“Yes, a deal. Their—”
“Freedom in exchange for us,” James finishes. “She wants them to lead her to us.”
“She knows where to find us,” I say. “Every fucking copper in Florida state knows where to find us.”
“But they don’t have the evidence they need to put us in cuffs.” James laughs under his breath.
“She thinks they can help her get that evidence.” Higham looks embarrassed. He should.
“Who is this fucking woman? She swans into Miami, reads a few files, and thinks she has the answer to eternal peace in the city?” I’m fucking fuming. “Does she fucking know who she’s dealing w—” I cast my eyes across the bay, my mind going into overdrive. “A hangar.”
“What?” Brad asks, dipping his toes in the water to join me.
“Higham, you said the woman in custody mentioned she was held in a hangar.”
“Yes.”
I inhale, facing the others.Fuck!“Otto, I want every detail you can find on the purchase of Winstable Boatyard three years ago.”
Without a word, he goes back to the cabin, and I follow, our recent brawl forgotten. “Leon!” I yell, and a second later he appears from one of the containers. “Get the skis ready.”
“Sure thing, D-Boss.”
I look at him, nodding, holding up one finger, and he acknowledges me, running off toward the container that houses a few loaded jet skis.
“What the fuck’s going on?” Brad asks as James overtakes me, pulling his T-shirt up over his head, revealing his mammoth scar. The sight still makes me flinch.
“I know where the Polish are holding the women.”Fuck, how did I miss this?
“Where?”
I can hardly say it without wanting to throw up. “The boatyard Pops built.”
“No.” Brad wants to laugh but worry is stopping him. “That was sold to be developed as an educational facility for disadvantaged kids.”
It’s been over three years since I stepped aside to let that happen. Of course, I wasn’t willing to at first. Was prepared to break a few legs to keep the land. Then the disadvantaged kids’ card was brandished. It’s as if whoever needed Winstable knew I’d soften to that.Fuckers!“Do you see an educational facility over there?”
Brad looks across the water, not that Winstable is visible. Just a dot in the distance. “Jesus.”
“Yeah.” I take the steps fast as I pull my wetsuit up and when I enter the changing room, James is ready to get back on the water. “I want you two and Otto to take the road,” I say to Goldie and Ringo. “We’ll go in from the water. Distract them. Get them all out front.”
“And do what?” Ringo says. “Ask for directions? For fuck’s sake, Danny. Think about this. They’ll know our faces.”
“I can help.”
We all whirl around and find Higham in the doorway. His face is serious. His stance unmoving. “A routine stop by. A few questions about a local robbery. Ain’t nothing as distracting as the Feds at your door.”
We all look at each other, none of us willing to admit it’s the solution we need.
“You don’t kill anyone,” Higham goes on. “Not on my watch. But you scope the place, find out what you need to find out, and go back at nightfall when I am not there.”
“Deal,” I say, and James looks at me incredulously.
“You want to discuss that with me?”
“Nope. The others can use the boat.” I leave the changing room, on a mission, trying not to think about Rose. Trying not to remember where she came from. Who she was before I took her.
A slave.