Chapter 2 - The Second Job
Maya saw his hands.
That frightened her more than the text.
Julian Croft did not shake. He did not flinch when shots cracked outside his clubs. He had once finished a dinner while two federal agents waited in his lobby with a warrant. Fear, as far as Maya knew, was something other people brought into his home.
Now his fingers trembled around a sheet of paper with her name on it.
"Who is Black Harbor?" she asked.
Julian folded the notice once. "A company you should never have borrowed from."
"I didn't borrow from them."
"Then who?"
"Lakefront Medical Credit."
He looked at her sharply.
"For my mom," she said. "Two years ago. Surgery, rehab, medication. Insurance stopped paying. I took the loan because the hospital wanted a deposit. Six months later the account got sold. Then sold again. Now it's Black Harbor."
"How much did you borrow?"
"Thirty-two thousand."
"And now they say you owe eighty-six?"
She laughed once without humor. "Welcome to interest."
Julian walked to the bar, but instead of pouring a drink, he gripped the edge of the counter.
"You should have told me."
"And said what? Hi, boss, can you erase the worst mistake of my life?"
"Saving your mother wasn't a mistake."
"Owing dangerous people was."
He turned. "You knew they were dangerous?"
Maya hesitated.
That was enough.
"What happened tonight?"
"Nothing."
"Maya."
"A man came into the bakery. He ordered coffee. He left."
"Did he speak to you?"
"No."
"Did he look at you?"
"Everybody looks at the person behind the counter."
"Did he know your name?"
She said nothing.
Julian picked up his phone.
"Who are you calling?"
"Derek."
"No."
"This isn't a vote."
"It's my debt."
"And my enemy."
That stopped her.
Julian called Derek anyway.
Twenty minutes later, Derek Vance walked in wearing yesterday's suit and a face that suggested he had already decided he hated the night. He was Julian's security chief, driver when necessary, and one of the only people alive who spoke to Julian like a normal man.
"You finally told him," Derek said to Maya.
Julian's eyes hardened. "You knew?"
Derek sighed. "This is going well."
"How long?"
"A few weeks."
"You drove her there."
"Twice."
"Behind my back."
"She asked me not to tell you."
"And you listened?"
Derek shrugged. "People do that when they trust someone."
Julian looked ready to put him through the glass wall.
Maya stepped between them. "Stop. I asked him."
Julian stared at both of them, then at the message threatening her mother.
"Where is your mom now?"
"St. Agnes assisted living."
"Derek, send two men. Quietly."
"Already did."
Julian's anger shifted into reluctant approval.
Maya rubbed her face. "I can't believe this."
"Believe it," Julian said. "Until we know what Black Harbor wants, you don't go anywhere alone."
"I have a bakery shift tomorrow."
"No."
"I need the money."
He put the final notice on the counter. "I can give you eighty-six thousand dollars before breakfast."
"And I can say no before breakfast."
"Why?"
"Because I don't want to wake up one day and wonder whether I stayed because I owed you."
The room went quiet.
Julian's expression changed, just slightly.
"You think that's what I want?"
Maya looked away.
His phone rang.
Derek checked the screen first.
"It's Cole at St. Agnes."
Julian answered on speaker.
A man's breath came fast through the phone.
"Boss, we have a problem."
"What problem?"
"Mrs. Torres isn't here."
Maya went still.
"What do you mean, isn't there?" Julian asked.
"Her room is empty. Nurse says a transport team picked her up twenty minutes ago."
Maya grabbed the counter.
"Transported where?"
May you like
There was a pause.
Then Cole said, "Nobody knows."
