“We get the point,” Jacobs said. “And yes, they could do any of those things, so we can’t take anything for granted.”
Tiffany’s face sank. “I don’t want to keep hiding.”
“Nobody said you had to. If you wanna keep going to work, you can. Like I said, they’re not gonna shoot up the school.”
Thrower looked away for a second, obviously thinking about something. The others kept talking for a minute or two. Jacobs finally looked over at him and wondered what was going through his mind.
“What is it?” Jacobs asked.
Thrower looked back at him. “I might recant my previous statement.”
“About?”
“Tiff. She’s still the key.”
“How so?”
“Because she’s the only thing that’s still known and out there at this point.”
“Meaning?”
“If Mallette, or even Ames, is looking for you, they don’t know where you are, don’t know where Eddie is, don’t know me, Tiff’s family is away, that only leaves one constant.”
“Tiffany at work,” Jacobs said.
Thrower nodded. “That’s right. So if they wanna get to you, it’s gotta be through her. Unless they just decide to punt.”
“Punting is not Mallette’s style.”
“That’s not the only way to get to him,” Franks said.
“What else is there?” Thrower asked.
Franks looked at Jacobs. “Your brother.”
Jacobs glared at him. He hadn’t talked to Terry in a long time. It’d been well over a year. Maybe even two.
“You got a brother?” Thrower asked.
“Yeah,” Jacobs replied. “Haven’t spoken to him in a while.”
“Would they go after him?”
“They have before. They took his kids once.”
“Might be something to keep an eye on,” Thrower said.
Jacobs thought about it, eventually nodding. “Yeah. Maybe.”
“If you want, I can go sit on them. With Tiff’s parents gone, and her living here with you, if you take her to and from school, I can make sure your brother’s protected.”
“There’s only one of you, though. If kids go to school, Terry goes to work, and his wife is somewhere else, that’s three potential targets.”
“I can take care of that,” Franks said. “I’ll bring in two more guys.”
Thrower agreed. “That’ll work. I’ll sit on your brother, another guy goes wherever the kids go, and another of us takes the wife. Everyone’s protected.”
“Except that we don’t even know they’re a target,” Jacobs said. “You could be sitting on them for weeks with nothing to show for it.”
Thrower shrugged. “All part of the job. It’s better to sit there for weeks with no action, then not go at all and find out after the fact that they’re all gone.”
Jacobs nodded. “OK.” He looked at Franks. “Set it up. Get the other guys.”
Franks and Thrower walked away, discussing the logistics of protecting Jacobs’ brother and family. Tiffany could see Jacobs was deep in thought and put her head on his shoulder.
“You never told me you had a brother.”
“I didn’t?”
“No.”
“Oh. Sorry. We’re just… not very close. Not anymore.”
“What happened?”
“This happened,” Jacobs said. “My dad was killed, his kids were kidnapped, and I started drifting away.”
“He didn’t approve of what you were doing?”
“No. I think he pretty much blamed me for all of it.”
“I’m sure that’s not right. Maybe he was just hurt or angry about what happened. I’m sure he doesn’t think that you’re at fault.”
Jacobs shrugged. “I don’t know. Whatever the case, we just drifted apart.”
“Maybe it’s time to reconnect.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. Not now.”
“Why not?”
“What am I gonna say to him? Hey, I’m back, and by the way, you and your family are in danger all over again?”
“Give him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he misses you.”
Jacobs shook his head. “No, I don’t think I’m ready for that. Not now.”
“When?”
“Maybe when this is all over, and there’s never another danger to worry about.”
“Were you different then from who you are now?”
“Back then I was hurt, angry, and living without hope. Now…” He looked at her and smiled. “Now I have you.” He then gave her a kiss.
“For better or worse, right?”
“There is no worse when it involves you. Only better.”
Tiffany allowed herself to dream for a moment. “I can’t wait for the moment when all of this is behind us. When we can go to a movie, or dinner, or just go for a walk, and never have to worry about someone being out there, looking for us.”
“That day is coming. Soon.”
“I just wish it was now.”
“I know. But I promise, it is coming.”
2
Mallette was in his office, pacing the room, trying to figure out his next step. Whatever he eventually decided, he needed this next move to work. Between the rest of Butch’s men, and his own, he had no more than twenty in total. He couldn’t afford a long drawn-out war with Jacobs, or with Ames, who was still on his list as well. His next action needed to be swift, decisive, and a knockout blow.
“What about Jacobs’ family?” Reed said, leaning against the wall.
“Jacobs’ family is dead,” Mallette answered, a hint of agitation in his voice.
“I don’t mean that family. I mean, don’t he have a brother or something? Thought I heard that or read it somewhere.”
Mallette waved him off. “I’ve tried that before, and I’m not doing it again. It failed the last time we did it. I’m not going back to something that’s already proven not to work.”
“You got a different bunch of guys now, boss. Maybe it’ll work this time.”
“Different, yes. Not necessarily better. I’m not going back to the well on something that’s already failed.”
“So what, then?”
Mallette wound up by the window and looked down. He focused on a tree out there, trying to let his mind come into focus. “I still think the girl’s the target here.”
“Tiffany?”
“Yeah. Tiffany. Jacobs cares about her, that much is obvious. He will do everything in his power to prevent the same thing happening to her as it
