Lock read off the address from the text message. He plugged it into Google Maps and angled his phone screen so Ty, who was driving, could see it on the map.
“Yeah, that’s close to where I lost the black chick driving the BMW.”
“He could be lying to us,” said Lock.
“No way of knowing until we get there.”
They were on the I-15, with just over a hundred miles to go until they made it to Vegas. They’d stopped once, to load up on coffee and donuts, and to fill the gas tank, but Lock wanted to get there.
Ty eased up on the gas pedal as they sped past a California Highway Patrol sitting at the side of the road running a speed trap.
“Think we should call it into the Vegas PD?” asked Ty. “They could go take a look. They’re going to be faster on the scene where they are.”
That had been Lock’s first thought, too. From what he knew about law enforcement in Vegas they were, unsurprisingly, well versed in dealing with trafficking cases. But there was a snag with asking them to go check.
“Yeah,” said Lock. “But if they send a couple of uniforms in and they don’t find her, then we have a problem. Might be better to have the element of surprise.”
“I hear you,” said Ty. “And we’re assuming this isn’t some wild goose chase.”
“That too,” said Lock. “If we need, we can call them.”
“Once we find her, you’re taking a step back from this stuff, right?” Ty asked, side eyeing Lock.
“I don’t think Carmen’s going to give me much of a choice in the matter.”
“Can’t really blame her.”
“Oh, I’m not,” said Lock.
“That beating you caught really seemed to shake her up.”
“There’s a bit more to it than that.”
Ty looked over at him. “Oh, yeah?”
“We’ve not really told anyone yet, but seeing as you’re as close to family as I have, we have some news.”
Ty raised an eyebrow. “We? Is this news what I think it is?”
“Don’t tell her I said anything, not until she says something anyway, but, yeah, Carmen’s pregnant.”
Ty broke into a huge grin. He raised a hand and high-fived Lock.
“Aw, brother, that’s amazing. Congratulations. When’d you find out? You know what it is yet? Is it gonna be a little Ryan or a little Carmen?”
“It’s a little girl,” said Lock.
Ty shook his head. He was still smiling.
“I can’t believe it. I’m going to be a godfather.”
When Lock didn’t say anything, the smile dropped.
“You are asking me to be one of the godparents, right?”
“Of course,” said Lock.
Satisfied, Ty turned his full attention back to the road. Neither of them said anything for a few moments.
“I can’t believe it,” said Ty. “You’re gonna be a father.”
“I know,” said Lock.
“How you feeling about it?”
“I’m happy,” said Lock. “But I’ll be a lot better when we have this kid back home.”
“I hear you.”
“And what about the clean up?” said Ty.
Lock knew what he meant. What were they going to do with Hanger? There were a few scores to settle, if that was the way they decided to go. “I think we leave that to the cops. We may have already pushed our luck. I don’t want to end up facing a judge over some piece of garbage like that.”
“But if we walk in there and he pulls a piece?” said Ty.
“Then we do what we have to do.”