“True, but I think I know someone who will,” I told them.
Chapter 19
Cal Jackson could be an intense, scary-ass man when he wanted to be, and that was most of the time. But I’d also found him to be reasonable and practical. As I sat across from him at the club after having explained my initial idea, I saw the wheels turning as he thought it over.
“Sal’ll never go for it,” he said as he shook his head, slumping back in his seat as defeated as the other guys had been since Ettie was taken.
“Probably not,” I allowed. “But you have to admit, it’s the best chance we’ve got. You’re all killing yourselves casing these spots, and you only know what Parker looks like. The other guy could walk right under your nose and you wouldn’t know it,” I told him. “I could point him out. Then you guys can do whatever it is you need to do to figure out where Ettie is.” I waved my hand. I didn’t want those details.
He eyed me skeptically.
I sat forward in my seat and met his blue-eyed gaze which reminded me so much of Cole’s. “Listen, I can’t sit back and do nothing while you guys all kill yourselves. And it’s been over forty-eight hours too long. I’m not asking to do anything crazy. Just to sit at a bar with eyes on my back. If it helps, then it helps. If not, then at least I tried,” I pleaded.
“You’ll look too vulnerable,” he argued, but I could tell he was coming around.
“Connie wants in on it, too. We’ll act like we’re having a girls’ night,” I replied easily.
“You’ve thought this through,” he surmised, and I could tell he was impressed. “But your plan means I’ve got two of my best guys pissed as hell,” he muttered.
“You’re right,” I agreed. “But I know this could work. And I love Sal. I love this club. If this could bring Ettie back, then I’m willing to piss him off a little bit.”
Maybe a lot, but whatever.
Cal regarded me for a few moments longer as though trying to get a read on me before he nodded. “Okay, I’m in. Mack, Hank, and I will have your backs as well as some of the prospects. You won’t even know we’re there. You’ll start out at O’Malley’s, that spot Stu said Parker liked best. If we don’t have luck there, we’ll try Maddie’s. Maybe something will turn up,” he said, looking mildly hopeful.
“Maybe,” I agreed.
Now that I had Cal’s buy-in, I was scared shitless at what I’d started. But I had to try.
*****
“I’ll never forgive myself for clamming up on you in that bathroom,” Connie admitted as we sat sipping drinks at O’Malley’s that evening. It was late and the bar was hopping.
I felt horribly guilty lying to Sal. He and Wes thought we were at Sophie’s place watching movies while he and Wes were working to track Parker down with the rest of the club.
Sophie had agreed willingly to cover for us if needed. It was as far as I was allowing her to be involved.
“Don’t even think about it,” I assured her, trying hard not to look around too much. I had to remember this was a girls’ night. I wouldn’t be scoping my surroundings if I didn’t have a care in the world.
“Still,” she fretted, her big blue eyes regretful as she sipped her cocktail.
“No one ever knows how they’ll react in a situation like that. It was terrifying. I understand,” I assured her.
I again fought the urge not to let my gaze wander. It was Friday night, so the bar was fairly busy. But, it was on the small side, which worked to our advantage. Stools ran along the expanse of the bar, and a few booths sat against the windows. The dim lighting made it hard to see much past a certain distance, and the jukebox blasted some variation of heavy metal over the sound system.
We’d turned away several interested men. I was beyond thankful that neither Sal nor Wes was anywhere near or they’d be having a shit-fit.
Then, my attacker walked in. I fought harder than I’d ever fought for anything not to have a reaction. I’d know him anywhere, even out of the corner of my eye.
I was surprised with how nervous he looked, his dark eyes darted throughout the space anxiously.
When he saw me, he had the opposite reaction I’d expected. He immediately turned to hightail it out of the place. I didn’t even need to use the predetermined signal Cal and I had discussed. The idiot made it all too clear who he was.
Then, all hell broke loose.
Cal, Hank, and the prospects appeared out of nowhere, blocking exits while Connie and I hurriedly gathered our things.
“Let’s go out the back,” Mack commanded, suddenly beside us.