“Negative. Said he had local law enforcement in his pocket.”
“She was right about that,” muttered Razor, who was typing something on his computer.
“You may not know this, but my first wife was in an abusive relationship before she and I got married,” said Doc. “I’m going to caution you not to do what I did.”
“Meaning?”
“Do not get involved with this woman for the wrong reasons.”
“I’m trying hard not to get involved with her at all. She isn’t making it easy, though.”
“You did the right thing by trying to help her. Putting her up in your father’s rental got her out of immediate danger, but it’s time to move her somewhere else.”
“Where?”
Doc got up. “Give me a few minutes to see what I can come up with.”
“Tackle, you need to follow Doc’s lead on this,” said Razor. “The husband is bad news, not to mention he’s practically in your backyard.”
“Copy that.”
A few minutes later, Doc returned to the seat next to me. “I was able to reach Ranger. I’ve also engaged Diesel Jacks to jump in on this. I’ve instructed them to move Ms. Caruso somewhere safe. However, according to Messick, the only way she’d agree to it is if he told her you would be meeting her at the new location.”
“Where is the new location?”
“They should already be in California by the time we land.”
“And then what?”
“I know I told you to remove yourself from the situation, but before you do, you need to convince her it’s in her best interest to take the safe route we’re offering.”
“Roger that,” I muttered, knowing I had to do what Doc was asking.
“What else, Tackle? Spit it out.”
“I’m worried about whatever’s going on with Halo’s family.”
Doc nodded. “I’ll see what I can find out.”
“He’s downplaying whatever it is,” Doc said after we’d landed in California and he was finally able to reach Halo. “I’ll keep digging while you convince Ms. Caruso to go along with the plan we’ve made for her.”
Doc asked Diesel to pick me up at the airfield and transport me to the house he’d arranged for Nick to stay in. While I waited, I called Halo myself.
“Hey, Tackle. You back from Italy yet?”
“Affirmative. Just landed in sunny California. How are things there?”
“Under control. For now, anyway.”
“Anything I can do?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Let me know if that changes?”
“Will do. When will you be back?”
“I have a couple other things to take care of. Maybe another day or two.”