She sighed.
“I need to talk to Lawson Cole,” she said. “If he’s here, let him know that JJ Shaw has some information.”
The burly man wasn’t a talker. He also didn’t need her to keep prying. He disappeared behind the door for a minute or two before opening back up. This time, he stepped aside to let her in.
The building was surprisingly open for what it was. JJ wasn’t a pro at renovations, but she had to believe no progress had been made to the structure in years. The bones of a restaurant were there but everything was worn, covered in dust and in obvious disuse. She was surprised this was where Lawson was holed up. Though, when the burly man took her down a hallway and into a room at the back, she admitted to herself that this fit him in a way.
Potential on the outside but rotted on the inside.
At least the storage room seemed to have been dusted. It was also set up to look more like a lounge. There were still shelving with boxes and plastic tubs close to the back wall, but the rest of the space had tables and chairs, two couches, and an area that looked like it had been used to make simple meals. There were two other doors at the end of the room, but both were closed. JJ didn’t have the time or the mental bandwidth to wonder about what was behind them. Her attention went right to the man sitting at the table in the center of everything.
Lawson Cole had his head tilted a little in smug curiosity. Like the cat had been delivered his mouse. It was only icing on the cake that the mouse had delivered itself. He leaned forward. He was wearing a suit.
She wasn’t a fan.
“JJ Shaw, I almost didn’t recognize you without you bouncing around an elevator.” He looked to the burly guy behind her but addressed her still. “Should I be expecting our Deputy Collins and the sheriff department soon, or are they already lurking around outside?”
Based on the lack of fear in him, JJ assumed he had an exit strategy just in case. Or maybe he had more people hidden in the building, waiting for his word. Either way, he was too calm for her liking.
Though, maybe that was his ego.
If someone thought they were untouchable long enough, they probably couldn’t help but believe they were.
“It’s just me,” JJ assured him. “No one even knows I’m here, especially not Deputy Collins.”
The burly man must have shown that she was, it appeared, alone.
Lawson smiled. It was all snake.
“Then, I have to ask a few questions, first—”
JJ raised her hands and turned around to face the burly man.
“Check me,” she ordered. “No weapons, no phone, no wire. No anything.”
The man really was a simple guy. He did as she said without comment. Lawson had stopped though. His eyebrow was high. JJ’s patience was low. When his lackey was done and gave the thumbs-up, JJ walked over and took the seat opposite Lawson at the table. It put them only a few feet apart.
The closer proximity made her feel sick with disgust.
She cut to the chase.
“You’re going to ask how I found you next and then why I’m here, I’m sure,” she started. “So let me answer.” JJ held up her index finger. “The man who attacked me in the woods wasn’t identified but I figured someone from your group had to have confirmed his death to give you the wholelife for a lifeexcuse and escalation for Deputy Collins and his daughter. So I hacked into the hospital’s security system and, in what I can only say is a disappointing lack of self-awareness on his part, found a man sneaking into the morgue in the basement. I took a leap of faith and tracked him to the parking lot where I was able to find out that he had taken a cab, of all things, here. I’m not sure what you’re paying these guys, but may I suggest in the future going the extra mile for a vehicle that isn’t as easy to track.”
She held up a second finger and continued to back talk the man as much as she could.
“Which brings me to say I want to make a deal and I want to make it fast before someone else figures out you’re here.”
Lawson’s smile had dropped a little. He was irritated.
“A deal?” he asked. “Let me guess. You want me to back off your dear deputy and his daughter? What could you even offer me to make that remotely enticing?”
There was no reason to beat around the bush.
JJ dove right in.
“I’m offering you me.” She held up her hand to stop his, no doubt, snarky remark. “And before you turn that down, I should let you know that I know you’re looking for Able Ortiz’s son.”
It was a complete and utter change.
