Chapter 17
CHAPTER 17
T hey’d kept her overnight for observation, but between the testing and the police interview, Pippa hadn’t gotten much sleep. Zale either. A lack of Zs wouldn’t slow him down for a while. For Pippa, however, pain, trauma, and the need for rest combined to make her feel even worse. It took all he had inside not to snap at the tech who’d come in to draw her blood just as Pippa had gotten to sleep.
Thank goodness all the tests had come back without fractures, brain swelling, or internal damages. The bruising was horrendous. She was already turning black and blue. Pippa had flinched at each bump in the road on the way home. Zale hated causing her pain—even unintentionally.
He had her home now, where he could take care of her. While she slept in her crib with Toothie, he’d spent time on the phone lining up current and former soldier buddies to be his backup during the day when he had to go back to work.
Zale ran a hand through his buzzed hair in relief. He’d even set up someone to call to organize around the clock coverage for her if his team was activated. People who served in the military were bonded in a way civilians couldn’t understand. When a call for assistance went out, his brothers and sisters at arms responded just like he would for them.
He called the director of the daycare last. She’d expressed concern for Pippa and wanted to work with her as much as possible. Concerned about how battered she would appear, the coordinator wanted to avoid scaring the children. Zale hated that this was a consideration, but understood.
To the boss’s credit, she offered to work with Pippa to reintroduce her when Pippa was physically capable of the duties in caring for toddlers. Pippa’s boss had also suggested that they had office work that needed handling and perhaps she could be on light duty while she recovered. Zale knew his Little would jump at the opportunity to do this. She was worried about the hospital bills, even with her insurance. Together, they’d tackle the finances. Pippa would understand at some point that she was not alone. It just hadn’t registered fully that he considered her his.
His phone buzzed. “Koa, what’s up?” He checked to make sure that he hadn’t missed a message that the team was deployed. Nothing. Thank goodness.
“Zale, I didn’t tell you this. Scroggins is in town for a meeting tonight at the Tavern. The team is ready to back you up and take him out.”
Zale smiled at the intensity of the younger man. No one messed with a Little. Especially not one of their own. “Let’s see if we can reason with him. I’ll need someone to stay with Pippa.”
“Caden has already volunteered,” Koa informed him.
“There may be someone watching the house. Have him come through the yard to the back door. I’ll let him in.”
“Got it. We’ll meet at the warehouse a few blocks from the restaurant. Twenty hundred hours.”
Zale stared at the now black screen. His team had already figured it all out. Immediately, he pulled up the Tavern on his phone to review the surroundings and where it would be best to intercept Scroggins. The man would take advantage of the valet at the entrance. How could Zale intercept him? An idea formed in his head.
“You’re going to pay me to do my job? That’s weird, man. I don’t know,” the young man told Zale. “I don’t want to get in trouble.”
Zale peeled another hundred-dollar bill off his money clip and added to the two he held in his hand. “Pretend I have a car parked. You’d have to go get it, right?”
“Of course, sir.”
“In that case, I need to pick up a Mercedes SL550. Silver.”
Zale saw the young man’s mouth move as he repeated that information to himself and processed what Zale had asked him to do. With a nod, he took the money Zale offered. Running past the valet stand, the teenager headed the same direction he’d run all night.
Jacob Scroggins, Senior exited the Tavern and headed for the valet stand. “Are you ready for your car, sir?” he asked.
The older man sneered at Zale, who’d dressed in the equivalent uniform for the valets. “You’re old for a valet. Must be crap to have no skills. Red Lamborghini. There better not be any scratches in the paint,” he warned.
“If you have your claim check, I’ll be right back,” Zale said politely.
“How many Lamborghini keychains are there hanging in the case?” the man scoffed. When Zale did not turn to search, he swore under his breath and pulled his wallet out of his pocket and retrieved the card from his clip. “Here.”
“Thank you, sir. I’ll be right back. You said red, right?” He needed to give Max time to work his magic.
“Yes. My car is red.”
Zale took off running. He returned a few minutes later with the Lamborghini and parked at the curb. Politely holding the door open for Scroggins, Zale waited silently as the self-inflated man walked around the car. When he got close, Zale handed over the keys with a message. “I’m only going to tell you this once. Leave Pippa Twinner alone.”
