Page 105 of Hart of Darkness
He puffed out his chest from taking in a large amount of air and toyed with his mustache. “I refuse to believe one of my men is tainted. What I do believe, though, is you’re telling the truth about Maggie. I spoke to her before she left her office. She said she had a date with you, which I wasn’t thrilled about. I tried to call her before I hit the sack—several times, actually. I wanted to make sure she got home okay. I’d been more concerned since Nadine was murdered. But I figured she was having a good time and ignoring my messages.”
I didn’t expect him to jump for joy. He was her protector, and I was glad he was, especially now.
Some of the color returned to his face. “I do respect Hunt. I know he works for Pitt, who knows these streets back and forth. Tell me everything.”
I told him how Grace had worked for Miguel. I filled him in on the phone conversation with Miguel, and I told him that Cory Calderon was a Black Knight. When I finished, he didn’t say anything.
“When I spoke to Maggie, she sounded off,” I said. “I think they drugged her.”
Creases lined his forehead. “This Dom guy told you that Cory was involved in the Black Knights?”
I found it odd that he didn’t come back with a question about Maggie. After all, he cared for her. “Yeah. But Cory doesn’t use his real name. He goes by an alias of Dallas.”
Ted reared back. “Fuck. My team and I are familiar with that name, but we’ve never been able to identify or find anything on a Dallas. Now I know why.” He glanced out the window. “Maggie always believed Cory was a Black Knight. She swore by her source.” His Adam’s apple bobbed. “Up until recently, we didn’t know that Miguel was running the show. We only got that info out of one of his men who we arrested at that standoff.” He returned his attention back inside, picked up his cup, and took a swig, looking despondent.
“What’s wrong?” I’d been waiting for him to run out of there since I mentioned that Miguel had kidnapped Maggie, unless Hunt had it wrong, and Hughes was the inside informant within the gang unit rather than Rick. Maybe that was the reason Hughes had never confirmed to Maggie that Calderon was a Black Knight. Maybe that was why Hughes had kept Maggie at a distance from the case on the gang and sex trafficking. Hughes would probably handcuff me for asking him my next question or jump over the table and choke me to death. “Are you the one working for Miguel?”
For the first time since I’d met the detective, his features brightened like a street full of Christmas lights. “I take back what I said. I like you, Hart. You got some balls.” Then his whole body went rigid. His nostrils flared, and his mustache twitched. “You think I would put Maggie in harm’s way? You think I would botch a case I’ve been working on for over a year?”
My fingers dove into my hair. “I don’t know you. I do know you’re proud you arrested my brother.” Which was odd in my book. I suspected there was more to the story, but this wasn’t the time or the place. “I do know Maggie cares for you. So let’s not beat around the bush. I have to find my girl, and I need your help. Although if you are working for Miguel—”
“Save the rest of the speech, Hart. I can assure you on my wife’s grave I’m not the one working for a thug like Miguel.” He spoke with conviction. “Why does Miguel want your sister?”
If I told him, then Grace could be seeing the inside of a prison like Denim. She’d been through enough. Images of Grace’s back flashed before me. If her captor wasn’t dead, I would kill him. Plus, I had no proof. “My sister was sold to a man she ended up escaping from, and he wants her back. Apparently, if Miguel doesn’t return her, then both Grace and Miguel are dead.” I tore apart a napkin as I visualized the scarred welts on Grace’s soft skin.
“I’m sorry.” It was the first time I’d heard sympathy from the man.
“Are you going to help us or not?” I asked.
“Let’s get Hunt in on the action. He’s good with his gun, and I trust him,” Hughes said. “Now I want to see where we’re meeting Miguel.”
“My sister isn’t going to be part of this exchange.” I couldn’t blame Grace. As desperate as I was to get Maggie back, I couldn’t force Grace, nor would I. “Please tell me you have some leads on where you can find Miguel.”
He mashed his lips together. “I might, but that would involve my team.”
If Dom struck out on locating the warehouse where Miguel was keeping Maggie, then I had a plan C. And that involved either me going to jail for murder, or worse—me dead.
