XV
Outside the courthouse, James and Haruna walked down the long staircase. "What the hell were you thinking? Coming here." Lee said.
"What do you mean? I would have been in contempt if I didn't show up."
"That is not what this is about."
"Then what's it about?"
Lee went down a few steps ahead of Haruna. He grabbed her arm, and the two paused for a moment. "How many years since your sister disappeared? We both know Madam Vanco did it."
"So now I'm going after them?" Haruna pulled her arm from Lee's grasp.
"Her." Lee took a deep breath. "Thank god you have not brought cases against the other families." Lee turned around and folded his arms across his chest.
Haruna's eyebrows narrowed, but her face softened after a moment. She sat down on the stairs. "What if this was my last shot at her?"
Lee bobbed his head back and forth and turned toward Haruna. "She's a criminal, and she thinks she's untouchable. Vanco will mess up again. And you will be there."
"Thanks, Lee. She took..."
"Her husband called a few hours ago. He told me some Metalheads took Naomi, roughed him up some. Her husband and son are staying with a friend. I think we both know where they took her. They're protected enough that I can't get her. You able to lay low?"
Haruna shook her head no. "Got work to do."
"I heard there was a shooting at the hospital. Who stepped in?"
"Good Samaritan didn't get his name."
Lee sighed. "I'm going to keep some units near you. Not many left I can trust but should be enough to keep the Vasiliev and Metalheads away." A slight smirk broke across his face. "Oh, by the way. Call me back next time. I wasn't kidding about that worried sick thing."
