Page 16 of Vinny

She wanted to ask more.Where are you taking Easnadh? What will you do when you get to where you are going? How will you get her there?But she knew this man would not answer and Vinny already looked angry enough that she had gotten out of the car.And that Taggart had held her hand. Was he jealous? No way, not over me.

Taggart drove away as Vinny took her gently by the arm leading her over to the passenger side. Assisting her up, he leaned over to buckle her in, putting his face right in hers. Their lips almost touching.

“Next time I tell you what to do and you don’t do it…you’re going to find out just what kind of punishment I can hand out.”With that, he slammed the door before walking around and hopping up in the driver’s side. As he got in, he noticed her head slightly down.I don’t want to scare her but she’s got to listen to me if I’m going to keep her safe.

As he started the vehicle, she spoke. “I just had toexplain about Easnadh. He had to understand,” she said, her eyes imploring Vinny to sympathize.

Sighing, he reached over and clasped her hand again. “I should have realized that parting with your harp was going to be difficult and I’m sorry. But, babe, I can’t keep you safe if I don’t know where you are or what you’re doing. So you gotta listen and obey. Can you do that?”

He saw her chin lift slightly as she answered him, “Yeah. I can do that.” With a final squeeze of her fingers, he pulled back out onto the highway, heading east.

“I gave you the information about the plane and the hotel, I can’t help it if they weren’t there.” The person who had been threatening the airport handler was now in the dubious situation of reporting to their contact. And not liking the feeling at all.

“What went wrong?” came the cold voice on the other end of the phone.

“I sent the handler to her apartment and he looked carefully and then said they weren’t there. Then I found out about the plane being delayed in Kansas City.”

“I know that, you imbecile. That’s what you told me last night.”

“You must have sent someone in, but they got caught. Police were there and now the girl and that guy she’s with have disappeared.”

The silence on the phone was ear-piercing. “I payyou to get my stash across the country, not fuck up and get the police involved.”

Whining, the person objected. “That’s not my fault. I did my part.”

“Where are they now?”

“I’m telling you, I don’t know. They didn’t get on the plane in Kansas City.”

“Then they must be traveling by car. Did you check the rental agencies?”

“Yeah, of course. But no one with their names got a car. I checked all of them.”

The man in California closed his eyes in frustration. Not used to incompetence, he growled, “Go back you fucking moron and give them a description. Find that couple and the fucking harp. When you do, let me know and I’ll send someone to take care of them.”

“I’ll try,” came the fearful response.

“Just fucking do it!” he ordered before disconnecting. Sitting in his office he wondered how such a brilliant plan had gone all to hell. Rubbing his hand over his face, he knew that failure would not be acceptable. Not to Don Juarez. Don had not risen to be one of the largest drug lords in California by surrounding himself with incompetents. Sucking in a huge breath before letting it out slowly, he picked his phone back up, making his next call.

The next hour passed in silence, the highway rolling before them. Annalissa was quiet, her face turnedtoward the window. Her mind was churning once again, the events of the last two days so far out of her realm of experience that she had no idea what to think. Heaving a sigh, she closed her eyes wondering if sleep would come.Or would it be fueled by nightmares?

“Annalissa?” Vinny interrupted her thoughts. “Where are you?”

Giving a small smile as she turned toward his smooth voice, she said, “Right here.”

“Oh no, darlin’,” he replied. “You were a million miles away.”

“I just have no…idea what to think about…all of this,” she said hesitantly, her hands fluttering as she shrugged in frustration.

“I know. I know you’re tired and I know you’re scared. We’ll figure it out and keep you safe, I promise.”

He saw her look down as her hands clasped together once again.She does that when she is nervous.“What are you thinking? You got questions? Go ahead and ask. I’ll answer if I can,” he assured.

“Well, I know we don’t know who put the drugs in the case or if they were targeting me. But…well…I was…kind of…” her voice trailed off.I hate being introverted.Sucking in a deep breath, she lifted her chin, determined to sound more confident, and said, “Why did we not call the police right away?”

Seeing her resolve, he nodded, “Good question, and I’ll tell you what I know.” He glanced sideways, noticing her twist in her seat so that she could focus on him. “If we’d called the local police, they would have confiscated the harp and its case. They would have taken us in forquestioning. They would have immediately begun investigating you and me, both. All the while, the ones who put it in your case and the ones expecting it would have had more time to cover their tracks. By me calling Tony, we have our agency plus the services of another…uh…security business that we are working with. Friends who have a variety of backgrounds and contacts themselves.”

He saw her nod slowly, digesting this information. Hesitating for a moment, he continued, “And we have to face the possibility that with the police and dogs at the hotel this morning, someone could have been trying to frame you.” Her sudden intake of breath had him looking over.

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