Page 19 of Special Agent Joseph

“Maybe. Look, all I know is this. Up to a short while ago, the kid lived on a ranch in Montana, totally oblivious to everything about her beloved Vinnie… except that he was her hero. It’s just this past few weeks she’s found out her grandfather is a crook, and that knowledge has rocked her world. Being devastated is making her reckless. And in that kind of a mood, she’s out to hurt him. Make him pay for shattering her illusions. The kid is a powder keg ready to blow.”

His gaze sharpened. “Jesus. You honestly believe she doesn’t care what happens to her?”

“See, you’re not as dumb as I figured. That’s exactly what I believe.”

Joe’s expression hardened, but his tone stayed calm. “I only talked to Lucia once for a short time on my first day back, and she didn’t give me the impression of being a silly girl unable to take care of herself. In fact, I got the opposite opinion. But from your attitude and Vinnie’s fear, I’m thinking maybe in that kind of a state, she could get herself in a load of trouble.”

“You think? Las Vegas sure as hell isn’t the kind of place you want an angry, spiteful young girl on a rampage looking for payback. There’s more places in this bloody city for a pretty minor like her to find trouble than I care to dwell on.”

Joe sensed their discussion had come to an end. “I’ll get my car, and we’ll head into town.” His tone didn’t give her room to argue, which she didn’t want to do anyway. Since one of her objectives was to find out more about him, she decided to use this time sensibly.

“Good. I’ll search out some addresses for teen shelters we can check out in case she went looking for a place to stay.”

“Good idea. And I’ll let Vinnie know what we’re up to.”

Once Joseph reported to Vinnie, they headed to town. Curious, Megan asked, “What did the old man say?”

“He was on the phone with some of his associates, passing out the word for them to get a search going.”

“No. I meant… what was his reaction to you and me teaming up? Didn’t you have some other business with him?”

“Sure. But we’d concluded it.” He continued to fib. “I was actually about to leave when you showed up.”

“Oh, good. I felt stupid breaking in on your conversation. Sorry.” Hoping he’d say more, she waited, except he didn’t take the bait.

He glanced over at her, surprise showing. “No problem. Like I said, we were finished.”

Megan took that to mean subject closed. So instead of dwelling on the issue, she began peering from side to side along the road,thinking the girl could have hid in the woods for the rest of the night and might be making her way to the city now. Once they got closer, she admitted to wishful thinking. Sharing her thoughts, she said, “If Lucia got a ride, no telling what kind of people picked her up.”

“Who wouldn’t be willing to pick up a young girl in this furnace? Most folks are decent and would do so to help her.”

“Right. Most are. It’s not those ones I’m worried about.”

Soon they arrived in town and spent the next few hours going from one shelter to another. In each place, they showed photos of Lucia that Megan had purposely taken her first day on the job. It happened to be the one and only time the two girls had gotten along and hung out together. Of course, the background in those images were part of her surveillance and had been forwarded to headquarters.

After heading for a drive-through and eating on the go, they pulled up to a ratty looking place known to be a grim hangout for street kids. As soon as they stepped out of the car, four large, leather-vested, bald-headed, tattooed, attitude-slinging gang members stepped in their path, blocking them from getting close to the door.

“Hey, we don’t allow no cops in here without a warrant. Get lost.” The negative tone matched the words and meant business.

Megan stepped forward before Joe could do so. With her hands held up to prove she didn’t intend there to be a problem, she used a consolatory, respectful tone. “No problem. We’re not here to make trouble. We’re just looking for this girl, Lucia. Have you seen her around?”

Having no intention of creating a scene, Megan hoped the deference she showed worked both ways. Sensing Joe stiffening, she didn’t anticipate him backing her up but felt less alone when he actually moved in behind her.

Sneering, the talker’s pock-marked face, gleeful from showing off his antisocial arrogance, pushed in her space. “Look, sister.” His mouth came in a mite too close, stopping just inches away from making her gag. Later, she could have sworn his garlicky breath melted her makeup. Still, she didn’t show fear. “We don’t – talk – to – cops. I said once to get lost. I won’t say it twice.”

Again, Megan showed respect but not quite so much this time. This time, she let her head drop as if her patience was wearing thin. Even her sighing voice held an edginess he couldn’t miss. “Buddy, you don’t want to piss me off. See… it’s this way. You don’t answer me, or you mess with us in any way, I’ll arrange for a SWAT team to show up here and raid the place, That way, everyone loses. So… just do me the curtesy of answering my fucking question. Please.”

One of the men who’d stayed in the background pushed dough-boy out of the way and stepped into his place. Not surprised to see bigmouth back away, she sensed leadership and authority instantly. This man’s cold blue eyes didn’t so much as flicker, his stare ground into her, drilling her with the knowledge that she faced a killer… one who didn’t flinch from danger.

Not letting him see her suspicions, knowing that to show fear would be her downfall, she just said, “Hi there.”

He ignored her and turned to Joe. “Who’re you?”

“Special Agent Joe Marcus. The lady asked a question. Can you give her an answer or are we just wasting our time?”

A flicker of something passed in the gang leader’s eyes that Megan thought might have been recognition, yet Joe’s expression hadn’t changed. After a few more tense-heavy seconds, the prick shoved his hand out to her, without letting his eyes leave Joe’s. Once he held the photo, he finally let his glance drop to the picture. “She’s not here. Don’t know the kid. What’s her name?”

Interrupting the man’s play… his obvious attempt to instill fear, Megan spoke with authority, “Lucia Farina. Vinnie Farina’s granddaughter. You see her, let me know.” Megan slid out one of the business cards she’d used at the bank, and again the lowlife held out his hand without turning her way… his eyes never leaving Joe’s.

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