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Monroe shifted in his seat, moving Mallory with him. She tried to get up, but he gave her a warning look. She settled back down.
“Okay, so the easiest is to start with what we know. How many groups did you attend before meeting me?”
“Three.”
Monroe nodded. “At the same place?”
“No, I tried three different ones and only repeated a group with you.”
“Okay, we start with those four places to see if he knew you before he snagged you.”
“Monroe, I would have recognized him.”
“Not necessarily. Unless the groups were so small, it would have been inevitable that you saw or spoke to everyone. I know the one we met at had thirty or forty people. I know we didn’t meet them all.”
“I have been operating on the assumption that he didn’t know me, but he knew I was a pharmacist. I never disclose more than my first name with customers, nor when I go to munches or clubs. Everything else private is off-limits, and those attending the munches, or parties, didn’t even know I was a pharmacist. No one even knew I wasn’t from their town or close. The other three I did in different towns, away from Lexington.”
“Well, we have to start somewhere. It could be someone who had tried and was denied entrance because of his inappropriateness for that environment. He could have been outside waiting. We have to explore it.”
“And my pharmacy?”
“Yes,” said Jac. “Everywhere they might have run into you routinely. So, Monroe, you and Garrett work on Mallory’s routine and isolate those places he could have seen her or where she frequents often. Then check those out.”
“I go only a few places routinely. Wouldn’t this guy have to work?”
Mark nodded. “Good point. Jac, you need to get everything the Feds have on Romaine, including his full name and occupation. Family members would be a good place too, but Sharlee will have to work on that because they will be off-limits to us.”
Garrett nodded, and Jac stood. “Agreed. Let's divide up the assignments and make the bodyguard schedule. Get Mallory’s things, without Mallory going,” the look Jacquard gave to the newest member of his “family” was impossible to misunderstand. “Am I understood?”
“Yes. I’ve agreed already.”
“Good. Now let’s get this done. I’ll call Arturo and find out what new info he has and let you know what we find out.”
“Wait, what am I going to do?” asked Mallory as Monroe stood her up in front of him before he followed suit. “I will not be a victim in all this. I was proactive and got away. Now I want to help with the rest.”
“Take a nap. Read a book. Stay inside,” said Monroe.
“But I’ll go stir crazy. You aren’t listening to me.”
Monroe moved her to a corner of the room. He crossed his arms, making him seem huge. Mallory didn’t care.
“I hear you loud and clear, but you aren’t listening to me. You are high profile, in danger, and hurt right now. So the answer is anything you want but stay inside.”
“I’m not a child.”
“Then you had better stop acting like one who isn’t getting a treat. I will bring you in on things when I can. However, I refuse to risk your life, and if you thought hard from my point of view, you’d see someone could still be out there looking to kill you, with or without torture. Do. You. Get. Me? You are in danger.”
“But whoever they are, they can’t win. I won’t be able to handle that.”
Monroe drew her into his arms and kissed the top of her head. “I know. I promise we will finish this. Now, please, practice your submission and stay inside.”
“You won’t leave me out of the loop?”
“Promise if you follow what I say you have to do.” He raised his brows ominously.
“Fine.”
He kissed her lips. “Good, now answer me properly.”