“True story. I was thirteen and fancied this girl in the grade above me. She was beautiful, a cheerleader, and she was always nice to me. So, on her birthday, I waited by her locker with red roses and chocolates and my guitar. I’d written her a song I was going to sing it in front of everyone.” Malco watched as Danie snorted. “Oh no, you didn’t.”
James nodded forlornly. “I really did. I waited, and when she arrived, she looked horrified, but I carried on and sang the song while she stood there looking like she wanted to die of embarrassment.”
“What happened?”
“Her boyfriend, the Captain of the football team no less, came along and laughed at me as he slung his arm around her shoulders, told me to ‘get lost, Romeo’ and the name stuck. My older sisters didn’t speak to me for a week for embarrassing them as well.”
“Wow, and I thought high school was bad. That must have sucked.”
“It did for a bit, but then I discovered the gym and watched the movie Hitch, and now the name fits me better.”
“So I see.”
“So not to make you cry again, but what has you here at this time of night and so upset?” Malco waited for his answer and prayed she didn’t close up on him.
“I know who has Tycen.”
Malco tried to hide his shock and then his anger. He knew if he went on at her for lying, he’d get nowhere. Danie had hidden this knowledge for a reason, and much as he hated it, he had to hear her out.
“And?”
“Can we do this somewhere else?” Danie looked around nervously as if waiting for something bad to happen. He got that; he’d been the same at her age.
“Sure, I can take you back to the Agency or the center, which do you prefer?”
“The Agency.”
Her answer surprised him, but he didn’t show it.
“Gotcha.”
As James drove, he shot off a quick text to Frida.
Malco: I have Danie with me, and we’re coming into the agency.
He watched the dots jump around as she typed.
Frida: I’m not there. I’m following a lead.
Malco balled his fist at her reply. She knew how dangerous this was, and she was out chasing down leads alone.
Malco: WTF? Why didn’t you wait for me?
Frida: Pot meet kettle!!!
He read the text again and realized what a sexist pig he’d just been, although he liked to think it was more overprotective than sexist.
Malco: Fine, that was out of line. I just don’t want you hurt. You matter to me.
Frida: Way to stop a girl’s snit. Going all caring on her. x
Frida: Also, I’ve got back-up. I’m not an idiot, you know.
Malco: Note to self, sweet stops snit. Glad you’re safe, hope it pans out.
Frida: Sweet won’t work every time, mister, so behave yourself. The lead was a bust. I went to talk to Clark Pool, but he wasn’t around anywhere.
Malco mused on that and wondered what had put her on Pool’s path. It seemed their investigations were beginning to merge more rapidly now.
Malco: Meet me at the agency. I have Danie du Toit with me, and she was with Clark, and she says she knows who took Tycen.
Frida: Already on my way back. See you soon.
Malco had a feeling things were about to start moving very quickly, and he also had a feeling, things were about to get very nasty.
“So, let me get this straight. You saw her come out of the hotel with Clark?” Frida was pacing as she recounted what he’d told her. Danie was in the break room with Ward while he updated Frida.
“Yes. He ran off and left her, and then she burst into tears when she saw me.” He watched her stop and spin on her heel, admiring the sexy curve of her ass as she did. Frida Montalvo was sexy as hell when she went into lawyer mode. Her brain was working faster than anyone he’d ever known as she connected things in her head.
“We have so much information coming at us, and none of it is adding up yet, and that drives me crazy. Let’s go talk to her and find out about Tycen.”
Malco nodded as he followed her out of the room in bemusement at the way she took charge. Sexy. As. Fuck.
They entered the room, Ward and Danie going silent where they had been talking quietly in the corner, heads together. Malco closed the door, and he and Frida sat at the round table closer to the corner of the room, wanting it not to seem a ‘them and us’ situation. This way, they were all equal, and it was less intimidating for the young girl.
“Danie, nice to see you again. I hear you might have some information that might help us get Tycen home to his family?”
The young woman looked at Frida as she spoke and then at Ward as if seeking permission.
“Go ahead, Danie. Tell them what you told me,” he encouraged with a nod.
Danie paused a moment longer and then seemed to make a decision.
“About six months ago, I started seeing a boy from the Blood Razors.” Malco looked up and caught Ward’s jaw clench. The Blood Razors were a notorious gang with fingers in every illegal pie you could think of. They had links to drug-running, prostitution, and guns. Not to mention rape and murder.
“JaKheel was nice. He wasn’t like the others. He gave me attention and made me feel special. We were in love, but then he started to cancel dates and disappear for days. He said something big was coming up with the Blood Razors and that Bullet wanted them all working more hours.”
“Bullet? He’s the leader of the Blood Razors, right?” Malco asked but already suspected the answer.
“Yes, JaKheel said he had
