“Tell me where you are,” Nick said. “Are you safe?”
“I’m warmer with the heater on,” I said cryptically. “But we’re following behind the car that has Vince in the trunk.”
“We?” he asked. I could hear the strain in his voice.
“Me, Rosemarie, and Scarlet,” I said.
“Of course it’d be them,” he said. “Do you know where they’re going? And what do you mean you’re warmer with the heater on? Did you lose your clothes somewhere?”
“I’m fine,” I said. “Just in need of a shower. They’re headed toward Whiskey Bayou. My dad kept all of the de Salva files in a storage unit. I’ve got the key.”
“Of course you do,” he said. “I’ll call the sheriff in Whiskey Bayou and hope he doesn’t hang up on me. I’m on my way, but I’m about thirty minutes out. Give Savage a call and see if he can get anyone from the FBI. Do whatever you can to get a crowd. Call the news if you have to. These guys are cops. And they’re dangerous.”
“Right,” I said. “Savage. News. Crowd. Don’t die. I’m on it.”
“Love you,” he said and hung up.
“You call that FBI hunk of yours,” Scarlet said. “I’ve got a friend at the news station. She owes me a big favor. We’re calling in the cavalry!”
“Yippee-ki-yay mother ducker,” Rosemarie said.
“Mother ducker?” Scarlet asked. “What’s a mother ducker?”
“I just didn’t want to expose the baby to bad language in the womb,” she said. “What if she’s a reprobate? What if she robs a 7-Eleven? What if she’s like Harley Quinn?”
I let them argue it out and called Savage.
“What’s up, Double Tap?” Savage asked.
“Very funny,” I said. “I’m so glad Kate likes to share our adventures. The blabbermouth.”
“It’s better than television,” he said. “I got that information you wanted on Carmen’s visitor. I’m not sure it’s who you’re expecting.”
“Yeah, I know,” I said. “It’s Vince.”
“I’m so glad I’m needed,” Savage said dryly.
“I found Vince and he told me,” I said. “But I need some help. How’s that gunshot wound? Are you up for an outing?”
“I’m still doing good to make trips to the bathroom,” he said. “But tell me what you need and I’ll see what I can do.”
I filled him in on everything—from what I’d learned from Angelica to what Vince had told me and everything in between.
“And now we’re all headed to Whiskey Bayou to the storage building,” I said. “Vince is in the trunk. Angelica and Vince both said that the guy who took over for the agent in charge who was killed was someone who couldn’t be trusted. Honestly, I don’t know who to trust. Angelica—or Valentina de Salva, whatever you want to call her—manipulated everyone she met. All I know is she got what she wanted. But anyone else who was involved is of no use to her anymore, and she’d have no reason to protect them. But that wouldn’t stop her from stirring up trouble. If she knew my dad had been working the case all these years, anyone corrupt would’ve been fair game. My dad dies and Vince picks up the case a few years later, and then he pokes a sleeping bear by going to visit Carmen.”
“If your dad got proof that any of the FBI agents were corrupt then I can make this an FBI matter,” Savage said. “I can’t be there, but I know a guy who can. I keep meaning to introduce the two of you. He’s taking my place in the Savannah office, and he doesn’t live far from Whiskey Bayou. He’s in Wilmington Island.”
“That would be great,” I said. “The sooner the better. And tell him not to shoot any of us. Just the bad guys. Rosemarie and Scarlet are dressed in camo, so it’s kind of…startling.”
“Again,” Rosemarie said from next to me. “Look at yourself in the mirror.”
“Good luck,” Savage said and hung up.
“Why doesn’t anyone ever say goodbye anymore?” I asked, handing Rosemarie her phone back.
I felt under the front seat and was relieved to find Vince had put an extra weapon under the seat, so at least we wouldn’t be completely unarmed. Then I looked back at Scarlet and remembered the Uzi and brass knuckles.
“Scarlet,” I said. “Are you armed?”
“That depends on whether or not you make me leave my weapons behind again,” she said.
I nodded. “Good,” I said. “Just checking.”
Chapter Seventeen
Whiskey Bayou Storage wasn’t in the most convenient place, which seemed unfortunate considering our current assignment.