Page 63 of Daddy's Pursuit
“Can you believe he didn’t know that song?” Iris said.
Darren chuckled. “Mike thinks he knows everything. But he doesn't know shit.”
Mike. Darren. Iris would remember those names. She wasn’t sure how they’d help her. She wasn’t even sure she’d get out of this alive. But she assumed the more information she had, the better her chances were.
“Do you know ‘Monday, Monday’?” she asked. “It’s another Mamas and Papas song.”
“Hmm. Maybe. Sing that one.”
She sang a few lyrics.
“Oh, yeah. I remember that one. Man, no one likes Mondays. Right?”
She laughed. “Nobody!”
Darren was smiling as he walked closer. “You ever readGarfield? You know, that comic? Or watch those cartoons? Man, that cat hated Mondays. He didn’t want any part of that shit.”
“I think so,” she said.
“Maybe a bit before your time,” Darren noted. “I’m probably twenty years older than you.” He stopped before her and looked down. “Hey, how do you know those old songs?”
She smiled. “I was raised by my grandma. Well, for a few years. It’s what she listened to when I was little so they just sort of stuck. I love them now. Makes me feel close to her even though she’s gone.”
It felt strange divulging something so personal to a man who was holding her captive, but it might help the cause. So, she smiled even wider, hoping she was turning up the charm as she patted the bed. “You want to sit?”
Darren again looked uneasy. After a moment of contemplation, he turned around, grabbed the chair, and brought it closer. “I got my own seat. But we can chat, if you want.”
Iris smiled.
This was working out perfectly.
Well, as perfect as being kidnapped could.
Chapter Thirty
Jack looked up from the map that was spread out on the hood of his SUV and took a moment to make eye contact with everyone who was gathered there.
Trevon. Matteo. Ace. Isaiah. Kendrick. Ryan. Jordan.
Seven men who were willing to go into battle with him. Seven brothers. Seven who would risk their lives for precious Iris.
“If anyone wants to back out, I won’t judge you,” he said.
Everyone just gave him a hard, determined stare.
Night had fallen. The sounds of the ocean and far-away liners coming into port filled the darkness, along with the squawking of seagulls. A long, low wail of a boat’s horn temporarily cut off any further conversation.
Once it was over, Jack said, “Just to reiterate, we’re going in unsanctioned. Sure, a crime has been committed. And yes, we technically have jurisdiction. But I’m just too worried Frank has men in the department, as much as I hate to admit that. I can’t risk word getting back to him. He thinks we’re dropping this thing for twenty-four hours.”
Trevon’s deep voice asked, “What’s so special about twenty-four hours?”
Jack looked at him. “My guess is Frank has a big deal going through tomorrow. After that, he’s splitting town. He just happened to stumble upon Iris tonight and he saw an opportunity, so he grabbed her.” He cleared his throat. “But there’s no way he’s going to leave her alive after all this is over. She could testify against him. That’s why we have to act now.”
His blood felt like ice water as it coursed through his veins. The thought of anything happening to his babygirl was enough to nearly send him over the edge.
“And we’re sure this warehouse is the spot?” Jordan asked.
“Nope. But it makes the most sense to me,” Jack said, smiling for the first time that night. “Some old-fashioned detective work came in handy. Turns out, that house was the missing link we needed. At least, I think it was. Did some property searches. The place is owned by a trust. I called my contact in the California Secretary of State’s office, and after promising to get her front row Dodgers tickets, she looked up what else that shell corporation owns. This warehouse came up, along with several other properties.”
