Page 131 of The Daddy P.I. Casefiles: The Second Collection
“Cynnie knows to signal the transit cops,” I say. “I’m calling an Uber.”
“Maxie, I know this is hell, but we need you where you are. You’re our communication hub. You’ve got resources there you won’t have on the move. I’m twelve minutes away. I’ll bring her straight back to you. Just stay there.”
“Jesus, Lo.”
“I know. It’s hell. I absolutely know how you’re feeling right now. But Cynnie needs you there, mate.”
I blow out a breath. I trust Logan’s judgment. But this might be the hardest command to follow that he’s ever given me.
The next fifteen minutes take three hours. I can’t help myself and text Cynnie constantly. She replies with good girl chibis, but each one makes my heart beat faster, my fingers pound harder on the keys as I search through anything that will get me a live feed of 110thStreet station.
I don’t have enough time to hack into the city’s CCTV network—which is locked up even tighter than that fucking NHS database—but there are often vloggers who feel the need to tell the world about the skinny soy hazelnut latte they got on their morning commute. Unfortunately, the Gen Zers are quiet this morning. Fucking snowflakes can’t even be noisy when I need them to be.
Finally, finally, Logan’s voice breaks into the tense silence on the line we have open. “I see her, Max. I see her. She’s with two transit cops in the station. She’s okay.”
I sag back into my chair and close my stinging eyes.
“Thank Christ,” Manny sighs.
“I’ll help her make her statement to the cops and then head back, Max. I’m going to hang up and put my phone away. I’ll text if I’m going to be more than a half-hour.”
“Thank you, Lo,” I say, rubbing my eyes.
“No worries, mate,” Logan says, before he clicks off.
“Between watching Logan get hit in the head and this,” Manny says. “You two are shaving decades off my life.”
“Thanks, Man. Ask your cousin what kind of flowers she likes, ‘cause I’m buying her ten dozen.”
“She takes payment in chocolate.”
“Text me her address and I’ll have the entire Hershey’s store delivered.”
Manny chuckles. “You got it. Chill, Maxie. Good guys won today.”
I scrub my hands over my face. “Yeah, once Mac calls in. I’m wiring that fucking bike of his.”
“Good luck with that,” Manny says. “Imma get back on my body. You need anything, call me.”
“I will.” I close the call and take a minute to get my breathing and heartrate under control.
While I wait for Logan to return with my bumble, I check my other phones. There’s only one message from Ness, rather than the slew I expected. It’s short, and not at all sweet.
“Hi, Max. We still need you. No one knows this system like you do. It’s a clean job. Long distance. You never have to leave your bunker. Make the smart choice, buddy. We’re watching you. We’re watching your friends. We’ll make our move soon. Call me on this number when their lives mean more than your bullshit principles.”
Rubbing my hands over my face, I save the message to the Cloud. Ness was using a voice modulator again. I don’t expect to get anything out of the message, but Squid might catch something I’m missing. I ping him the link.
Squid: Got it. Saw Logan’s signal meet up with your girl. All safe?
All safe. Thanks for your help.
Squid: Any time.
I tap my desk, contemplating calling Ness and telling him to fuck himself. It’s tempting. So fucking tempting. But it’s not the smart move while Mac’s AWOL. Smarter to wait and make sure he’s safe before giving Ness the middle finger.
Logan, Emily, and Cynnie finally pull up in an Uber. I’m at the front door, waiting for them. Once Cynnie began texting me, saying she was safe and finished giving her statement to the police and on the way, I got too antsy to wait upstairs.
I open the door as she jumps out of the car, hold my arms open, and snatch her up against my chest as soon as she collides with me.
