That didn’t mean he wouldn’t double-cross us.
He could.
My insurance policy—Johnny’s wife and kid—was currently at a motel in the Fifteenth Ward with two guards watching their door. The research my men did today confirmed that Johnny’s wife had been recently let go from a big-box store in the Lower Ninth. She’d missed too many days of work; supposedly, her absences coincided with their kid’s doctor’s appointments and days their kid missed school.
I didn’t want to know any more.
That information was enough to confirm Johnny’s story.
He was now in that church to get his money. It was his only job.
Johnny also knew if my plan went south, he and his wife wouldn’t need to worry about medical appointments. I’d take the three of them out.
Johnny, Mrs. Johnny, and little Johnny.
Damn, my list of Johnnys was growing.
Then again, if he came through, things could look up for the Johnnys.
Leon spoke quietly, “Boss, no reason why Ingalls would need to pay his own bill. He could easily send someone.”
Meaning Ingalls might not show.
“I’ve thought of that, but what are our other options. If Ingalls or Boudreau appear, I want them fucking tailed from every side.”
That wasn’t all that I wanted.
While I’d considered torching the church at the onset of their meeting, I decided against that for one reason: killing either Ingalls or Boudreau tonight wouldn’t bring my wife back to me. It stood to reason that if Ingalls helped abduct Emma, he was in contact with who wanted her, who had her—most likely Boudreau and then there was the added possibility of the elusive Jezebel North.
A text message came through, and I hit the icon.
“Fuck.”
Leon’s dark gaze met mine in the rearview mirror.
I lifted the phone. “Boudreau’s showing his face at some high-class establishments. And he has an interesting piece of arm candy.”
Leon’s head snapped sideways until our eyes met. “Not Mrs. Ramses?”
“Fuck no. Remember the name Emily Oberyn?”
His brow furrowed. “The ginger who was spotted with Underwood.”
Leon wasn’t asking.
“It now seems she’s with Boudreau.” I read the text. “Right now, they’re at Restaurant R’evolution. I’m just fucking learning that earlier they were seen at Galatoire’s 33.”
“Making the rounds,” Leon said as his head tilted to the side. “Seems like a ruse. They want your people watching them.”
“My people are. My people are also here and around the entire fucking city.”
“Word’s getting around. Thought you should know.”
My focus went back to Leon. “Word? What word?”
“Mrs. Ramses. The shit Ingalls started is getting out but not the way he thinks.”
“Go on.”