But the view from three tiers of windows put the price tag on that room.

And it was substantial.

Axl took it in as a matter of course, what he’d do in any situation.

He also noted Mamá had two people with her, likely not simply for her protection, but she’d assured the women they were there for theirs as well.

Ally, as usual, was alone.

Cisco, wisely, had none of his men taking up space which, considering the look of his men, might give bad vibes.

And then there was Lynn Crowley and Heidi Mueller.

In her early thirties, Lynn had straight brown hair, an angular face, a messy outfit with not-very-well-cleaned-off baby spit-up on her shoulder. Even sitting, you could tell she was tall. She was also too thin. In photos he’d seen of her, she’d not been this before her husband died and not simply because she was pregnant.

A mix of fear, worry and grief was wasting her away.

And she exuded all of that.

If what Heidi was giving off didn’t edge it out, the room would be filled with Lynn’s panic, dread and sadness.

Heidi, on the other hand, was the exact opposite.

In her late forties, blonde, fit, well-dressed, very attractive.

And pissed.

There was grief there. It pinched the sides of her eyes and permeated the look in them.

But the prevailing emotion coming from her was rage.

Interesting, though not surprising.

She hadn’t only lost her husband, she’d, personally, been dragged through the media like it was she who committed multiple felonies.

But one of the felonies her husband was allegedly in some way involved with was the murder of Lynn’s husband.

A curious duo.

And that was an understatement.

“I believe we all wish this to be done so we can move on,” Cisco started it, indicating the room with a movement of his head to share Hawk, Boone and Axl should find their places. Cisco himself sat in a leather armchair, his attention on the women. “So, quickly, I’d like to introduce you to Hawk Delgado and his men, Boone Sadler and Axl Pantera. As has been explained, they’ve a number of reasons to be involved in this, not the least of which, Boone and Axl’s women were targeted by whoever is behind it.”

Lynn barely looked at them.

Heidi glared between them like they personally shot her husband.

Hawk took a seat in the only vacant armchair left of the four. Ally was in one, Mamá in the other, Cisco in the third. Lynn and Heidi were sitting on the couch that faced the massive fireplace.

Boone and Axl assumed positions on the periphery, standing.

“And I’m afraid you’ll have to begin,” Cisco went on, his attention on Heidi. “As we sadly have not much of note to say.”

“You know my husband didn’t fuck those sex workers like that fake suicide note said he did,” Heidi spat at Hawk.

Interesting opener.

“We know,” Hawk confirmed.

Regardless that he did, she pressed on that same theme.

“I didn’t know what he was up to with the rest of it, but I know he didn’t do that.”

“Yes, we know that too,” Hawk repeated.

She pushed out breath from her nostrils like an angry bull.

She then declared, “They’ve been messing with Lynn since they took Tony out.”

Everyone in the room looked to Lynn.

She was staring at her lap.

Heidi kept on.

“I mean, seriously dicking with her. Calling her. Leaving notes on her doorstep. Passing her in the grocery store and saying shit to her. Sitting outside her fucking day care and watching her go in and come out with her freaking kids. It’s lunacy.”

“As we’ve mentioned to you, we can discuss protection,” Ally stated.

“And as we’ve mentioned to you, let them know we talked to you?” Heidi snapped. “No way.”

Ally looked to Mamá.

So Axl looked to Mamá.

Mamá sat in her armchair, her eyes not leaving Heidi.

“Lance was messed up before they killed him,” Heidi stated. “I had no idea what he was talking about. I mean, I’m a cop’s wife. I know shit can get real. I had twenty years of living with that. But he was a detective. He wasn’t on the beat anymore. But he kept talking about, ‘If something happens to me.’ But he never would answer when I asked why he kept on about it. It was flipping me out. He updated our will to make sure all was in order. He increased his life insurance policy, which by the way, was fucking voided because he supposedly killed himself, so that was money well spent.”

She tossed a hand Lynn’s way.

And kept going.

“Tony didn’t know these assholes would kill him. He didn’t take out a life insurance policy. Three kids, she’s part time, she’s fucked. Funeral expenses will eat you alive, trust me. And his pension doesn’t cover three kids. I’ll tell you that.”

Single-handedly, with no backup, no one knowing he was doing it, investigating a syndicate of dirty cops and he didn’t get life insurance.

Hell, just being a cop and he didn’t have it.

It wasn’t smart.

Everyone in that room knew that.

No one said anything.

“So … yeah,” Heidi carried on. “When my husband was murdered, it didn’t come as a big surprise. I knew something was up. Though, Lance killing Kevin and then turning the gun on himself, that is utter bullshit. Kevin was an asshole, but he always had Lance’s back. I didn’t get it. Lance said it was a guy thing. But if things went south with those two, Lance would just walk away. Or ask to be assigned a new partner. Or whatever. He wouldn’t shoot him. And he would never, not ever, kill himself. Me?” She shook her head. “Our kids? Leave us like that? He’d never do that.”

No one said anything.

Though even if there was something to be said, they couldn’t.

Heidi wasn’t done.

“And Lynn’s got all this shit happening, and she comes to me and says my husband didn’t fuck those women. She wants me to know that. My husband …My Lance …He did things … ” Suddenly, the rage just spluttered out, and in a whisper, hanging her head, “Goddamn.”

Giving Heidi a minute, and for other reasons, everyone now was looking at Lynn.

“Lynn, if you have anything on Tony’s investigation, it would help,” Hawk carefully urged.