something?” His tone suggested that he didn’t want to help.

“I sure hope so.” Danny looked around to confirm they were alone. “I’ve got a problem, and a friend of mine said you might be able to help.”

“A friend, huh? Does this friend have a name?”

“Artus Sisera.”

Bo frowned. “He doesn’t have friends.”

“Perhaps friend was too strong a word. But a man I did call friend was Gregory Heber.” Bo jerked back from the counter, but Danny put a hand up to sooth him. “Not like that. I mean, he called me his friend, and he paid me well, but that’s as far as my loyalties ranged. I understand why he had to go.”

“What does that have to do with me?”

“I have a delicate situation I need to deal with. Like with Gregory Heber, I need it to look natural.”

“How do I know you’re not a cop?”

“If I was a cop, wouldn’t I have arrested you by now?”

“Not if you don’t have evidence.” Bo smirked.

“I just told you I know that it was your product that killed Gregory Heber, and I know who you provided it to. I’d call that evidence.” He leaned on the counter. “If I was a cop, I would have you arrested you and then persuaded you to turn on the bigger fish. Why trap Bo from Pan’s Asian Groceries when there are men like Artus Sisera to be had? So, either I’m a bad excuse for a cop, or Mr. Sisera gave me your name.”

“Fine, but if I agree, don’t expect me to give you the same rate I give Mr. Sisera. It’ll cost you. A lot.”

“He didn’t tell me how much he paid, and it doesn’t matter. I’ve got cash.”

“You’ll have to get close to the target. Mix it into a drink in exactly the measurement I give you. You overdo it, forensics could find traces.”

“Got it.”

“Come back four weeks from today after ten p.m.”

“Why does it take so long?”

“I’ll have to do a background check. Confirm your affiliation with Mr. Sisera. And I have limited resources. You have to plan these things carefully.”

“Four weeks it is.” Hopefully the background check wouldn’t be a problem. There was nothing Artus could tell Bo that wouldn’t work in Danny’s favor.

“I’ll need five thousand in cash upon pick up,” Bo said.

“Five K? That’s more than I expected.”

“You could find someone to shoot him for cheaper. If you want what I have, it will cost you.”

“You make a convincing argument. Five K it is.”

“And another two when the deed is done.”

“Two more after the fact? That’s unusually trusting for someone in your line of work. How do you know I’ll come back?”

“Because my product is so good, you’ll want to have access to it in the future. Also, Mr. Sisera knows who you are. If you don’t pay, he’ll find out.”

“Ouch. That’s good incentive. I’ll see you in four weeks.”

“Four weeks it is.”

Danny’s phone chimed with a text. He pulled it out as he left the store and read Jael’s message, then sprinted for his car.

The first thing Danny saw when he turned the corner was Christopher standing with his arms crossed, watching something Danny couldn’t see until he drove a little farther and spotted Jael on the ground with another man standing over her. The man reached down and swatted at her. The obscenities he was screaming could be heard even from within the cabin.

Danny put his foot down, jumping the curb before he slammed to a halt on the sidewalk. He fumbled out of his car and ran for them, almost hurled himself at the man. But Jael beat him to it. She launched her foot in the air, catching the guy in the crotch.

The man dropped where he was, and Jael jumped to her feet, brushing herself off as she walked toward Danny.

Christopher moved in then. “What are you doing here?”

“I asked him to come,” Jael said.

“This is none of his business.”

“I’m making it my business,” Danny said, stepping up to him. In four weeks, he’d have the evidence he needed to put pressure on Bo and turn him against Artus. He didn’t need to keep Christopher happy.

“You should get back in your car and go,” Christopher said.

“I’m afraid I can’t do that, and I’m sure you can understand why.”

The man on the ground had gotten to his feet slowly, but when the pain had subsided enough for him to react, he went for Danny, fist first. Danny dodged, then threw a punch, catching the guy on the jaw and sending him to the ground again.

Christopher shook his head. “You know, Danny, for someone trying to get into my father’s good books, you’re doing a poor job of it.”

“Two grown men against one woman?” Danny said. “That’s how your dad wants to operate? I can’t help but feel like he’d object. I know his morals are corrupt, but this is low, even for him.”

“He does what’s necessary under the circumstances. But this was never meant to be a fight. That’s on you two. I told Jael to leave, and she refused. She only has herself to blame for Martin’s behavior.”

“Martin?” Becca said from the door. “What’s happened?”

“Becca,” Martin’s voice was muffled from his face being planted in the ground. He was still dazed from the punch and was struggling to get onto his hands and knees.

“Get back inside,” Jael said. “It’s not safe out here. I’ll be in in a minute and explain everything.”

Becca shifted but didn’t close the door.

