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Jac informed Arturo that since this place is as likely a spot to dump bodies as the home Romaine was in, he should jump on it. “Someone lives there but very simply, and their imprint is minimal.”
“Okay, send me the coordinates, and I’ll get out there in the morning.” Jac was good at drawing a line when they didn’t need to overstep the boundaries and when it needed to happen.
“Arturo said to leave it with them. I’m inclined to do that.”
Leave it with the Feds. What was becoming Jac’s mantra was past nerve-wracking, and the others understood Monroe's desperation. When Sharlee, Ivy, Jessie and even Becky had their safety in jeopardy, the men had the same feeling as their own women. Monroe remembered the anguish that Garrett had gone through when he went looking for Callie and hadn’t found her for a time, only to immediately lose her again.
As Monroe felt he had enough proof to tighten his security around Mallory, he dialed Garrett. Since he’d checked on Mallory earlier in the afternoon, he would have known she was taking off sooner than first thought.
Garrett still didn’t answer. Sharlee broke through the debate. “Shit, there is a robbery in progress at the Apothecary, and the thief is still inside. Law enforcement is on their way.”
There is a ping on Sharlee’s phone and then one on Jac’s computer. Then Monroe’s phone.
“Mallory has initiated the Safe and Secure program. She was likely inside. The phone is still sending, but I can’t understand what is being said. I need my computer.” Sharlee hurried out of the room.
Jac called out to the room. “Where the hell is Garrett?”
Carter sent out the call to get to the Apothecary, and Kaden sent out a ping to track Garrett’s phone. “Garrett is already there.”
“Good, now let’s get moving and end this shit so I can get Mallory out of there. Who the fuck would rob a pharmacy in broad, fucking daylight?”
“An idiot, so it should be easier to take him down knowing he doesn’t plan well,” answered Carter.
Jac and Kaden stopped Monroe before he walked out. He shoved past them before they could close ranks. Levi strode in and quickly assessed the scene, then stood in the doorway.
“If you want to keep that pretty boy face, you had better get the hell out of my way.” Monroe was not joking.
Levi just stood his ground with a slow smile on his face. Monroe had vetted him and knew the man was skilled, but Monroe’s fear for Mallory overrode his good sense, and he rammed Levi. After several attempts to get Monroe to see sense, the four surrounded him and escorted him to Carter’s SUV.
“You aren’t fucking driving, so shut up and get in, or you won’t go at all. I’ll have you held here,” said Jac to Monroe.
Carter jumped in the driver’s seat and tossed his blue light in the window, flipping the switch to activate it. Then he hit the gas pedal.
“Where’d you get that?” asked Levi.
“Souvenir from my glory days as CID. We have to get the camera feed and find out what happened.”
“Here,” said Kaden as he held up Jac’s laptop that he’d snagged as they left the office. “Sharlee sent the feed.”
They watched the best they could as the robber came into the Apothecary. One of the inside cameras was live streaming, and they could see each person in the pharmacy, and it looked like the intruder was asking about something. Everyone shook their head no. They scanned the group and didn’t see Mallory.
Monroe reached for the laptop. “Let me see that.”
Kaden released his hold, and Monroe then proceeded to scan the group carefully. “She’s not there.”
Kaden nodded. “We said that.”
“No, I mean she isn’t there as in her jacket is gone. She’s already left.”
“That’s great. I mean, Sharlee should be tracking her,” said Carter. “So now, where do I go.”
Kaden spoke excitedly. “I’m getting Sharlee’s same signal. I still have Garrett at the Apothecary. But the tracker says Mallory is going in the opposite direction of your house.”
“Okay, we’re here,” said Jac. “We’ll find Garrett, assess the situation, and beat feet to wherever they triangulate Mallory. Garrett probably thinks Mallory is still inside.”
They turn down the alleyway in time to see an ambulance arrive. Three doors open before the car comes to a complete stop, and four men pour out of the vehicle, headed for Garrett’s truck.
***