“I want more men on them. And I need someone at Solana’s house. I just received a text from our friend. He made a comment about her I don’t like. We need to search the house. Make sure no one’s been in there and make certain it’s secure. We may need to change the locks.”

“Have you discussed this with her?” Ezra asks cautiously.

“No, of course not.”

“Do you think you should?”

I sigh. Christ. “Just get some men there and have a look around. I’ll let her know about the locks.”

“That’s a good idea, Judge.”

When we pull up to the apothecary, Georgie is just getting ready to leave. But when he sees me climbing out of the Rolls, he stops.

“What are you doing here?” he asks after peering into the car and seeing I’m alone.

Looking around, I note the man sitting in his sedan with its tinted windows across the street. When I turn back to Georgie, his eyebrows are raised.

“They’re about as subtle as a UFO,” he says.

After I glance up and down the street once more, I gesture to go in. “I need to talk to you two.”

His expression grows serious, and we enter the shop where Solana is finishing up with a customer. She falters when she sees me, then smiles at the woman and locks the door behind her once she’s gone.

“Is Mercedes okay?” she asks.

“Mercedes is fine.” I see her as Douglas would for a moment. She’s petite and would be easy to overpower. Georgie very clearly works out. And he has a toughness to him. He isn’t a stranger to the streets. “Can we sit down?”

“Sure. Do you want coffee or something?”

I shake my head. “Mercedes doesn’t know I’m here. I’d like to keep it that way.” We sit at the same table as last time, and I remember that day. The terrible moments of powerlessness as her throat closed up.

“Judge? What the fuck is going on?” Georgie asks.

“The man who delivered those beignets, he thinks he knows Mercedes.”

“What?” Solana asks.

“It was on purpose?” Georgie asks. “Someone hurt her on purpose?”

“You can’t talk to her about this, do you understand? I don’t want her scared.”

“She has a right to know if she’s in danger.”

“She knows enough, and she’s safe at the house. Outside of it, I won’t let her out of my sight. But I’m here because of you.” I look at Solana.

“Me?”

“In an effort to draw Mercedes out, I’m afraid this man may target you.”

“Solana?” Georgie asks.

“I have men at your house now. We’re taking a look around.”

“What? He was at my house?”

“You’re staying with me tonight and for the foreseeable future,” Georgie says.

“I think that’s a good idea,” I tell Georgie.