“I had six guys. After the attempt at the eyeglass store, I bumped it up to ten. All active or recently retired cops, friends of mine from SacPD.”

“Where are your guests staying?”

“With Mom and Dad. A few of Mercy’s siblings are only flying in on Sunday and taking the red-eye back that night.”

Tom knew that Mercy had relied heavily on her half brothers and half sisters when she’d lived in New Orleans. They, along with her best friend Farrah’s family, had been her support system as she emotionally recovered from the abuse she’d suffered at the hands of Ephraim Burton, DJ Belmont, and all of Eden.

Rafe was right. Mercy had lost enough in her life.

“How were you planning to transport the guests to and from the airport?”

Rafe hesitated. “In our vehicles?”

“And if DJ Belmont is watching? He has to have followed the SUV Agent Rodriguez was driving the day they went to the eye doctor. I don’t know exactly where DJ is right now, but we must assume that he’s still watching.”

“Right.” Rafe’s swallow was audible. “I’ll rent cars, then.”

“That’s an option. You could also let me help. Will you let me provide the vehicles? I’ll get SUVs. Armored with bullet-resistant glass.”

“You or the Feds?”

“Does it make a difference?

“Of course it does. Who’s paying the bill?”

“Me.”

“Why?”

Tom frowned. “Because your mother gave me cake and has fed me nearly every Sunday for a month. Because your family has taken Liza and me in. Because Irina loves Liza like a daughter and Liza loves Mercy like a sister. Because I can. Jesus, Rafe. Why do you think?”

Rafe shuddered out a breath. “Sorry. I know you care, and I appreciate it. It’s just my pride balking. Okay, please provide the vehicles. Thanks.”

“All right, then. There’s a firm that the pro athletes use when they want to avoid the press. They also serve politicians and celebrities. I’ll make the arrangements as soon as we hang up.”

“Don’t hang up yet. I need to know more about the lead on Belmont. Don’t think that I forgot you said that.”

“I can’t tell you more. I’m not supposed to be telling you this much.”

“He killed a woman,” Rafe said abruptly. “Last night. An elderly woman in Yuba City. His face is all over the news.”

Tom had seen the reports. “He’s a suspect, yes.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Rafe hissed. “Do not fuck around with me, Hunter. I’m not in the goddamn mood. He killed the old lady. Why?”

“It’s possible that she suspected him.” He’d heard back from Yuba City PD. They’d found another set of prints on another beer can in the trash, and that person could also have killed her.

Could have been Kowalski, even. The man didn’t trust DJ, evidenced by the cameras he’d planted. “There is another possibility on the Ellis murder, still linked to Belmont. Have you ever heard of a guy called Kowalski? You said you knew some of the members of the Chicos, and he’s supposed to be one of their higher-ups.”