as go-between for the cartels.” The deputy U.S. Marshal smiled at Dante, clearly pleased with himself. “Seems your instincts aren’t so impeccable after all, Agent Cabrera.”
The jab wasn’t worth a response. O’Connor, however, stared at Dante with the oddest expression.
Turner cleared his throat. “Maybe the Fat Man’s still at large.” Most of the room cracked up, which embarrassed Turner. “Maybe he’s still out there. That’s what I meant to say.”
Dante stared at his phone. Another five minutes had passed. His instincts were not wrong about this kind of shit. Ever. Like Turner said, the Fat Man was still out there. He was sure of it.
“Be right back.” He jumped from his chair and slipped into the hallway. Candy answered in two rings and told him that no, the Cadillac was not in the lot and she hadn’t seen or spoken to Tanyalee. Gladys picked up in six rings, and said no, Fern had not come home yet. He called the Cherokee Pines main number, waited ten rings, only to get a recording.
Dante barged back into the conference room and immediately blurted out a question to Turner. “You got any active MVAs with injuries right now?”
Turner looked surprised, but shook his head to the contrary. “I always get notified when there’s a motor vehicle accident, here or in any of the surrounding counties. Why?”
His instincts. They were screaming.
O’Connor stood up at the table. “Can we have five minutes?”
Before anyone could voice their opposition, she motioned for Dante and Westley to follow her, which they did—all the way down the hall and into the ladies’ room.
Westley glanced around nervously.
“Get over it,” O’Connor snapped. She leaned against the sink, crossed her arms over her chest and flashed her eyes at Dante. “What the hell is up with you, Cabrera? You’ve gone all ADD on me today! And what’s with the flesh wound?”
“Oh.” Dante touched the bloody spot on his chin he’d covered with a tiny Band-Aid. “Cut myself shaving this morning.”
“Did your brains fall out of the bottom of your chin?”
Dante took a breath before he answered O’Connor. He liked her. She was sharp, experienced, and down-to-earth. But he had no idea how she’d respond to something as woo-woo as what was about to come out of his mouth.
“I’ve got a really bad feeling.”
She straightened. “About what?”
“About who—Fern Bisbee and Tanyalee Newberry.”
He expected some sort of sarcastic retort, but what he got instead was a level, interested gaze. “Go on.”
Dante glanced from O’Connor to Westley, who seemed to still be disturbed about being in the ladies’ room.
“Look. I don’t know how to put this into words that will make any sense. It’s just a real strong feeling.”
“Fine with me,” O’Connor said. “Tell me about it.”
“I am concerned for Taffy—uh, Miss Newberry, along with Miss Bisbee, because they were delivering cupcakes to the old folks home approximately forty minutes ago and now I can’t locate them. Tanyalee was supposed to meet me at the bakery a half hour ago, but her car is not there and she hasn’t answered when I’ve called to tell her I’m running late.”
“Maybe she’s just pissed at you,” Wes said.
Dante shook his head and kept going. “Fern hasn’t made it home. I got the recording at Cherokee Pines. There are no accident reports. So where are they?”
O’Connor frowned.
“I know three things to be true: first, the Fat Man is out there. Second, something’s happened to Fern and Tanyalee. And last, I’m fairly sure Fern lied to me about what she knows—not sure what or how important it is, but she lied about something. And I realize it’s a leap, but I think that somehow, everything’s connected.”
O’Connor sighed. “You’ve been right before, Cabrera, but I pray that’s not the case today. Go to Cherokee Pines. If you find them playing checkers with the residents, then great. If not, we’re right behind you.”
Dante headed out the ladies’ room door but Wes stopped him. “Want backup?”
He shook his head. “Thanks, but I’ll call you if it’s necessary.”
It was a ten-minute drive from the Cataloochee County Sheriff’s Department to Cherokee Pines, and yet, by the time Dante reached the assisted living facility, he’d journeyed to an unknown land.
He was in love with Tanyalee, and more than that, he just plain loved her. He was sure the instant he suspected she was in harm’s way. The thought of something happening to Tanyalee left him dead inside, his heart frozen. It was true that Dante had been into many women over the years and truly