The general consensus of anybody who knew these two newlyweds was that they made one spectacular couple. Claire had always called her husband by his last name for reasons only she knew, and Nicholas Black was a man to be reckoned with on his own. He had a worldwide reputation for work in both clinical and forensic psychiatry and had authored several best-selling books on serial killers. He was almost as wealthy as Jeff Bezos, not that it meant anything to his wife. They had met on a case where she tried her level best to prove he was a murderer but came up short for once. They’d been together but hadn’t married until recently because Claire had dragged her feet while Black wouldn’t take no for an answer.
At the moment, Black didn’t look as thrilled about the whole thing as Claire did, probably since his wife was going to have a baby but was still prepared to jump with both feet into some pretty ugly stuff. Truth be told, Black looked as if he wanted Claire ten thousand miles away from Florida. All things considered, together they were like lightning in a bottle and perfect for each other.
Nor was Novak surprised that Black was concerned. The man worried about Claire’s job because she had a terrifying and inexplicable ability to land herself in trouble, usually through no fault of her own. Now that they were married and she was pregnant, Black would double down on his protectiveness, and Claire would double down on continuing to do what she loved. As for Novak, he was just happy to have her back home and looking so excited and healthy and ready to go. She knew her stuff and didn’t put up with much crap, same as Novak.
This case dealt with some awful people, but Claire was too smart a woman to do anything to hurt her baby. She’d back off when the going got dangerous. Novak knew that. Black knew it, too, but her husband was also aware that taking care and good intentions could not always keep Claire out of harm’s way.
“About time you two showed up.” Novak shook Black’s hand. Claire’s husband was a good-looking guy with black hair and blue eyes, six feet four inches, maybe, about two inches shorter than Novak. He was not as heavy, maybe 220 with a leaner build than Novak. Black’s practice included rich actors, neurotic politicians, and other high-profile celebrities, but he was no pushover in a fight. He had his Army Ranger days to thank for that. He was a good man to have your back. He was a nice guy and a loyal friend. Novak trusted him. He couldn’t say that about most people.
“Rico is now officially our son,” Claire told him, smiling. “Forever and ever. Legally binding, just try to take him back.”
“Well, good, finally. Is he here?”
“Nope, he’s up at Lake of the Ozarks at our new cabin. He’s having a ball with Harve. You know them. They’re probably out bass fishing and swimming and speeding around on Jet Skis right now. Okay, what have you got on baby Rosa?”
Claire never wasted much time with idle chitchat. She was famous for getting down to brass tacks. One minute of small talk usually did it for her. Novak obliged her because this time they had no time to spare. “First week here, I got nothing but a good tan and a lot of runs down the beach. Nada, zip, until things started to pop night before last. I’ll fill you in on that later. You need to tell me more about this case. I know some doctor out of Guatemala City got it started. Eldon Osceola gave me some background on her.”
“Well, sorry to tell you this, Novak, but this one is strictly pro bono. We aren’t getting paid a dime. I knew you wouldn’t mind because you’re as rich as Black, even if you never spend a cent. That doctor? Eloise Harbor? She’s an old friend of Black’s, and when she said a little baby was missing, I knew we had to get involved. So all this’s okay with you, right, Novak? You’re down with it?”
“Of course.” Novak could not care less about money. Claire was right. He had plenty of inherited cash in plenty of bank accounts but rarely spent it unless he wanted to buy a custom-designed sailboat like the Sweet Sarah. His PI work and military retirement was plenty. “Just so you know, Claire, I’ve already got some bad guys pissed off and hunting me down. That means we’ve got to watch our backs from square one.”
Claire looked intrigued. Black looked wary.
“Who’s after you?” Claire asked.
“A gang. All of them.”
“Well, that’s par for the course for you, my friend. Forget that. Finding that baby is first and foremost. That has to come before anything. You agree? Baby Rosa is our main objective.” Claire was staring up at him, her hands planted on her hips. Even pregnant and in a T-shirt and cutoff jeans, she was the fittest woman he knew.
“I am more than okay with it. The baby’s mother is out here with her little brother—but you know that already. They almost bit it the other night at the condo where you put me on watch. Good thing you did or they’d be floating facedown in the ocean right now.” He briefly related the altercation on the beach.
“Wow, you do get yourself into one scrape after another when I’m not around.” Claire glanced up at the museum. “So what do you think of these guys? I haven’t met them. Eloise says they’re okay. She also thinks they’ll help us find the baby.”
“I like Eldon. He knows this area and the men who attacked me.”
“Maybe Black should take a look at your head. You think you might have a concussion? You look a little rough today.”
“Mild one, maybe. I’d rather just have some strong painkillers. These sunglasses are helping me.”
“You dizzy?” Black said, looking closely at him. “Nausea or double vision?”
“Maybe at first. Now it’s just a constant headache.”
“I’ve got meds in my bag that’ll help with that.”
“Good. C’mon, let me introduce you to the Osceolas. They’re waiting inside where it’s air-conditioned.”
Claire started up the steps in front of the men. “I want to meet everybody. I’m not supposed to stay out in the sun long, anyway. You know, it’s not good for the baby.”
Novak followed her while Black went back to the car for the medicine.
Novak opened the door, and they waited just inside for Black to catch up. “Eldon’s back in the conference room. His office is there, too.”
Black was back a minute later with the pills and a bottle of water. He handed them over, and Novak twisted off the cap and swallowed three of them. “Two would be enough,” Black said.
“I don’t think so,” Novak answered.
“Any indication this case has mob connections?” Black asked him.
“Don’t know yet. Maybe. I think whoever took that baby is hooked up with somebody who can get things done. Kids have been abducted periodically around here for years, it sounds like. Others are thought to be brought up from Central America. That takes organization and somebody smart pulling the strings, or they’d be caught by now.”
“Don’t forget, Novak, Black’s in tight with a certain mob boss in Miami. It’s his godfather—and I mean the real kind of godfather. Not that I condone working hand-in-hand with Mafia types, but Jose Rango helped us out before, if you’ll recall. Remember Mexico City when he got you out of the clutches of that drug lord?”
“Rango’s influence could definitely be useful. I’m beginning to think these guys operate all across south Florida, maybe even up through the Eastern Seaboard.
