Page 44 of Ultimate Justice

Evan rubbed his jaw. “Six of the missing kids came from homes that used Blue Waters more than five years ago, before Mile High even existed.” Too much coincidence in his book. “Even if Manello never worked for Blue Waters, there’s gotta be a connection between that company and those missing kids.”

“Constantino could be involved,” Brett suggested.

Evan nodded. “There could be two wranglers working for Evelyn and Adama. Constantino just rose to the top of the to-be-interviewed list. Brett, get with HSI and find out exactly when Constantino is coming back to the US. I want to know what plane he’s on and what time it lands at DIA. We’re gonna grab him right off the jetway.”

“On it.” Brett began tapping on his phone.

“By the way,” Sammy said, “Constantino has no priors.”

“Thanks. Anything else?” He looked around the room, giving all present the opportunity to add something. “Thank you, everyone,” he said, motioning to his dog.

With obvious reluctance, Blue got to his feet, giving Crystal a woeful whine before padding after Evan. In the hallway, Evan yawned. A gallon of coffee was needed before the trek to Wyoming.

“Getting any sleep?” Brian asked.

No. Once a big case kicked in, sleep was off the table. “Yes,” he lied, and his boss chuckled. The man knew him well.

Last night, he and Blue had stood guard outside Marlie’s building until well after midnight. When they’d gotten home, he’d spent another thirty minutes combing the underside of the SUV with a flashlight, searching for a tracker and not finding one. It wasn’t that he really thought they’d been followed. Instinct told him something was coming. Something bad.

“Find a way to get some shut-eye,” Brian said. “That’s an order.”

“Yes sir.”

His phone buzzed with an incoming call. Marlie’s name lit the screen. “I’m leaving the office now. I should be at your place in—”

What she said next had him gripping the phone tighter.

That something bad his gut told him was coming…

Was already here.

Chapter Thirteen

“Go to the police station. Now!” Evan shouted in Marlie’s ear. “There’s a Lakewood PD substation in the back of the mall next to Dick’s Sporting Goods.”

“We’re already in the parking lot,” she answered between heavy breaths. “In the front of the mall. We’re going to my truck. We’re almost there.”

So was Manello. She’d caught sight of him closing the gap fast.

Cursing came through the phone. “I’m leaving my office now. I’ll call the PD and send patrol cars to you. Where exactly in the lot are you?”

She looked back over her shoulder, biting back the urge to scream. “Target is behind us.” A mall security car drove slowly in their direction, its amber lights flashing. With the phone still in her hand, she jumped up and down, frantically waving her arms to flag down the driver.

He stopped and rolled down the passenger window. “Are you all right, ma’am?”

“Could you drive us to my truck?” Without waiting for an answer, she dropped her phone in her handbag, then opened the rear door and ushered Noah into the back seat. She tossed the bags on the seat as she slid in and slammed the door shut. “I think that man is following us.” She pointed to Manello, who’d stopped to watch them from about a hundred feet away. “Just keep going straight. I’ll show you where my truck is.”

She twisted in the seat to see Manello walking away in the opposite direction. “We’ll be okay.” She squeezed Noah’s hands. His fingers were ice cold, and the look of stark fear in his eyes tore at her heart.

The security cop watched her from the rearview mirror. “Do you need me to call the police?”

“No, just drive! Please,” she added more gently, not wanting to sound as panicked as she actually was. “We just want to get out of here.”

“Marlie!” came a muffled, angry voice. From inside her handbag. Evan was still on the line.

“Over there.” She pointed to her truck. “That old green pickup.” She fished the keys from her pocket, grabbed the shopping bags, and pushed open the door. “Noah, let’s go. Thank you,” she said to the security cop. Before letting Noah out, she searched the lot, in case Manello had skirted around and managed to see them.

Noah scooted out behind her.