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Oscar huffed, “Okay, okay, let's talk shipping companies.” And with that Taylor knew she would get her way and things would be okay. For now. And for the next two hours she was able to keep her mind off the behind-the-scenes mystery that was her life.
* * *
Derrick had gottenTaylor’s text about Watts during his evaluation from the doctor in his office. It had been one of the deals that Taylor had demanded when he said he was going back into the office. Every other day doctor exams until the wounds were completely healed. He was irritated with it, but he agreed for two reasons. One, he didn’t want to argue with Taylor about going back to work, and if this made that a little easier he could take the fifteen minutes out of his day to do it. And two, because she cared about him, really loved him, and that was what he had wanted for so long that he was going to let her be a nagging, caring wife.
Once he got the all clear, he called Henry.
He was not starting to grow on Derrick, but he felt better knowing Henry had his own someone that he cared about the way that Derrick felt about Taylor. Derrick had known deep down that he was being a little bit paranoid about Henry being into Taylor, but he couldn’t help it. If he loved her so much, he couldn’t imagine anyone else being so close to her and not also falling for her.
“I saw it,” Henry said as a salutation to Derrick’s call.
“Please tell me it is a crazy, unfortunate coincidence.”
“I really don't think it was,” Henry answered. “It was three in the morning, and it was in one of the shittiest parts of LA. I have no reason to believe that Watts was just out for an errand at a gas station in Hyde Park then. Also from what I hear, that particular venue has been closed for renovation, so what exactly were these gang members robbing?”
Derrick let out a frustrated breath and wiped a hand hard down his face. “Have you talked to Taylor?”
“No, she was in a meeting, but I am on my way there now,” Henry said.
Derrick checked the clock. “I’ll meet you over there,” he said and hung up the phone.
This was bad. They were no closer to figuring out who the hell this person was and now more people were dropping off the map. He was wondering if he could convince Taylor to go back to working from home, to make sure she stayed safe. But then he pushed that aside. He felt comfortable knowing that Taylor had security, and not just any security but great protection. Henry had gone over the top and then some even before these assassination attempts.
He would keep her safe.
As long as Henry was around it would all be okay.
Twenty-Five
Taylor wasin her office and looked up at the clock as she stretched. It was late, she realized as she looked over her shoulder out the window and noticed the sun was setting. She was just about to call it a night when Henry came in. He nodded to Ian and Mick outside the door, and then closed it behind him. He walked over to Taylor and leaned against the side of the desk.
“Watts was my informant,” he finally said somberly. “He was feeding me information.”
Taylor felt her shoulders sag. “So it wasn’t just a random act of violence?” she said with still just a little bit of hope.
Henry just shook his head.
“And,” he said but stopped short when the handle to Taylor’s office door started twisting, something Taylor hadn’t even heard.
“It’s just me,” Derrick announced as he slipped in, closing the door behind him, apparently able to read the tension in the room.
Henry crooked his head indicating Derrick needed to come closer. “I just told Taylor, Watts was my informant. And now Dr. Parker is missing,” he informed them.
“The Medical Examiner?” Taylor whispered in disbelief.
Henry only nodded. “Someone is figuring out that we are digging. I don’t think they know it is us, exactly, but they are taking out the people we used to get this far. I sent someone to be with Dr. Mellon. He was fine last I spoke to him. I need to keep him that way. If he is attacked the silver lining is that my guy will take whoever it is down and we can hopefully get some answers.”
“What do we do now?” Taylor asked.
“I am going to take you home,” Henry said, “the both of you. You are walking bullseyes right now.”
“Okay,” Taylor said, her pulse racing.
“There is something else,” Henry said.
“Henry, please quit the damn theatrics and just come out with everything for fuck’s sake,” Taylor demanded hotly.
“I found this copy of the decree in with Cedric’s things in the storage area,” Henry said reaching into his suit jacket and removing a bunch of papers, folded in half. “In it—”