The Law of Motion (Law Series) (5 page)

             
"Oh, well...that’s on the other side of the park. Go to the stop sign right up there and take a right. You can't miss it on the left hand side, just before you hit the exit. You girls passed right by it."

             
"Gotcha. Thanks, guys!" she said, beaming like a bright sunny morning, and I had to hide my laugh.

             
I looked straight up the street, catching a shadow darting across. Night had fallen, and Adrian was thoroughly concealed.

             
We waved to the boys, and I pulled out at the same time that Doc dove into the back seat with Ross. “So, you have a
boyfriend
now?” She asked pulling her arm around her.

             
“I had to think of something.” Doc defended, we usually have the Chameleon for that. That was the nickname for Kristen, her ability to blend into any situation or make anyone swoon came in handy, but she was on a job of her own, putting her charms at work.

             
At the stop sign, I looked into the rear view mirror to make sure the coast was clear. The guys had gone back to the front of the warehouse and were going inside.

             
"Go," I said into the earpiece, and the passenger side door was yanked open, a heavily breathing Adrian falling into the car. "Always got to make shit hard, huh?"

             
"Shut it, baby," he snorted, rolling his eyes at our laughter. "Get us out of here."

             
I felt a kiss to my temple as I drove us out of the industrial area, heading towards home. “We got some good stuff.” Tink’s voice played through the car when we disconnected the ear pieces. “Three of those guys you gave me, were arrested for white collar crimes. They’re assets seized by the banks. Thing is, it’s only a quarter of their initial worth.”

             
“So this guy is hiding everyone’s money and assets from the banks eyes until they are free and need it again?” Adrian figured it out understanding.

             
“Looks like it.”

             
“Well, the boys can pay him a visit when we get back. I want to make sure that Patricia is ok, and tell her that we found what we needed.” Doc suggested and I made a beeline towards Germantown.

            
 


             
“How is she doing?” Doc asked Jackson when he opened the door for us.

             
He put a finger to his mouth, glancing towards the red head, freckled faced child that was doing homework in the front room with Patricia and Joanne. Who by the way, was supposed to be off running her own business. “Let’s talk about it away from the little one.”

             
Joanne noticed that we were back and immediately got the hint leaning into the little boy as if she were sharing a secret. “Conner, why don’t we go to the kitchen and see if we have any ice cream and cookies?” He was all for it, following behind her.

             
“So did your people find anything?” Patricia asked hopeful.

             
I nodded. “There are some records that he kept in a filing cabinet that connect him to a few unsavory people. Pretty much people that obtained money through embezzlement are having it cleaned up and hidden until they need it. I don’t know if he was keeping files on it in case he got screwed over, needed his own leverage, or what, but we have what we need.”

             
One second she was on the couch and the next her arms were crushing around me, crying in an embrace I wasn’t quite prepared for. “Thank you!”

             
I froze, not because I was planning on throwing her off of me, she wasn’t a danger to me, just a desperate woman looking for help. I just didn’t know what help to give her. I noticed Doc over her shoulder making movements encouraging me to return her embraces. So I took a hand and patted her on the back, trying my best not to make it seem robotic. Adrian gave me a supporting look as well. “You’re welcome Patricia.”

             
When she didn’t pull away Doc took her, noticing how uncomfortable I was getting. “Patricia, Alyssa and the guys need to pay a visit to your husband before he notices you’re gone and calls the police. Do you know where he might be?”

             
She nodded, her sniffle lessening, pushing her own red hair out of her eyes. “He usually doesn’t leave his office until after nine, but if he isn’t there, he’ll be at the Sky Lounge for drinks with his colleagues.”

             
“I’ll check the office first, then.” I was hoping that we wouldn’t have to do this in a public place. “You guys can head home. Patricia, you’re free to stay here as long as you need.”

             
“Oh, no you don’t Chance.” Jackson called, following behind me as I went to my car.

             
“Do you really think we’re going to let you go alone looking for a guy that is
known
for hitting women, Love?” Adrian continued, sharing his sentiments while sliding in the front seat.

             
“Oh I
wish
he would try that with me.” I somewhat growled starting the car. “It wouldn’t go the way he would think.”

             
Jackson laughed, “That’s exactly what
we’re
worried about.”

             
I shrugged getting on the highway and heading towards Baltimore. “Whatever, let’s just make sure this asshole gets the point.”

             
"
Juanito, vamos
!" I called down the hall tempted to go see what was taking him so long. Since Juan and I had a year long tradition of Sunday sleepovers, I would always take him to school Monday mornings on my way in to the office.

             
Adrian let a soft chuckle out from behind me in the kitchen. He'd made breakfast and was now putting Juan's lunch together.

             
"
Viniendo tía Awyssa
," he yelled back, but I heard slamming around in
his
room. We called it his room, because he was the only one that sleeps in there, and it’s filled with his toys and extra clothes.

             
He had came out earlier already dressed, then took two steps into the kitchen before doing an about face, running back into his room with a ‘be right back’.

             
"You said the same thing ten minutes ago," I called back, rolling my eyes.

