Page 85 of Rules of Engagement

"Rough night?" he countered.

I sighed. "You have no idea."

"Well, the good news is we ran our gift's fingerprints and it turns out to be the right guy. Got a rap sheet about as long as my arm but mostly petty stuff. Theft and other misdemeanors. Did time for an assault about five years ago but nothing since. I figured he must’ve gotten smarter and didn't want to be shipped upstate again."

"How did he move from misdemeanors to hiring a hit man?"

"He has an affiliation to the Niners, the gang Mikey thought he was being initiated into, so it could be gang-related," said Garrett. "So far, he's not talking so we're letting him sit and panic a little while before we go at him harder."

"Surely being giftwrapped should have panicked him," said Maddox.

"You'd think."

"Any idea who dropped him off?" Maddox asked.

"There wasn't a gift tag. We already checked."

I had an idea who might have dropped Mooch off on MPD's doorstep but I figured enough panic had been caused last night when I announced Duncan O'Malley was in the hospital building. He offered his assistance in catching Mooch, but I didn't expect him to act quite so fast. I wasn't sure if I should be pleased with his success, given his own criminal status.

"What about last night's shooter?" asked Maddox, a beat before I asked the same question.

"We're still looking, but I got some good news. Results came back on the contents of that syringe. It was a heavy-duty muscle relaxant. The intention was probably for Solomon's heart to stop. It might not have killed him if he coded, but it would have been a huge warning," explained Garret.

I blinked. "That's good news?"

"Uh, I guess not, no. It's good news that we know what drug he used."

"You need to work on your good news, buddy," said Maddox. He clapped my brother on the back.

"I started with a gift-wrapped Mooch!" Garrett crossed his arms. "The bad news is we don't have any clear picture of this guy, he’s not on any camera, and there weren't any fingerprints on the syringe. I didn't expect there to be. This was a much more sophisticated hit. They got what they didn't pay for with Mikey Gibbs. This time, they went professional."

"What about the trail from the hospital?" I asked. "Where did he go?"

"Beats me. No one saw him beyond you two. There weren't any cameras over that section of the parking lot except for one that was apparently busted a week ago. Too far back for this guy to be responsible unless he conducts regular hits at Montgomery General. Before you ask, I don't think he's a regular."

"So, he's somewhere in the wind?" I asked.

Garrett nodded. "Yeah, but we'll find him."

"What's the word on Solomon?" I asked. "I don't have my phone and I can't contact anyone."

"I think you should keep it that way. It's best if you and Maddox both stay out of sight until we catch this guy. If he thinks either of you saw him, you could be the next targets. I'm concerned enough about getting you down to the station."

"I can't do that. I need to get to the hospital."

"So I have to worry about this guy whacking you too? No!"

"I can't not go! I'll be with the agency guys. They'll look after me."

Garrett snorted but was too polite to point out they didn't do a great job last night. Instead, he looked at Maddox. "What do you think?" he asked.

"She's right," said Maddox. "Maybe it will be better to guard them both together. Saves splitting the manpower."

"I'll think about it," said Garrett. "Let's take a crack at Mooch first. He's the best lead we have at finding out who's in charge. Come on through. Damien is already there waiting for you."

Garrett let us into the same room we occupied yesterday. Damien walked over to greet us and surprised me with a warm hug. "I was told you were okay but I didn't believe it until now," he said, stepping back to take a better look at me. He took in the tear on my jacket and I told him it was a near miss. "I am so glad you're not hurt. Solomon would never forgive me if anything happened to you."

"I'm okay," I told him. "I really am. We just had to lie low for a while."

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