Page 129 of Falcon’s Forever

I place the box in the trunk and close it. “Ice Pick and Sterling are taking her over?”

“They’re arranging it now.”

Good. I don’t offer to go, and I know she notices.

“You’re not coming?” she asks.

“Vulture told me to stay here.”

Her eyebrows lift. “And you’re listening?”

“Don’t sound so surprised.”

“I’m adjusting,” she says.

She leans against the car. “You said you found Merrick.”

“A possible location,” I correct.

“Trafficking?”

“Maybe.”

Her face changes at the word, and I hate that it still does that to her, even now. "We don't know yet," I say. "If there are women in there, we get them out."

"We work out how to get them out without making it worse," I add, catching how the first version sounded.

She nods. "Are you involving the police?"

"Maybe."

"Do you trust them?"

"Some. We need to verify more before we go to anybody."

She looks toward the gate. "If there are women inside, they're going to be terrified of every person who walks through that door."

"I know."

"What would they need?" I ask, before I've fully decided to ask it.

She looks at me. "You're asking me?"

"Yes."

"You've rescued women before."

"Not well enough, apparently."

Something shifts in her expression. "Women," she says. "That's the first thing. Not ten bikers standing around asking questions. Not everyone touching them because they think it helps. Not telling them where they're going before anyone asks what they want."

I listen.

"Food and water, but don't make them eat. Blankets. Clean clothes. Somewhere private. Explain medical care before it happens, not after."

I nod. "Names?"

"If they want to give them."