“Becca,” Jael shouted. “Get inside. Now.”

Becca jumped back and closed the door.

“I’m gonna kill you,” Martin said as he got unsteadily to his feet.

Christopher spun around and took him by the arm, directing him away. He spoke quietly to him as he led him to the car. After shoving him inside, he rejoined Danny and Jael. “You’re going to regret interfering,” he said to Danny.

“I doubt it.”

“And you.” He turned to Jael. “We’ll talk about this later.”

“Becca and the kids are terrified of Martin, and you know it,” she said. “I told you to let the courts handle it.”

“Oh, don’t worry. They will.”

“You do know you’re helping someone who not only abuses his wife but also his child. I know Hannah sent you the report.”

“Wait,” Danny said. “Are you saying?—”

“It’s all conjecture,” Christopher said. “But if this is how you want to do this, Jael. Fine, I’m going to personally set him up with the best lawyer I can find. That woman in there is going down.”

“And if Becca’s not lying?”

Christopher’s jaw worked before he said, “Trust me. I’ve seen this all before. I’ll tell you right now, you picked the wrong side to be on. There will be consequences.”

“I think you should worry about the consequences coming your way,” Danny said, knowing he should keep his mouth shut.

“You’re full of a lot of bravado,” Christopher said, stepping up to him. “If you’re not careful, it will get you killed.”

“We’ll see.”

Christopher smirked and walked back to the car, but Martin had gotten out. “I’m not leaving without my wife and kids. You said I’d get them back today.”

“Don’t worry.” Christopher looked at Jael. “There are other ways we can get them back. And we’ll make sure that those who’ve kept her from you have to pay for the emotional abuse you’ve suffered.”

“Emotional abuse,” Jael spat and took a step forward, but Danny stopped her.

“Let them go.”

They watched as Christopher and Martin drove away. Then, Danny turned to her. “Why didn’t you call the police?”

“Because that could have complicated things.”

“More complicated than now?”

“I’ve been pressing Becca to call the police, but Christopher knows people… I should have made her act sooner. Before he got involved.” She scrubbed a hand down her face. “I’ve made a mess of everything. I should never have started Vita Nova. If Becca dies, it will be my fault.”

“We won’t let that happen. I’ve got contacts—I might know someone who can help.”

“You know someone with the police?”

“Uh, yeah. Sort of. It’s…complicated.” He looked at the front window and saw a woman peering out. Then the curtain was dropped back into place. “She’s going to need a new place to stay.”

“Yeah.” Jael pinched the bridge of her nose. When her phone rang, she looked at it and answered. “I’ll be there in a minute,” she said into the phone, then listened for a couple of seconds before adding, “He won’t come back for a while, but we’ll have to find somewhere else for you now. I’m sorry. I’ll explain when I come inside.” She hung up. “She was hiding from her husband here.”

“I gathered. How did Christopher find out?”

“Heber Industries pays the mortgage. He has the address. He asked me what I was using the house for, and I told him. I’m an idiot.”

“I’m sure he could have worked it out on his own.”

She bit her lip, and he could see her fighting with her emotions. “I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

“One thing at a time. Let’s figure out what to do with Becca first.”

“You’re right. We need to get her safe before we do anything else.” She started toward the house with a limp.

“He hurt you?”

“Not too bad. My ankle is sore from when I kicked him.”

“You handled yourself well.” He allowed a small smirk and was rewarded when she smiled back.

“I did what I could, but I don’t think he would have backed down if you hadn’t turned up.” A police cruiser pulled to the curb. “Great. Looks like the neighbors called the police anyway.”

Danny let Jael lead as they changed direction and headed toward the police car.

The driver was a tall red-headed cop, but it was a shorter man from the passenger side who spoke first.

“Hi there,” he said. “We got a call about a disturbance at this residence?”

“Yes,” Jael said. “Sorry about that. It’s all sorted now. There’s a woman staying here who’s been hiding from her husband, but he found out where she was.”

“Why didn’t you call us sooner?”

“We should have. Do you mind if I check on her? She’ll see you out here and be worried.”

“I’ll come with you,” the red-head said.

“I don’t suppose I can say no?”

“You can, but it would be better for all of us if you say yes.”

“Okay.”

Danny waited until they were inside before turning back to the cop. “I’ll need you to contact Deputy Director Deborah Mills.”

“This is connected to an FBI case?”

“Yes, but no one else knows besides you and me, and it needs to stay that way.”

“Sounded like a domestic violence issue.”

“It is, but it goes beyond that. I need you to be discreet.”

“I’ll call it in. Do you need me to get my partner?”

“No. I’d rather Becca knows the police are looking out for her.”

The officer nodded and then returned to the vehicle to make the call.