Suddenly Rafael's words seep into his understanding, and Vernon reveals a man capable of attaining wealth. I see his expression sharpen, and he nearly smiles at what Rafael is saying.
"I want this Locke dealt with. I refuse to fear for my family forever. Darla told the police everything she knows, and they can't find him. They couldn't get anywhere with the media pressure on them. What will they do now when one of their own is murdered?"
I step closer and answer his question. "They'll blame Darla. Or your family. Claim you are withholding information. The media is already hinting that the entire attack on your house was a setup."
Rafael nods. "The media and police don't care about you. We can't even be certain Locke's money hasn't tainted law enforcement. You can't rely on civilized solutions when faced with an uncivilized opponent."
"You'll kill him?" Vernon asks.
Rafael shifts awkwardly and glances at Manny. We're all uncomfortable announcing such things, even in a building swept for surveillance.
"We will handle whatever issues might arise in the course of our employment," Rafael says.
Vernon nods. "You're hired then."
"Where is your family currently?"
"At a hotel. Just in case, I moved Darla to a separate hotel."
I lift my brow at this information, yet say nothing. Vernon senses our judgment, though.
"I have to protect my wife and children."
"When will you return home?" Rafael asks, ignoring Vernon's defensiveness.
"We're having repairs done as soon as the police clear the house as a crime scene. I was thinking of having Darla move into an apartment complex my friend recently finished. The penthouse apartments have solid security features."
Rafael stands up. "Give the information to Minka so that she can prep for Darla's move to the secure location. We will also provide security for your wife and children first at the hotel then at your home. Excuse me while I organize our efforts."
Vernon glances at Minka, who puts on her nicest smile. I grin slightly, knowing she's full of shit.
Following Rafael, I step into a side office. Saskia enters and shuts the door.
"What are we thinking?" she asks. No demands. The tiny ones always have the biggest barks. In Saskia's case, she has a nasty bite too.
"Vernon and his wife and kids aren't the primary targets," Rafael says, tapping the file. His dark eyes look us over as he continues, "We won't treat them as the primary objectives. We put our time into protecting Darla while simultaneously tracking down this Locke freak. Once we eliminate him, the threat is over, and our job is done."
I glance out the blinds at a passing car. "Locke could grab the family to leverage for the girl."
"Too much heat on him right now. Abducting one person to make it easier to abduct another takes a lot of effort. He'll wait a short period and send someone else."
I think about Locke sending a cold-blooded bastard like Zivkovic to abduct Darla. The killer likely would have eliminated the sister and kids too, just for kicks.
"We might want to consider relocating Darla until we've neutralized Locke," I suggest.
Rafael shakes his head. "The girl isn't stable enough to move around. She's receiving therapy here. Besides, we have the upper hand by keeping it local. Our resources are here. Locke's aren't. He was in LA when she escaped."
"Even so, I get nervous thinking about the kind of damage a psycho like him could do to a high-rise building."
"He wants her alive," Rafael reminds me.
"For now. What happens when he realizes he can't take her alive? Guys like him think if they can't have the girl then no one should."
Rafael stands up and checks his phone. "We'll kill him before it comes to that." Based on his expression, I suspect his new wife Harlow is calling. "We'll send Manny to watch Vernon and his little family. Let them feel safe with a big Latin man standing nearby. I want Minka to baby-sit Darla at the hotel. Saskia, you get hold of your contacts in Serbia and find out how Locke found Zivkovic. I doubt they socialize in the same circles."
Rafael looks at me. "Troy, check out the apartment. Secure it like the damn president is visiting. Once you have it squared away, we'll move the girl there and see what Locke does next. Hopefully, his next move is his last."
"What about me, boss?" Tia asks.
"I need you to set your charm loose on the media types. Feed them false info. They're too damn interested in Darla's every breath. We need their eyes elsewhere, so they don't plaster our faces on the evening news. The last thing we need is for our past enemies showing up in Houston looking for payback while we're working our first big case."
Rafael stops at the door. "Make no mistake. These Richie Rich types talk. If we do right by Young, we'll set our prices and take whatever jobs we want in the future."