"Here's what we're going to do," I said.
Chapter Twenty-Two
"First of all, the two of you," I jerked my head at the Foxes, "need to disappear for the next few days. Take a vacation somewhere. "
Warren shook his head. "No. I'm not running from Tobias Dawson. Never have, never will. "
"And what about Violet?" I asked. "She almost got raped and killed last night because Dawson wanted to send you a message. If he even thinks the break-in at the mining office tonight is connected to you, he'll come down here, kill you two, and burn everything to the ground. Is that what you want?"
"Of course not," Warren snapped. "But I'm a Fox, of the Ridgeline Hollow Foxes. My ancestors have lived in these mountains for more than three hundred years. The settlers didn't drive my people out, and I'll be damned if one greedy dwarf is going to make me go anywhere. I've never run from a fight. I'm not about to start now. "
A mulish look spread across his wrinkled face, and I knew he wasn't going to budge. Not on this point. Warren might die, but he'd do it in his own store - just like Fletcher had. My heart twisted, and the old man's ruined face awam before my eyes. I shoved the image away. Warren T. Fox wasn't going to end up like Fletcher Lane - not if I could help it.
"Fine. You can stay here in the house. "
Warren smiled.
"With Sophia and Jo-Jo as protection," I added. "And you're going to close the store for the rest of the week. That's not a request. "
His smile slipped. "Why?"
"Because Tobias Dawson will be sure to be watching. If he sees the store's closed, he might think you're finally softening up. It should buy us a little extra time. "
"What about me?" Violet asked. "I can't exactly leave either. I've got classes and exams coming up. "
I turned to her. "Do you have a friend you could stay with for the next few days?"
She nodded. "I could stay with Eva Grayson. "
I flashed back to that night in the Pork Pit when Owen Grayson had told his little sister she was getting a bodyguard whether she liked it or not. The guy I'd seen Eva with at the community college had looked capable enough. So had Owen, for that matter. Staying with the Graysons was probably the best place for Violet until this thing was over. "All right. Call Eva. "
Violet blinked. "Now?"
I nodded. "Now. I want this all squared away tonight. That way, I can focus on getting to Dawson. "
I looked at the two dwarves. "You two think you can stand guard duty for a few days?"
"Of course," Jo-Jo said. "Anything you need, Gin. You know that. "
"Um-mmm. " Sophia grunted her agreement.
"What about me?" Finn asked.
I smiled at him. "Fletcher's gone, so you're my handler now. I want everything you've got on Tobias Dawson. You know what to do with it. "
Finn nodded.
And then there was one. I stared at the detective, who still wore a stricken look on his face. "What are you going to do, Donovan?"
He stared at the carpet underneath his muddy shoes.
The detective knew what I was asking - if he was going to try to stop me or worse, warn Tobias Dawson that I was coming for him.
"Nothing. I'm not going to do anything. Not a damn thing. " Donovan scrubbed his hands through his black hair and let out a bitter laugh. The detective had just sided with an assassin, with the Spider. He'd just condemned another man to death, and he knew it.
"Good," I said. "Then let's get to work. "
An hour later we were all set. While Finn slid his laptop into its leather case, Violet gave her grandfather a long, tight hug. Eva Grayson had been thrilled her best friend wanted to crash at her place a few days, and Violet had already packed a bag. Now we stood in the foyer of the house, saying our good-byes.