Completely unfazed by that request, Scroggins scoffed, “Or what?”
A red light appeared on his chest. Zale pointed to it casually. “That’s one way it could happen.”
“Who the fuck are you?” Scroggins growled. He took a protective stance behind the car as he searched the darkness for the person aiming that laser light.
“Your worst nightmare unless you forget she exists.”
“I’m not afraid of you,” Scroggins snarled.
When Scroggins reached toward the inner pocket of his jacket, Zale watched the red dot reappear in the center of the man’s chest. He warned, “I wouldn’t if I were you. Too many witnesses. And it doesn’t really matter at this point. Have a pleasant evening, sir. Drive carefully. I’d hate for something to happen to that car.” Zale jogged away as the man shouted after him. He saw the young valet coming from the opposite direction. That had worked out well.
After sputtering for several minutes, Scroggins had gotten in his car and screeched away.
Rejoining his team in an unmarked panel van several blocks away, Zale reported, “That went well. He’s a bit spooked.”
“I’d say. At every stoplight, he’s checking over the car,” Jerico said.
“Shall I start part two?” Koa asked. “He’s pulled over in a parking lot.”
“Go for it. I can’t wait to see his reaction to my present.” Max celebrated with a restrained chair dance as they all gathered around the screen that Jerico held.
With a soft poof, confetti and pink powder exploded from his visor. The image was obscured for several seconds and then the vague sight of a hand waving through the particles floating in the air appeared. Scroggins did think of opening the windows after a couple more seconds clicked by. That helped clear the picture.
They could now see him staring at the number two that dangled in front of his face. Zale was pleased to note a bit of concern on his face. He was getting the message. There were several ways they could take him out.
“Go ahead and tap into his phone through the Bluetooth pairing in his car,” Zale suggested.
A woman’s voice filled the car. “This is a message and documentation I’m sending to all the large media outlets regarding the business activity of Jacob Scroggins, Sr. and his son, Jacob, Jr. The elder Scroggins’ career as a financier is a decoy. His real income comes from drug and human trafficking. His son is integrally involved in all the illegal activities. I was loyal to him until he decided to target my granddaughter. She’s only eleven. I stayed for the last four weeks to gather proof. I had access to everything. Enclosed you will find videos, documents, shipping contracts, photos, and known collaborator contacts and profiles. I have gone into hiding to protect myself and my family. You may contact me through my lawyer, Augustus Scalari.”
“That’s his former secretary. I think he recognizes that voice,” Max suggested as Scroggins’ expression morphed from shock to absolute panic.
They watched him grab his phone and pull up a number. The sound of a disconnected line rang through the Bluetooth connection in the car before he was notified that the number was no longer in service. He pounded on his steering wheel before systematically calling one number after another. No one answered.
“How did you find out about the secretary, Zale?” Koa asked.
“I had some buddies digging into his close associates. Turns out she’d contacted the FBI about a month ago.”
“And they hadn’t moved on this yet?” Hank spit out, obviously pissed.
“I’m impressed the secretary could maintain her composure for so long. Her life was in jeopardy every day,” Zale said.
“Do you hear sirens coming over his Bluetooth?” Max asked with a shit-eating grin.
“I shared his location with the police,” Koa admitted. “Oh, and the news. They’ll arrive soon.”
“Secretary, police, and the newsies. That would be three, four, and five,” Zale announced, noting the next three ways Scroggins’ world had come crashing around him. “He’s going to look good in that pink powder on all the news outlets as they feature his crimes. I think that’s my favorite one. Thanks, Max.”
“My pleasure. I wish I had a picture of his face when his secretary started talking,” Max laughed.
“You don’t really want to remember him, do you?” Jerico asked.
“No. He’s not worth an iota of space in my brain,” Max agreed. “His evening just got worse. Sucks to be him.” The team turned back to the camera feed and watched Scroggins’ face as patrol cars entered the parking lot, cutting off his retreat.
“There’s still a faint smirk on his face. I wonder how long it will take for him to realize that he isn’t above the law anymore,” Jerico commented.
“His lawyer will clue him into that,” Zale suggested. “Let’s go home, guys. I know a couple of little girls who’ll want to know what’s happened.”