Page 31 of No More Lies

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“OK, PUMPKIN, YOU READY to go?” After another restless night, Steve was eager to get Megan to school and head to Mackie’s.

“Yep.”

“After you, my lady.” He bowed and Megan giggled, grabbing her satchel.

Twenty minutes later, Steve was in the school parking lot.

“Have a great day. I’ll see you at three thirty.” He hugged her tightly.

“Bye, Daddy. Love you.”

“Love you, too, Pumpkin.”

His gaze followed her up the path to the main doors where she joined her friends. All of them chatted easily. As he turned to get back in his truck, he spotted a black Ford sedan parked across the street. The window was down, the driver, in dark shades appeared to be looking straight at him. Every muscle tensed and his mind raced. Sunday morning, breakfast, he was sure this same man had been in the diner. He’d clocked him because he had been sitting alone with just a coffee. Wearing a suit, in the small family diner, he stood out. But the guy left before they did, and so Steve didn’t think any more of it. The black Ford on his street yesterday, though, then at the mall.

His operator instincts kicked into full gear. This was no fucking coincidence. He walked towards the car, but it sped away before he got close. But clocking the plate, he quickly typed it into a text message to Mackie.

I’m heading to your place now, can I run this plate number while I’m there? CDS4RY – Black Ford

What the fuck was going on? He climbed in the truck, tempted to follow the car, but if he got into a high-speed chase through the city and it turned out to be nothing, he would be in a whole heap of trouble. Dex and Sam would have his ass.

Climbing into his truck, Steve drove straight to Mackie’s. Letting himself in, he opened the USB file on Mackie’s laptop. He began flicking through the messages. Nothing stood out. There were messages from him, Kelly, Mira, Sophie. As much as he trusted Diane, relief swept through him. Then he saw it:

I want an update now. Step outside. One of my men is waiting for you. You will follow him.

What. The. Fuck. He checked the sender. Anonymous. It had been sent Sunday morning. This was the text she got in the diner.

The guy from the black Ford. The one in the diner. It had to be him. The man waiting for her. He had been watching them? Fuck. He had dismissed him, let his guard down. Because you were too wrapped up in the fact that Diane had showed up for breakfast and you were enjoying being with your family.

Rage churned his stomach. Who the fuck was texting his wife like that, and why the hell had she gone? Alone. Not told him? It had been no coincidence the same car was at the school this morning. Someone was watching him, or Megan, or all of them. His family. Damn, he wished he could call his team, but that wasn’t an option now. Raven was preparing for an op, and he wasn’t about to distract any of them. Hell, no wonder Diane had looked so spooked. Why hadn’t she told him?

His phone pinged.

Mackie: Plate belongs to a numbered company, registered owner Vladimir Volkov. You good?

Steve: Thanks man, you’re the best. I’m good. You guys heading out?

Mackie: Timeline still unknown

Steve: Watch your six

Why did Volkov ring a bell to him? He tapped his fingers on the table. Volkov. The file. The file on Diane’s desk, the case she was working on. It was Volkov. Her damn client was having them followed?

There was plenty of time before he was due to pick Megan up. Time to do a little research of his own on this numbered company and the man behind it. His computer skills might not be as good as Mackie’s, but he had enough to manage doing research before he confronted his wife.

Hours passed, but he made progress. Vladimir Volkov. Born in Russia. His family came to the US and started a small hazardous chemical transportation company. Fast forward and VV Transportation had grown into an international megabucks company based in Los Angeles. The company looked legit and appeared successful, although a company can always look good on paper. Volkov senior had passed last year, leaving the son now in control. He had a daughter, but there was no mention of a wife. So where did Diane come in? What did he need a family lawyer for?

The man also appeared to be well-connected. He came across several photographs of Volkov at high profile gatherings, mixing with senators, judges, and even some high-ranking military brass.

He would talk to Diane tonight, explain about the car outside the school and why he had been concerned and looked into it. He would give her a chance to talk before letting her know he knew about the text from Sunday morning.

He glanced at his watch. He’d have to head out to pick up Megan soon. He wandered to Mackie’s kitchen, hoping his teammate had something to eat in his fridge. He found left over pizza and didn’t hesitate to place it in the microwave. He’d buy Mackie another one. Mackie’s laptop beeped again, and he glanced at it seeing another message downloading. He walked over and waited patiently for it to appear.

It wasn't a text, but a picture. Steve froze. Him and Megan in the shopping mall on Saturday. The guy in the Ford had taken a fucking picture, and he hadn’t sensed it. Goddamn it. A burning anger spread through him at the thought of someone following his daughter or his wife.

Two-thirty. Pizza forgotten, he called the school, his heart racing.