“Were any of those the same guys from this morning?” Officer Fong asked.
Liam told him about the pockmarked man he’d recognized, and confirmed that both the men who had broken in were dressed in purple and gray.
“If I’d known this morning they were Bagsics, I’d have used a different tactic when trying to drive after them.” Officer Fong gave a huff of frustration. “Bagsics are known for their driving skills.”
“That’s right, you were in LAPD before you came to Sonoma,” Liam said.
The officer nodded. “When I heard your statement about what the men were wearing, I recognized the gang colors right away and told Detective Carter.”
“What else can you tell us about the Bagsics?”
“They’re not a huge gang, and they’re better organized than most,” Officer Fong said. “The leadership is smart, but the younger captains are more impulsive, and it causes friction. At least, that’s what the situation was when I was down in L.A.”
“They’re into meth dealing?” Liam asked.
“Big-time. The LAPD has been trying to crack down on the Bagsics’ ephedrine supply—the precursor for meth production—from the Philippines, but they haven’t been able to stop their shipments into the Port of Los Angeles. Because it’s the Bagsics, we should have a patrol car check up on you—”
“I’m not staying here,” Elisabeth said. “I’ll find somewhere to lie low.”
Officer Fong looked uncertain about her answer, but then his police radio crackled. “All right. I’ll get going. Let us know if you need anything.” With a wave, the policeman headed back to his squad car and drove off.
“I feel exposed,” Elisabeth said as she and Liam went back inside her apartment. “I don’t want to stay here now that the gang knows where I live. What if they show up with guns blazing and one of my neighbors gets injured by a stray bullet?”
Liam nodded. “I’ve been thinking about that. My friend Nathan just bought a house on the outskirts of Sonoma. If we take the time to make sure we’re not followed, we can stay there for a little while and the gang won’t find us.”
Liam explained that Nathan was ex-LAPD and now worked as head of security for a high-end apartment complex. She would guess his home security would be good and that he would be prepared if the gang found them at his house. “Does he have any family living with him?”
“Not yet. He’s getting married in the spring, but his fiancée lives with her parents right now.” Liam got out his cell phone. “Why don’t you get what you need and I’ll call to ask him?”
Elisabeth unlocked her hard drive and put it in her wall safe. She then packed an overnight bag.
Liam got off the phone. “Nathan said it’s fine for us to stay with him. Ready to go?”
She gestured for him to go ahead while she set her alarm. Stepping outside, she found Liam on his back under her car. “Checking for tracking devices,” he said.
She had intended to do the same, but was glad to have another set of eyes. “Thanks.” She said it awkwardly, not because she wasn’t grateful, but because she wasn’t used to having someone else help her.
After her car was cleared, she drove around for an hour, with Liam checking behind them to make sure they weren’t followed. Remembering what Officer Fong had said about the Bagsics being known for their skilled driving, and the four-car tail that had followed Liam to the women’s shelter, it was hard to feel confident that they weren’t being tracked. But they couldn’t drive around forever—eventually they had to head to their destination.
It was almost dark when they finally turned into a narrow driveway that ended at a horse fence and a low-barred gate. A tall, lean man was already there to swing open the gate and close it behind her car.
Liam rolled down the passenger-side window. “Nathan, nice timing. How’d you know we were coming up the driveway?” The main highway and some lengths of the winding driveway wouldn’t be easily visible from the house where it sat between the rolling foothills.
Nathan grinned. “I put in a sensor that warned me when you turned into the driveway from the highway.”
“That’s handy. Nathan, this is Elisabeth Aday.”
Nathan nodded to her, then gestured to the house. “You can park alongside the garage.”
The ranch-style home was modest and looked extrasmall sitting in the middle of the generous yard all around it. There was a jungle gym and sandbox beneath a large oak tree in the corner.
“He doesn’t have kids, right?” She wouldn’t endanger Nathan’s family no matter what kind of security he might have.
“Not yet. His fiancée, Arissa, is guardian to her niece. They’re still living with Arissa’s parents.”
When she got out of the car after parking, the winter wind sliced through her sweater. Plucking her laptop case and overnight bag from the backseat where she’d tossed them, she rushed for the front door to the house.
Nathan was already there, holding the door open. “Come on in.”
Elisabeth hurried inside the wide foyer and out of the wind, Liam following her. An arched doorway to her right led into a living room.
“Have a seat.” Nathan sat in a blue chair in front of a low coffee table holding a carafe and mugs. “Coffee?”
“Please.” Elisabeth dropped onto a green sofa opposite him and set her bags on the floor. Liam dropped into the seat next to her and let out a sigh.
“Want to tell me what’s going on?” Nathan poured coffee for them all.
Liam went over what had happened.
“It’s safer for you to hide out here.” Nathan regarded them with serious green-gray eyes. “You can stay as long as you like.”
“We don’t want to put you in danger,” Elisabeth said.
“If the gang finds you, it’s better to have three people against them than just the two of you.”
“I needed to talk to you anyway.” Liam told him about the SUV of Filipino men who had interrupted the attack by the Bagsics.
Nathan frowned. “There are a couple Filipino gangs in L.A. with tattoos to identify them. You can ask Detective Carter to talk to some of his contacts in San Francisco and Portland, but unless you can draw the tattoo...”
Elisabeth shook her head. “I didn’t get a good enough look. I only recognized that the writing was Filipino script. The Bagsics called them Toomies.”
“Sounds like a nickname. It could be for a couple different gangs.”
“Joe Fong took our statements at Elisabeth’s apartment,” Liam said. “He told us a bit about the Bagsics. What do you know about them?”
“Not much. They didn’t venture into my station’s section of Los Angeles very often. I know the other gangs were jealous that their meth trade was doing so well. They dealt out of a few bars and clubs to wealthier customers.”
“That reminds me, I had an idea for how to find out more about Joslyn,” Elisabeth said.
“I’m guessing you two still have research to do,” Nathan said. “You can use the dining room table. You guys hungry?”
Liam grinned. “Always.”
Nathan gave them his wireless password and went to fix sandwiches for them as they set up their laptops. As Nathan set the platter of sandwiches in front of them, Liam said, “Thanks. For everything.”
Nathan gave a half smile. “Just returning the favor. I’ll leave