“Where’d he go after? Did he see?”
“He was already on the phone with the cops when he watched him run across the parking lot toward the trees at the back.”
I’m suddenly transported back a few weeks to the alley where I saw a figure of a similar description kick Sophia, who was on the ground, before taking off. I followed him through those trees and between two buildings, right across to the other side of the railroad tracks.
It would make sense. The feds had picked up a few of the dealers before the sting went sour, but that particular guy had not been among them.
“Be back in a minute,” I tell Honon, and walk down the hall and out the door to the parking lot to make a call.
“Yeah.”
“Paco, it’s Tse. I had a thought.”
“Kinda have my hands full. Feds just showed up.”
“Appreciate that, brother, but I may be able to help. That video of the attack. Can I access that from my phone?”
“Fuck, man, you don’t want to see that shit. Trust me on this.”
When I explain my suspicion it might be the same dealer from the alley, he immediately texts me a link and a password.
“Skip ahead to nine oh five,” he says, staying on the line with me. “That’s when she walks out. You can see the guy coming from the other side of the bin.”
I watch Lea come into view, walking away from the restaurant. She’s maybe twenty feet into the parking lot when you can clearly see a shape detach itself from the shadow of the dumpster. Crouched low, the figure sneaks up behind her.
I hiss sharply as I witness the brutal attack, but force myself to observe the figure instead of Lea’s futile fight. The moment she drops to the ground, the guy backs away a few steps before he turns and starts running.
“Wait a minute,” I mumble, stopping the feed and backing it up.
There, right as he crosses through the beam from the light over the back door.
I replay it again to make sure.
“Nine oh seven,” I tell Paco. “Guy is running, the light hits his right side. There’s a name running down the sleeve of his hoodie. Pretty sure I saw something similar on the guy who attacked Sophia. He moves the same way too.”
“Shit. Tell me she’s safe, brother.”
“Should be at the clubhouse. I’ve gotta go.”
I end the call and immediately call the clubhouse where Brick answers.
“Did Sophia and the boy get there okay?”
A moment of heavy silence passes before Brick responds.
“She’s supposed to be here?”
“Texted her half an hour ago. Maybe a little longer. Let me call her.”
Hanging up, I dial her number and listen to it ring until it goes to voicemail. Maybe she’s driving. I try again and leave her a curt message to call me right away, but it’s not sitting well with me.
Running back to the waiting room, I fill Honon in when I catch Ouray’s glance. He must’ve seen something in my face because he comes right over.
“Honon, go with him,” he snaps when I explain the situation. “I gotta stay here, Luna is on her way here with Kaga’s boys. Fucking find her and call me right away.”
Honon follows me out the door and to my truck, already on the phone with the clubhouse before I pull away.
“Brick is leaving, heading toward her place as well. He’ll keep an eye out on the road.”
I hand my phone to him.
“Sophia’s number is last dialed on my phone. Keep trying her.”
I’m breaking every speed limit but the moment we hit the route she would’ve taken I slow down and keep my eyes peeled for any sign of her Jeep.
“Dark green Jeep Cherokee. Older model,” I share with Honon, who is scrutinizing his side of the road.
There’s nothing along US160, and once we hit the turnoff going up the mountain we have to slow down even further. There are no lights here other than my high beams.
“Either her battery’s out of juice or she doesn’t have the phone on her.”
Honon drops my phone in the center console just as I see something up ahead.
“What’s that?”
I hit the gas but never take my eyes off the vehicle parked on the shoulder up ahead. Honon leans forward over the dashboard, squinting.
“That’s it. Jeep. Looks empty,” he confirms.
Maybe there was a problem with the Jeep and she and Ravi walked back to the house. It’s not that far. But the next moment that hopeful thought vanishes when Honon yells.
“Stop. Something on the road.”
He’s out of the truck before I can put it in park on the opposite shoulder, the high beams hitting the front of the Jeep. He crouches down, picking something up off the road and holds it up.
I grab my cell and hit redial as I get out, hearing the phone in Honon’s hand start ringing.
“Screen is cracked,” he says.
Makes no sense.
I walk over to the Jeep, holding my breath for fear of what I’ll see, but there’s nothing other than her wallet in one of the cupholders between the front seats. Both doors are closed, but when I try the driver’s side, I find it unlocked. The keys are dangling from the ignition.
She’d never voluntarily leave her keys, wallet, and her phone behind, but still I have to make sure. I start jogging back to the truck.
“Stay here!” I call at Honon. “Gotta check the house.”
I keep my eyes focused on the side of the road all the way up to the driveway, hoping against hope to catch a glimpse. The outside light is on but the house itself is dark.
They’re not here. I can feel it in my gut, but I still need to make sure.
Van is at the door when I walk in and find the alarm still set to away. I quickly disarm it and with the dog on
