‘Because it became a homicide,’ Joseph supplied. ‘Colin Tavilla’s buddy stole the entire haul instead of simply taking his half. Colin found out and killed him.’
Thorne grimaced. ‘And it wasn’t pretty. Colin gutted him, very similar to what was done to Patricia. Cesar approached me and asked me to represent his son in court. Not only did I say no, but Avery became a witness in Colin’s murder trial. His testimony was credible because I was able to get the grand theft charges against him dismissed. It was crucial to finding Colin guilty. Colin went away for twenty years. Which he apparently did not serve, because he was killed.’
Hyatt was frowning. ‘So why does Tavilla hate you and not this Avery kid?’
‘Because I sat in court next to Avery. He’d been afraid to testify. He was only sixteen at the time. But he’s a good kid. He did the right thing. And when he was interviewed afterward, he credited me with giving him the courage to speak up.’
‘Ah.’ Hyatt nodded now. ‘That makes more sense. What happened to Avery?’
‘He’s gone off to university. Changed his name. I’m sure Tavilla knows where he is, but if Avery’s harmed, his father will blame Tavilla and it’ll cause a gang war.’
‘Tavilla’s not strong enough to survive that,’ Joseph added. ‘Not right now.’
‘He’s made attempts on your life before?’ Hyatt asked.
Thorne shrugged, conscious that Phil, Jamie and Gwyn were all holding their breath, waiting for an answer. ‘A few. None of them successful, obviously. But it was enough for me to seek a contact inside. I’ve kept my eye on Cesar ever since Colin was incarcerated.’ He met Joseph’s gaze, then Hyatt’s. ‘Am I free to go?’
‘Of course,’ Joseph said. ‘You are not under arrest.’
An exasperated sound came from the other side of the room, where Detective Brickman still leaned against the wall. ‘You’re just letting him go? Again?’
‘Yes,’ Joseph fired back. ‘We are.’
Hyatt gave the younger detective a dangerous look. ‘In my office, Brickman, as soon as we’re done here.’ To Thorne he said, ‘Yes, we are letting you go, but it’s against my better judgment. Not because I think you’re guilty, but because I know you’re stupid. Do not try to do any further investigating on your own.’ He turned to Stevie with a glare. ‘That includes you too.’
‘I’m going home,’ Stevie promised. ‘I’ve got a baby to nurse, a hip to ice, and a christening to plan.’
Thorne chanced a glance at Gwyn. She sat eerily still, her hands folded in her lap. Shit, he thought. She’s going to blow her stack when we leave here.
‘We’re going home too,’ he said. ‘Should I assume surveillance will continue?’
‘Of course,’ Joseph said mildly. ‘You’ve got my cell phone number. If you change your mind and decide to give us your confidential informant’s name, I’m happy to help.’
Like that’s ever going to happen. Thorne stood and helped Gwyn to her feet, and they all filed out, Jamie still shooting him angry looks. Phil looked wearily resigned.
I should have told them. But he really hadn’t wanted to worry them. And I’m thirty-six years old, for fuck’s sake. Old enough to manage his own life and the consequences that came from his personal choices. But he’d hurt them and he hadn’t meant to. He sighed quietly. Just another fuck-up that he needed to fix.
Clay and Stevie followed them, Stevie limping and swatting Clay’s hand away when he tried to help steady her. Lucy and JD brought up the rear. Nobody spoke until they reached the elevator.
‘Everyone’s coming to our house,’ Clay murmured in Thorne’s ear. ‘We have gates to keep out Hyatt’s men. Nobody will be able to listen to us there.’
Thorne nodded once. He considered asking Clay if he was sure, if he was really okay with the shitshow Thorne had already brought down on their heads. But he respected Clay Maynard, so he took the man at his word. ‘All right. Thank you.’
Baltimore, Maryland,
Monday 13 June, 3.35 P.M.
Gwyn remained silent as they walked to Jamie’s minivan, conscious of the way Thorne loomed over her. Her shield. Again.
She didn’t argue with him, largely because she’d decided that whoever was behind this didn’t want Thorne dead. They wanted him hurt.
And if it was Cesar Tavilla pulling the strings? She swallowed hard and willed her nerves to settle. But her nerves were not cooperating. Not in the least. She felt ready to leap out of her own skin.
Instead she turned her attention to Phil and Jamie, who’d also gathered around her protectively. Thorne was at her back, while the two older men flanked either side.
‘I didn’t know either, so don’t feel bad,’ she murmured as they got to the minivan.
Jamie looked up at her sharply. ‘You mean about Tavilla?’
She nodded. She’d known Thorne had given Joseph and JD information about Jarvis, the rogue attorney who’d killed his wife, but she hadn’t known that the information had involved Tavilla. She wouldn’t have been able to sleep if she had. ‘I was at Lucy and JD’s house with him the night he helped the cops with Jarvis, but I’d gone upstairs to help Lucy bathe her son. By the time we’d finished, the conversation downstairs was over. I assumed at the time that Thorne would tell me everything I needed to know and that whatever he kept to himself was because of client confidentiality.’
‘You didn’t need to know about all that,’ Thorne insisted, sounding aggrieved. ‘I was trying to keep you from worrying. And I’m right here behind you, so stop talking about me like I’m not here.’
‘I know exactly where you are,’ she said evenly, because she was so angry. Angry that he’d kept this from them. Angry that he’d taken so many risks with his life. Angry that he’d continue to do so, because she knew he’d try to find his man inside Tavilla’s organization, just to make sure the guy was okay.
Because that was Thorne. He was loyal and he didn’t leave people behind.
Which is why you . . . care for him. She’d come so close to the L word. The thing was, she did love Thorne. The question was – in what way, exactly? She knew that she wasn’t in the proper frame of mind to figure that out at the moment.
They got in the van, Jamie behind the wheel, Phil shotgun, and Thorne and Gwyn in the backseat, just as they’d ridden around all day.
There was absolute silence until Jamie turned the key in the ignition. He set the A/C and sighed. ‘You’re going after him, aren’t you?’
Thorne was stone-faced. ‘Who exactly?’
‘Your source inside Tavilla’s organization,’ Jamie answered impatiently. ‘And probably Tavilla himself. Don’t play games, Thorne. It pisses me off.’
Thorne said nothing, which was answer enough.
‘I think we need to regroup,’ Phil said, his voice shaky. ‘Let’s take Clay up on his offer of hospitality for the time being. There’s safety in numbers.’
Jamie put the van in gear. ‘Fine. I’ll need directions. I’ve never been there.’
‘It’s in Hunt Valley,’ Thorne said. ‘Give me your phone. I’ll set your GPS.’ He did so, before firing off a text – probably to his contact inside Tavilla’s organization, Gwyn thought. Then he leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes.
He looked so tired. And alone.
Alone was the last thing she wanted him to feel. She reached for his hand and held it, twining their fingers. ‘You don’t have to bear this yourself, Thorne. We said we have your back, and we do. We’re pissed off at you, but we’re not going away.’
He shuddered out a breath, but said nothing, so she brought his hand to her lips and kissed his fingers as he’d done hers earlier. She watched his nostrils flare, but that was the only indication he’d been affected at all.
Twelve
Hunt Valley, Maryland,
Monday 13 June, 4.35 P.M.
Clay opened his front door before Thorne could even knock. ‘Welcome.’ He gestured them in with a wide sweep of his hand. ‘We’re all here, just waiting for you guys.’