“Chrissy is about to make the biggest mistake of her life and we have to stop her.”
“Yeah,” said Marcus, starting the car.
“What’s going on?”
“Chrissy quit her job and took one with this big shot who promised
her all sorts of money. But Rob checked into him and found out he’s a huge scum bag. She won’t listen to me, but she’ll listen to you.”
“The guy’s an ass. All about taking what he wants from women, then asking after if they liked it,” said Rob.
Saks ground his teeth. “Chrissy’s a big girl. She doesn’t want me. Or my help.” But Marcus was on the highway now and they were speeding north. He could only guess they were heading to Bradley International Airport.
“Tell me how the hell you got involved in this plan to save Chrissy from herself,” said Saks, glaring at Rob.
“Gloria showed up at the shop a couple days ago, looking for you. She told me her story, and I didn’t give it any serious thought. But the name she told me, James Pearson, rang a bell. So I checked him out through my sources, and he’s bad news, Saks. He’s involved in international crime on a scale we haven’t seen. Drugs, sex-trafficking, gun deals, extortion, you name it he’s got it on the menu.”
“Sex trafficking?” said Saks. His mouth ran dry.
“I don’t know if he wants her for that. But he might think with her family connections she won’t care what he does for business.”
“In a world of bad, Saks,” said Gloria, “he makes the devil look like an amateur.”
“And the worst thing is two of his assistants,” said Rob. “Well, one has disappeared. Another turned up floating face down in a Venice canal.”
“Oh shit,” said Saks. A cold chill ran up his spine. “Why’re we heading to the airport?”
“Because Chrissy’s getting on his private jet and leaving the country,” said Gloria, her voice cracking with worry.
“And you come to me at the eleventh hour because...?”
“Because there’s nothing I can do legally from keeping a consenting adult from leaving the country with a man who has no charges pending here.”
“So,” said Saks sourly, “not retired.”
“Look, I won’t apologize. I have my reasons.”
“Luke won’t appreciate you lying to him.”
“I’ll worry about Luke later. Right now, I don’t want to see your girl get in over her head.”
“She’s not my girl.”
“Oh yeah?” said Gloria, turning in her seat to stare at Saks. “Then why has she been crying for three solid days?”
“Crying?” said Saks.
“Like a river.” She glared at Saks. “You mess with my sister and leave her to pick up the pieces?” She glanced out the window. “Here, Marcus.”
Marcus turned off at the exit to a regional airport.
“Pearson is rich, Saks,” said Rob. “He has a private jet.”
A gate guard stopped them and Rob opened the window on Saks’ side and pulled out his badge. “DEA,” he said.
The guard looked at the badge. “I’ll have to call this in.”
“Go ahead,” said Rob. “But time is of the essence. I can have your job if we miss the plane taking off.”