“Aye, partner.” She mocked him right back.She pushed back from the huge desk and adjusted her gear. “Youwearing a vest?” She demanded.
At that moment, Andrea poked her head out heroffice door. “Ian, put on a damn vest.” While Ian grabbed hisbullet-proof vest, Andrea waved them into her office. “I wanted toupdate you on our progress. Ian, you too. Sit.” Maddy and Ianobediently sat in the chairs facing Andrea’s desk. She wasuncharacteristically short tempered. “Everyone is armored andpacking until further notice.”
Ian hadn’t known her long enough to know whento shut up. She may be a softy, but when she was serious, Andreawas a force to be reckoned with, and lost her infamous patience.“It’s too hot for these damn things,” he whined as he held thearmor out, disgusted by it.
“Put the damn thing on Ian.” She stared himdown, demanding his compliance. He silently obeyed, but he didn’thide his scowl.
Taking pity on her partner, Maddy broke thetense silence, “What did you find?”
Andrea broke her stare from Ian, lookingMaddy in the eye, “It’s a bit worse than we feared. You were right,Dylan is no dummy. He didn’t just sit around and pine for you allthose years.” Maddy tensed, knowing she wouldn’t like where thiswas going. “As you learned, Dylan owns his own business. As yoususpected, it’s shady. Has a handful of employees. All with arecord or history of suspicious activity. I spoke with a realdetective in Georgetown who’s been trying to pin down Mayberry foryears, but they haven’t been able to prove anything.
“He buys out businesses that were doing wellbut are suddenly on the brink of collapse. He gets a hell of abargain, then breaks it down or merges it with another acquisition,then sells it for a hefty price. Briggs and Johnson represent himand his company; they don’t appear to represent anyone decent.Nielsen is an attorney, but has a hell of a record himself,although he keeps his nose just clean enough to maintain hislicense. He negotiates most of Mayberry’s deals.”
Maddy knew the rest, but couldn’t help butask, “And what makes those businesses suddenly so affordable?”
Andrea’s lips pressed together tightly, “TheGeorgetown detective hasn’t been able to find proof. He knows mostof Mayberry’s ‘associates’ have long lists of convictions: breakingand entering, armed robbery, destruction of property; you can guessthe rest. They’re smart in business; nothing ever ties back tothem.”
Maddy’s heart sank, even though she hadexpected this was where the investigation had been heading. “Andwhat does this mean for us? Have our arrests been enough to nailthem down once and for all?”
Andrea’s face was grim. “It’ll have to beenough. I’m hoping we can gather some last-minute evidence over thenext few hours and make the arrest at the meeting tonight; allthree of them. I’ve doubled protection for Chase. You two are tostay in public areas tonight while you work. I’d like you to stayin the Explorer for the most part.”
Ian stood and paced the room, as angry at thesituation as Maddy was. “Where is this asshole? Let’s go afterhim.”
Andrea glared again, but let him continue hisfrustrated pacing, “We’re looking for him. No one has seen whathe’s driving or where he’s staying. We have eyes and earseverywhere right now, but nothing. Not in any of the hotels orrental houses, not at his parent’s beach house, not with any of hisold friends. He had a sailboat docked just outside of Annapolis,but I just received confirmation this morning that he sold it sixweeks ago.”
Maddy interjected, remaining in her seat andkeeping her voice steady, “What if he doesn’t show up to themeeting?”
Andrea nodded, knowing Maddy was followingher thoughts. “The meeting is in three hours. I’ll be at themeeting with Mike, and we’ll have another unit stationed discreetlyoutside, ready to grab him if he comes near. Since the photos, I’vebeen running a constant search for him. We’re taking him intocustody as soon as we find him. I’ve requested assistance from thecounty, so we’ll have some deputies on hand at the meeting, a fewmore searching the area, watching the roads in case he decides torun for it. You two are to stay far away. Patrolling. Handlingunrelated activity.”
Maddy nodded. “Understood. You’ll let me knowwhen you get him?”
“You’ll be the first to know.”
***
Maddy and Ian left the station shortly after,both armed and armored as instructed. Neither spoke as they headedfor their Explorer. Maddy didn’t even argue when Ian hopped in thedriver’s seat; normally she liked to drive, or she got restless.She sat in the passenger seat, arms calmly in her lap, eyes facingstraight ahead.
“How are you so calm?” Ian asked. His leftknee vibrating so fast he about shook the car.
“I just want this over. I thought it was overyears ago when I watched him hauled away in handcuffs after he wassentenced. I’m ready for it to be over, for good this time.” Maddysighed, resigned.
Once Ian calmed his body enough to drivesafely, he pulled onto Beachside Avenue and started a basic patrol.Some of their patrols like this were more to establish policepresence in town. The occasional traffic violation wasn’t what theywere looking for.
Hours went by as they drove all over Seaview.Town was quiet, as she normally would have appreciated, but tonightthe quiet was aggravating. Grating at her frayed nerves. Neitherwould admit it, but they were hoping for some sign of Dylan. Themeeting would be starting any minute, so Maddy supposed he wasalready there anyway.
32
Chase pulled into the grange hall, the parking lotfull of other local business owners and fishermen. Aiden mustalready be inside, his car parked right in front. He checked hissurroundings, not wanting to be caught unaware. He’d love for Dylanto come after him.
Chase had never been in a fight he couldn’twin. Not that he was conceited, he was more… tenacious. He’d had afew fights almost not go his way, but his opponents had never shownthe same relentlessness; Chase was prepared to fight until the lastbreath.
He checked his rearview to see his bodyguardscoming to join him. Their eyes scanned as they walked, followinghim into the hall. Nielsen and the other goon were already standingup front, playing with a projector to format their presentation.Half of the town had turned out. Standing room only, with doorspropped open so those standing outside could hear. He went to joinAiden, standing with arms crossed in the back of the room.
He stood at his friend’s side and lookedaround. Odd. “Where’s Dylan?”
Aiden’s face was grim. “Not here yet. I askedThing One and Thing Two, they said he’s on his way. Said he isbringing the refreshments. That the order was messed up, hence thedelay. Load of shit if you ask me.”
***
