Page 33 of Special Agent Joseph

Warily, Bear’s eyes first shifted from Jack to Joe before he finally nodded at Megan. “Whatcha wanna know?”

“We’re looking for a girl called Lucia Farina. You know her?”

“Hell, no. How I know a girl like that?”

“She’s here in the hood, runaway from her grandfather Vinnie. Bet you know him?”

Bear stiffened. “Maybe. Like I heard of the prick. Don’t know him personally.” The last part of his answer came out filled with sarcasm not unexpected. Bear was gaining back his usual spirit. Well, until Jack inched closer, his low-throated growls increasing.

Megan pulled out the picture of Lucia and held it in front of Bear. “This is a recent picture.”

Suddenly, Bear’s manner changed. Shifty as hell, he first stared at the worst threat and then at Joe before swinging his scowl back to Megan. “Okay. Yeah. I seen her a few days ago. Ran away from me and the boys. Didn’t like us neither.”

Joe asked, “Who’d she run with?”

“Hell if I know.” Joe stepped forward, with Jack next to him. Bear’s answer changed. “A dude who hangs around sometime. Changes his name whenever he gets tired of living with one handle. Used to call himself Casper – you know – like the ghost. Dun know what he calls hisself now. We leave him be.”

“Why’s that?”

“Cause… he’s ex military. Fought for our country. We respect that around here. Lots of us lost family in the forces.”

“You figure he’s nearby?”

“Maybe. Dude comes and goes. Gets hisself a woman and disappears for a while. Guess him and Vinnie’s girl are an item now.”

Megan took back control. “Bear, it would really help if you could give us any identifying details. Is he white, black, Latino, tattoos, weight, height – you know. Things that can help us find him. We don’t give a rat’s ass about him, but Vinnie wants his Lucia back. And anyone who stops that from happening or steps in our way of finding the girl… well Vinnie’s not gonna be happy with that person. Bad things could happen to them. If you get my meaning.”

Bear nodded and his voice sounded hesitant but truthful. “Dude’s Mexican. Speaks with a Spanish accent and has a tattoo on his arm. Dat’s it… all I know. Can I go?”

“Go. But if I hear you been messing with any more young girls, we’ll be back… and we’ll bring Jack with us. He’s got your scent now.”

Bear’s color paled. Sliding along the wall, forcing himself as far away from the menacing canine as possible, he finally broke into a run and left the scene.

On the way home, Joe suffered through moments of introspection. Somehow he had a hard time believing he’d been completely unaware of the dangerous situation around him. Jack holding Bear against the wall, waiting for Joe to release him. And the terrified big guy begging for help. Yet none of that mattered.

All because Megan’s condition had taken central stage. The emerging memory unwound slowly like in a dream… or a nightmare. Seeing her sprawled on the ground had sparked a small explosion of his past, and the scene of injured bodies he remembered… had horrified him.

Chapter Twenty-four

Joe automatically drove toward the hospital, taking it for granted that Megan should be checked out. For the third time, he forced her from her doze. “Hey, Meggie, wake up. You all right?”

“What. Yeah. Of course. Just resting.” She noticed the direction they were headed. “Where are you going?”

“Hospital.”

“What? Absolutely not. I want to go to my place.”

“No can do. You were unconscious when I found you. I know enough about concussions that you can’t be left alone.”

“Don’t be silly. I’m fine.”

“Sure you are. Is your roommate home tonight?”

“Mikey? No, he had an overseas flight yesterday which means he’ll be gone until tomorrow at the soonest. The airlines are so understaffed, they’re flipping pilots to different routes now, trying to keep the flights going.”

“Then it’s either the hospital or home with me. Your choice.”

“Boiling water or the burning stove. Gee thanks. Girl’s got a lot of choice. How about you let me decide? Take me home. I’m fine now.”

---