Page 71 of Max's Mission

Marchand muttered a curse and scrubbed his hands over his face. “I truly hate your little group. Dye was right. You all are impossible.”

Max flashed him a quick, toothy smile. “Glad we’ve cleared that up. So, who’s making the phone call? You or me?”

Blowing out a breath, Marchand aimed an annoyed look at him. “I will.”

“Good. We want to listen in,” Dean said. “To make sure you tell him the whole truth.”

“The whole—” Marchand stopped with an exasperated sigh, then pinched the bridge of his nose. He waved his hand. “Fine.”

Max crossed his arms, waiting.

Marchand’s brows rose. “You mean, right now?”

“Yes.”

“Christ almighty,” Marchand muttered under his breath. He removed his phone from his pocket. Clicking through several screens, he finally dialed a number and put it on speaker.

It rang five times, then rolled to voicemail.

Max clenched his teeth.Dammit.

Marchand left a quick message, asking Tad to call, then hung up. “Happy? That’s all I can do for now.”

“Where is he?” Sam asked.

Again, Marchand hesitated.

Max huffed. “We’ve been over this. No information is safe. But it is quicker if you tell us.”

“I think I need to have a chat with the FBI’s cybersecurity team about your friend.”

Dean chuckled. “Trust me, they’re already aware of him. Answer Sam’s question.”

The marshal threw his hands up. “Fine. He’s in California. North of San Francisco.”

Max glanced at Dean, who already had his phone out to call Asher. In moments, ringing filled the living room.

“Yo. You talk to that marshal about what I told you?” Asher asked without preamble.

“We did. He’s here, and you’re on speaker.”

“Got it. What’s up?”

“Our new friend told us where he stashed Tad.”

A beat of silence came over the line.

Max narrowed his eyes. “You already know, don’t you?”

“Maybe.” Asher drew out the word. “I might also have driven down there and talked to him yesterday.”

“You did what?” Marchand stepped closer, glaring at the phone in Dean’s hand. “You had no authority?—”

“Can it, Marshal. The man’s children are in danger. He has every right to know. Especially since he’s the cause.”

Marchand took a breath, closing his eyes. Max could tell he was counting to ten in his head.

“What did you say to him?” Marchand finally asked.

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