FIFTEEN
Keith walked backwardinto Kenzie’s living room and hoped the bookcase he and Connor had carried over from Salty’s house wasn’t going upstairs. “Where do you want this?”
“Against the wall between the two windows.” Salty gestured toward the far wall before taking a swig of water.
Good.
He’d been working nonstop since arriving and gone up and down so many stairs he’d be doing it in his dreams tonight. And before he moved another box or piece of furniture, he wanted a drink and something to eat.
Bookcase in place, Keith headed straight for the kitchen. “This would’ve gone a hell of a lot faster if you’d started moving your shit here before today,” he called.
“What kind of friend would I be if I’d deprived you of having so much fun?” Salty asked, following him to the other room.
Obviously, Kenzie knew them well because she’d loaded her kitchen table with all kinds of junk food. There wasn’t a single piece of fruit or even a granola bar in sight.
Biting into a double-chocolate glazed donut, Keith grabbed a water bottle from the cooler. He loved beer as much as the next guy, but it didn’t go well with donuts. “Remember that when you’re helping me do this in a couple of weeks.”
“You’re moving?” Salty grabbed two peanut butter cookies off the plate and stuffed one in his mouth. “Where to?”
“Where do you think, Ryan?” Kenzie asked, joining them in the kitchen. “Maddie’s house. Right?”
“That’s the plan. My lease doesn’t end until January, so I’ve got time. But I’m going to start moving stuff when Spike and I get back from babysitting Bond.”
“I don’t know why the hell we got stuck with him again,” Spike said around a mouthful of food.
“You two seem to be assigned to him more than any of us. I wonder if Bond asks for you guys.”
Keith hadn’t thought much about it, but Salty was right. This trip would be Bond’s ninth to Venezuela this year and the fifth time he and Spike had gone with him. Far more than anyone else on the team.
“If you’re feeling left out, I can ask Ax to send you in my place,” Spike said. “I don’t mind.”
“And deprive you of Bond’s delightful company? What kind of friend would I be if I did that?” Salty grinned and shook his head. “I couldn’t do that to you. Besides, if Bond requested you and Keith, that’s who he wants. And Coleman’s all about keeping clients happy.”
“If Bond spends more time around you, I think you’ll become his new favorite person. And the next time I’m in the office, I’m going to suggest to Ax that he assign you and Connor to Bond the next time he travels. Spike, you should do the same.” Keith hoped to see Lyle’s name on the screen as he pulled his ringing cell phone from his back pocket.
About an hour ago, Lyle had replied to Keith’s text asking him to find out what he could about the phone number he’d received the message from earlier. Lyle had promised to do what he could when he got home and get back to Keith with whatever he learned.
“Hey, Lyle. What do you have for me?”
All conversations in the room stopped.
“The number came back to a Lisa Mayfield. Her address is 55 Old Marsh Road in Dumfries.”
Damn it.Spike was right.
When Lisa had stopped calling, he’d hoped she’d moved on. However, the messages and videos proved otherwise, and now he needed a plan for dealing with her. “Thanks, Lyle. I owe you one.”
“I’ve got more for you.”
Keith needed nothing else from him unless Lyle had a solution. But the guy had done him a big favor, so he’d hear him out.
“She’s near Maddie’s house. Or at least her phone was five minutes ago.”
When Maddie had mentioned she’d grabbed dinner with Alex and someone named Lisa at Murphy’s Thursday night, he hadn’t found it odd. He didn’t know all of Maddie’s friends, and Lisa was a common name.
Coincidences happened. But not this time. Keith didn’t know how or when it happened, but Maddie and Lisa knew each other.
“Thanks again. Anything you need, Lyle, just ask.”