“I don’t care!” I yelled, raking my hand through my hair. “It’s time to deal with this once and for all. Listen, your personal conflicts with him have never been any of my business, but he’s changed all of that now.”
Ronan stayed silent for a few seconds. “I understand. I, um, I’m really sorry that Ainsley and Tempest are caught in the middle of all this.”
“Don’t worry about all of that right now. Apologies aren’t going to do us any good. Tell me what you’re thinking -- how can we find him?”
“I will but…”
I had zero patience and even less time for delays. “But what, man? Let’s get this handled.”
“There’s something I think you ought to see.”
I closed my eyes and shook my head. “What are you talking about? Let’s stay focused on Malcolm.”
“I am, trust me,” he said, forcefulness in his tone. “I’m sending you a text message right now.”
“What the…” I replied.
Ronan interrupted me. “Just look at it. Look at it.”
I pulled the phone away from my face and brought up my text messages. Within seconds, a picture of Ainsley and Tempest popped up. It made me sick to my fucking stomach.
I put Ronan on speakerphone. “Did he do this? Did he send this to you?”
“He did.”
While he answered me, I put my rage on hold for a second and studied the image. Those wigs. They looked awfully fucking familiar. Kendrick approached me, and I passed the phone to him. He took it from me, flipping it over. I closed my eyes and wiped my hands down my face.
“Jesus,” he muttered. “Is that… Is that blood on their faces?”
Flipping my eyes open, I glared at him. “It better fucking not be. So help me.”
His comment distracted me but once again the image of the wigs popped into my head. I racked my brain, trying to bring the memory to the surface.
“Where? Where? Where?”
The sound of Ronan’s voice over the speakerphone broke my train of thought.
“Dorian, we don’t have much time. I have to drop the case off. There’s no telling what he will do if I wait too long and…”
I snapped my fingers, looking straight at Kendrick. “Of course! The show! The fucking show!”
He shrugged. “What are you talking about?”
I motioned for him to pass the phone back to me. Taking Ronan off speakerphone, I lifted the phone to my ear again.
“I need you to sit tight. Don’t do anything until you hear back from me. I’ve got a call to make, and it won’t take long.”
I hung up right away.
“What’s going on?” Kendrick asked.
I looked straight at him. “Those wigs… The night I took Ainsley and Tempest to see the show…”
Bringing up Ronan’s text message again, I clicked on the picture and showed it to Kendrick.
“Right there. The wigs in that picture are the same ones that the performers wore.”
“So,” he began, frowning at the same time. “I don’t understand how this is…”
By then, I’d raised the phone to my ear, already making the call I needed.
“You’ll see.” I said to him.
“Dor—” Elliot started, before I cut him off.
“Got a real problem here,” I began, turning towards the window of my office. “This is going to sound like a strange question, but I don’t really have any time to explain right now.”
“Things are pretty strange with you right now, man. Whatever it is, just say it.”
“I need to know where the wardrobe supplies for the show I attended are kept, like yesterday.”
He paused. “Hmm, I have no idea. But I can find out for you.”
“Thanks. Thank you.”
“You mind telling me why you need to know so badly?”
“Right now, I can’t get into it, but I promise I’ll tell you everything. You have my word.”
He paused again. “All right, let me make a couple of calls. I’ll get back to you ASAP.”
Hanging up, I stared out the window into the darkness for a few minutes. Somewhere out there were the two most important women in my life. After seeing the picture, it made me sick to think what other twisted shit Malcolm might be up to with them. It took every ounce of restraint I had to stay focused and not let it get to me.
Luckily, my phone rang, distracting me. “That was quick. What do you have for me?”
“I’ve got an address. Big warehouse, out your way.”
Snapping my fingers, I got Kendrick’s attention and motioned for him to bring me a pen. He swiped one off my desk and hustled across the room, passing it to me.
“Okay, I’m ready. Go ahead…”
After getting the address, I hung up.
“They are close by,” I said, dialing Ronan again. “Not more than fifteen minutes away.”
Ronan answered.
“I’ve got the location. Have you heard from Malcolm?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“Okay, that’s a good thing. Right now, Malcolm needs to believe you’re going to keep your promise to him. He’s got to think you’re going to deliver the case, and I’m not going to be involved in any part of it.”
Ronan interjected. “Wait a second… You aren’t thinking of going after Malcolm alone, are you?”
I didn’t hesitate. “I don’t see how I have any choice, Ronan. Right now, I’ve got the element of surprise on my side. However, I’ll promise you this. If Malcolm hasn’t harmed either of them, I’ll leave you to deal with him any way you want. On the other hand, if he has, I can’t promise anything about what I’m going to do.”
Ronan exhaled. “As much as I don’t like hearing that, I understand. Would you be willing to wait for me? I can be there in a few hours.”
I shook my head while he finished the end of his sentence. “No, there’s no way. I don’t trust him around either of the women for one second longer than is necessary.”
“Hang on, man, hear me out.” Ronan said, his voice growing louder. “Think for a second. You know this whole thing will have a much higher chance of success if we all get together and plan it out. You have to know your enemy. I know my brother, better than you. I’m telling you right now, he wants the case more than anything. There’s no way he’s going to hurt them.”
For the first time since all this shit started, I stopped to think. The adrenaline raging in my veins calmed long enough for me to listen to Ronan. I took a deep breath, running my fingers through my hair. He had a point. I’d be an idiot not to listen to him.
“Okay,” I began, swallowing my desire for blood. “Once that plane lands, don’t waste any time. Get your ass straight over here.”
“Will do. Thanks for this. You’re making a smart decision.”
“I hope so. I really do.”
After hanging up, I turned and looked at Kendrick.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
I started to walk in the direction of my desk, waving him off. “Go get the security team. I want all of them assembled here as soon as possible, in full tactical gear.”