42. The Hammer

FORTY-TWO

The Hammer

There would be a time, hopefully a joyous one, where he’d find out what Harry Moran liked most in the world, and whatever it cost, he’d buy it for him.

This was because Moran stepped back, and while Polly ministered to a terrified Lucinda and Indira, he personally took on the different kind of terror that was happening with Jaeger, Darragh and Porter.

But Rus stayed visible to them in one of the conference rooms in the back of the bullpen at the sheriff’s office.

Jason, Jesse and Cade Bohannan were there.

Dickerson was there, as was Sean Stoll, another deputy, and Karen Wilkins, the deputy that tracked the crystal.

McGill was en route.

Turner knew what was happening.

And Rus had called in Kleo.

Having them gathered, he made the call and put it on speaker.

Ezra picked up.

“That was not a good move,” Rus growled.

Bohannan lifted a hand and flicked his finger at Rus.

Cool it.

He pulled a breath into his nose.

“You told me I needed something to bargain with,” Ezra said.

God fucking dammit.

“You just made the really bad situation you’re in worse,” Rus warned. “Is Madden safe?”

Ezra didn’t answer his question.

He said, “I want you. Just you. I also want five hundred thousand in cash. No tricks. None of those marked bills or whatever. The Bonners have it, you could have it in an hour. No sweat. Just you bringing it. Come in a car with a tank full of gas and the money, just you, and you can have the girl.”

“Is Madden safe?”

“She’s safe.”

“I want to hear her voice. Put her on. Now.”

There was silence then, “Mr. Lazarus?”

Her voice was trembling.

God fucking dammit.

He was going to fucking kill this guy.

“See? She’s safe,” Ezra said. “She’s fine. She has a candy bar.”

A candy bar?

Going.

To fucking.

Kill this guy.

“Exactly what are you gonna do to dig this hole deeper, Ezra? Carrie isn’t here to call the shots.”

“I lied, Special Agent Lazarus,” Ezra sneered. “I have the hammer.”

Rus’s blood ran cold.

“I also have a gun.”

Rus nearly dropped his head, but he didn’t, because he knew Lucinda was watching.

“Just you,” Ezra demanded. “Get the cash, call me back.”

The line went dead.

In that instant, he picked his team personally.

If they weren’t still deputized, Moran could do it on their way out.

And add one.

If questions were asked, he’d finesse it later, but he wanted people with a personal stake.

And he wanted Moran to head shit up if things went south.

His picks?

Jace.

Jess.

And Kleo.