             
Adrian pointed out with a spatula in hand. "Now we see a glimpse of what Macon and Jackson go through, with the obsessing of clothes and what not.”

             
"Don't go there," I muttered knowing that Juan was probably within ear shot, and I didn’t want him to get the wrong idea about his aunts.

             
"We could have our own," he grinned, raising an eyebrow at me.

             
"Don't go
there
, either, Adrian," I ordered, rolling my eyes. I looked up at his hopeful, but carefully masked face. "You won’t have to lug ten pounds of baby and water around on your bladder and kidneys..."

             
"I would if I could..." he grumped, frowning just a bit.

             
He really wanted a child. We'd talked about it long before the marriage talks, but we never got past the talking stage. I didn’t have what it took to be a mother any more than I did to be someone’s wife.  Everything was going so good, and I didn’t want that to mess up.

             
"Here Tia," Juan rushed, running into the kitchen and climbing up onto the stool in front of me. Holding out a brush and a bottle of hair gel. When I noticed what he did I couldn’t help but gush at what was holding us up. He was wearing a pair of black jeans and a white polo. Exactly what I was wearing, though they fit a little different. Adrian noticed the same thing, and smiled.

             
"You want both of us to drop you off?" he chuckled, giving him a wink, because I was pretty sure he was planning on riding with me into work this morning anyway.

             
"
Pwease
?" he begged, knowing he couldn't resist it. That child could play him better than I could.

             
"I don't know," he sighed wearily, pretending to actually give it thought. "I guess so," he sighed dramatically.

             
"Yay!"  Juan cheered, pumping his fist in the air way too much like his Uncle Macon, which only made Adrian smile all the more.

             
"Well, then, let's go. Go get your backpack. Mrs. Flowers doesn't like it when you're late. Neither will Roslyn and Tawny, and if you can’t be on time they might cancel Sunday Sleepovers.

             
A look of panic crossed his features before he pulled on his back pack and sprinted to the garage. “Let’s
go
Tia!” He ordered, which made Adrian bark out a laugh as he headed out to the SUV.




             
I opened my car door and went to let Juan out, only to see that he had already unbuckled his seatbelt and removed himself from his booster seat.

             
"
Juanito Carlos De Luca.
” I warned him, raising an eyebrow. "You know your parents will kill me if they ever see you do that.”

             
"The car is parked," he countered, holding out his hands for his backpack. "You said when the car was parked that it was okay."

             
"Dear Lord," Adrian laughed, shaking his head. "Juan, just wait until we tell you it's okay buddy."

             
"'Kay," he huffed not sure if he was in trouble or not.

             
"Ah, Miss Marshall," Mrs. Flowers greeted me, smiling brightly before turning to Juan. "Go put your things up and sit at your table, okay?"

             
"Okay," Juan sang, starting to take off.

             
I halted him with my hand, “Wait, do you have your inhaler?” 

             
“Yes
Tia
.” He groaned as if I was obsessing over him, but I couldn’t help it. I refused to let anything happen to him, especially while he was in our possession. He had severe asthma, and needed to keep it on him at all times. The only problem was he liked to leave it behind, because other kids didn’t have one.

             
I double checked his front pouch to be sure and released him when I was satisfied.   "Love you. Be safe."

             
“Tawny and Roslyn keep one in the nurse’s office just in case.” Mrs. Flowers told us.

             
“Well that’s good to know.” Adrian nodded.

             
"It's good to see you both," Mrs. Flowers said, smiling up at me. “You are just the person I wanted to see, the preschool fieldtrip to the Imagination Expo is a little low on chaperones, and since you two didn’t mind helping out on the trip to the Smithsonian Tawny was hoping you would be just as generous with this trip. We’re still two adults short for approval.”

             
"Oh damn," I groaned, rubbing my temple.  I didn’t want to spend a day with toddlers, but Juan was looking forward to it, and Doc was on the room mothers committee that helped organize everything. "Can I check my schedule and get back to you?”

             
"Absolutely," the older woman said, turning to Adrian.

             
“If we can’t do it, I’ll see if one of the other guys can.” Adrian offered.

             
“Whoever you can spare will be gratefully appreciated.”

             
Adrian smiled and nodded, because she knew what we did for a living, and if those kids were safe with anyone, it would be us. If there was a fieldtrip, I knew Doc would be going, because Doc and Ross didn’t trust anyone outside of family with the safety of Juan and I was sure that Makenna was going to have the same protection, especially since Kristen refused to put her in daycare of any form.

             
"Thank you, Mrs. Flowers," I sighed, looking towards the building and back to Adrian. "We're working a few cases, so...we'll have to let you know, Jackson and Margaux are just getting back into town."

             
"Oh, that's right!" She beamed, clapping her hands together. "That was some wedding.”

             
I snorted at Mrs. Flowers’ laughter, because ‘some wedding’ didn’t cover it. Both mine and Adrian's phones alerted us to text messages; He checked it out and sighed, looking up at me. "Margau
x
says it’s an emergency."