Colby Brass

The wail of sirens split the night air.

Jones or whoever the hell he was tensed.

“If you want a head start,” she warned, “you’d better talk fast.”

“He wanted to make some money,” the lowlife said. “He had a real need, you know what I mean?”

Yeah, she knew exactly what he meant. “You gave him money? For what?” Fear and disgust exploded in her heart at the idea that any scumbag could be a parent. A person had to have a license to drive a vehicle … but anyone could be a parent—no prerequisites or licenses required.

“No. Man, I ain’t into that.” He made a disgusted sound. “But I know people … who are.”

“Who did you send him to?” Damn it all to hell. This couldn’t be right. What father would do this?

“Another associate of mine.”

“What’s his name and how do I find him?”

The sirens were closer now.

“I don’t know his name. Just his phone number. I call him and he gives a drop location.”

Von’s stomach waded into knots. “You called him on your cell?”

“Yeah.”

She reached into his pocket, pulled out the cell phone she’d felt when checking for his weapon. “Which number?” She opened up the log of recent calls, matched the one he recited from memory. A very close associate if he knew the number by heart.

Von pushed aside the personal feelings. She had to focus. The time the call was made seemed right based on the mother’s statement of events.

“What do you get out of the deal?” Von couldn’t keep the revulsion out of her voice, didn’t even try.

“Twenty percent.”

“Twenty percent of what?”

“A good-looking little girl like that? Thirty-five hundred. Sometimes more.” He sniggered. “You’d think even an idiot would know that changing your mind isn’t an option.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Von demanded.

“We’re done,” Jones growled. “Get off me before—”

Doors slammed on the street where she’d left her vehicle.

“Get off me!” He started to buck again.

She burrowed the muzzle deep into his flesh and leaned forward to whisper in his nasty ear. “Does he keep the kids or does he auction them?”

“He sells ‘em,” he muttered. “You said you’d give me a head start.”

“I lied.” Von pressed hard on his carotid artery. He tried to throw her off, but the insistent pressure won the battle, rendering him unconscious.

She rolled him onto his back and fished the weapon from his crotch.

A glance toward the street told her she hadn’t been spotted just yet.

She sprinted in the opposite direction, tossing the bastard’s weapon into a Dumpster. Having him wake up and use it on a cop or anyone else was a possibility she wanted to avoid.

At the other end of the alley, she checked the street in both directions. Another police cruiser, sirens flashing and blaring, skidded into a left turn headed for where her vehicle as well as Jones’s had been left. Two Chicago PD cruisers were parked in front of the duplex reportedly rented or leased by Jones.

Von needed cover until she could determine Trinity’s status and find new wheels.

First she had to get across the street without being spotted. Shouldn’t be too difficult considering the lack of working lights along the block.

She skimmed the offerings along the block, the warm glow pouring from the windows of most proclaiming inhabitants. Likely armed and unfriendly.

Just pick one.

One, only one, was dark as if no one was home or it was vacant.

Von took a breath and headed across the street. She took her time. Strolled leisurely. Walked right up the steps of the porch. No chairs or benches available.

Her heart pounding, she sat down on the top step.

From the corner of her eye she confirmed that no uniforms had headed her way.

She sent a text to Trinity.

Status?

While she waited for a response, she sent a text to Simon Ruhl with the number Jones claimed was his contact for the sale of Lily Larkin.

Von’s stomach cramped at the thought.

Don’t think about it. Just do what has to be done.

Von needed an address … anything to reach this bastard. This trafficker.

Bile burned the back of her throat.

What’re you doing sitting down?

Relief rushed through Von’s veins as she read the text from Trinity. She glanced around.