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“Sheriff?” Hawkins called from the front office.
I moved to my doorway. “Yeah?” He hitched one thumb over his shoulder. “Got a guy on the phone who wants to talk to you.”
I waved my hand in the air dismissively. “Get a call-back and I’ll touch base with him later.”
I was too busy to deal with any bullshit right now. I had just entered my request for vacation, effective immediately, and I had a ton of loose ends to tie up before then. I planned to head to Chicago tomorrow and meet up with some of my old teammates, do some digging of my own. I’d put in a call to Doyle to pull everything he could on Massimo Capaldi and his family in the meantime. He’d put me in touch with a contact from the Chicago field office, and we had a meeting arranged for the following day.
I was going to find whoever was responsible for taking Jules away. Then I was going to make damn sure justice was served, one way or another.
“I tried,” Hawkins apologized with a grimace. “But he says he has something you might want to hear.”
My heart leapt in my chest, but my mind told me to proceed with caution. Any time there was a case like this, false tips poured in like rain. We had to investigate every single one, and more often than not, it was a waste of time and resources. Still, I would at least hear the guy out before I left.
“Send him over,” I snapped. The transfer rolled through just as I reached my desk, and I swiped up the phone. “Donahue.”
My response was gruff and curt, and the chuckle that came from the other end sent prickles of ice down my spine. “You sound frustrated, Sheriff.”
Immediately on guard, I tamped down my anger. “Who is this?”
The man made a little sound in the back of his throat. “I believe we have a mutual... acquaintance,” he responded.
I ground my molars together. “Is that so?”
“You must’ve made quite an impression on her, Sheriff,” the man taunted. “She’s awfully distraught.”
I balled my hand into a fist and placed it on the desk. I wanted to reach through the phone and wrap my hands around his neck and choke the life out of him. Somehow, I managed to form words through the anger choking my throat. “Then maybe you should let her go.”
Another chuckle came from his end. “I don’t think so,” that smooth cultured voice spoke again. “If you want her, you’ll have to come take her.”
“Tell me where.” There was no hesitation this time, only my resolve to find Jules and bring her home to me.
“There’s an old warehouse down by the river,” he said. “I’m sure you remember it.”
Fear stole up my spine as I remembered the last time I was inside that Godforsaken abandoned building situated next to the Calumet River. Motherfucker. He was leading me right back to the spot where I’d almost lost my life three years ago. If that wasn’t a fucking omen, I didn’t know what was. But there wasn’t a damn thing I wouldn’t do for Jules, and if facing my demons meant bringing her back, I would do it if it killed me. Maybe literally.
“When?”
“Tomorrow evening, eight o’clock. Don’t be late.”
With that, the man hung up, and I stared at the phone for a long moment. “Goddamn it!”
I banged my fist against the wood of the desk as I slammed the receiver down. I was going to murder the bastard. I’d been chasing the wrong lead all along. Though he hadn’t identified himself, it had to be none other than Massimo Capaldi himself. By ordering me to meet at the warehouse, he’d practically handed me his identity.
Hawkins hovered in the doorway. “Sheriff?”
“She’s in Chicago,” I ground out. “I’ve gotta go.”
I was already halfway out of the station when I spun on my heel. Fuck. What the hell was I thinking? I met Hawkins’s gaze, and he gave his head a little shake. “Go. I’ll take care of everything.”
I tipped my chin and was out the door seconds later, already climbing into the cruiser. The cold air battered at me, but I didn’t notice as I shoved the key into the ignition and peeled out of the parking lot. I dug my phone with my back pocket as I drove and hit a number on speed dial. Jack picked up on the second ring.
“Donahue. What’s up?”
“Need a favor,” I said without preamble. “Can you find me the first flight to Chicago?”
There was a moment’s pause, then— “Did you find her?”
“Yeah,” I breathed. “Fucker called me out, told me to meet him at a warehouse on the outskirts of town tomorrow night.”
“Good. Let’s go,” Jack responded.
“No fucking way,” I cut in. “You’re not going.”
“Fuck you,” Jack said blithely. “Are you going to stop me?”
“Don’t be stupid.” I growled. “You’ve got a kid on the way, for Christ’s sake.”
“Yeah, well, around here, we take care of our own.” Keys tapped in the background, and Jack’s voice came back over the line. “First flight out is in about five hours. Should give us time to get to the airport and get through security.”
“Book it,” I groused. “But you’re still not coming with me.”
Jack entered my information into the airline system as I drove toward home, my heart pounding in my throat.
“All right,” Jack said finally. “You’re on American 1273 into O’Hare. Flight leaves at 8:05.”
“Thanks, man. I really appreciate it.”
“Thank me later,” Jack said. “I’ll be at your place in 30.”
The line went dead, and I growled my frustration as I tossed my phone onto the dash. Fucker couldn’t listen to save his life. Still, I couldn’t help the gratitude that welled up inside me. I slid to a stop in front of the cabin, then practically ran inside. Hastily, I grabbed clothes and shoved them into a duffel bag. I didn’t bother with toiletries. I wasn’t going to dick around with trying to get through them through security, and I could buy everything I needed once I got there, if the hotel didn’t provide it. Right now, I felt the overwhelming need to get on the road and get going.
I waited impatiently, hovering by the front door, and my ears perked up as I heard a car turn into the gravel drive. Duffel in hand, I locked the door and slammed it behind me, and was already waiting in the driveway by the time the Suburban came to a stop. Surprise rendered me speechless when I saw Mia behind the wheel of the giant SUV.
Yanking open the door, I tossed my duffel in and climbed into the backseat and shot a look at Jack. “No fucking way. She’s not coming with us.”
“I’m just driving,” Mia said helpfully as she turned around and headed back down the main road. “Not that it would stop me from going if I really wanted to.”
I rolled my eyes. It was probably true, but I refused to let a pregnant woman walk into danger. I had no idea what had transpired over the past several years with the Capaldi family, and I wasn’t sure how strong they were, or what kind of resources they had. Showing up in Chicago was a gamble in itself. Jack and I could be taken out the second we stepped off the plane.
I rubbed my forehead. “You guys really shouldn’t be involved in this.”
“And you should really learn to stop arguing and just say thank you when someone wants to help,” Jack commented from the front seat.
I couldn’t help the worry that spread through me. “Listen. It’s not that I don’t appreciate what you’re trying to do, but—”
“You’re not walking in there alone.” Jack’s voice was flat and implacable.
“He’s right,” Mia piped up. “You walk in there alone, and he’ll kill you. We’ll lose both of you forever. That’s not something either of us wants to live with.”
I met her gaze in the rearview mirror and swallowed hard. “Thank you.”
“Look at that,” Jack drawled, his voice thick with sarcasm. “He does have manners.”
A tiny smile cracked my mouth. “Only when it comes to Jules.”
Because she was my whole world, and I’d burn it down to save her.
I’m coming for you, baby.