“You could have joined us. Denver and Ezra said you were welcome.”
That earned Lavender an impatient look from Blink. “I appreciated the invitation but I’m sure they were being polite. I needed to be here for a few calls I couldn’t reschedule,” he said, moving the conversation along. “Any word on where Leary is and what he’s up to?”
“And I thought you’d called to praise me for saving that wedding. It was rather chic for being thrown together in less than two weeks.”
“You should start an Instagram account. Do cozy little weddings as a side hustle,” Blink suggested, then pulled a face. “Has Speed or Agent Beesley had any success finding Frank Leary?”
“As far as I know, no,” Lavender replied and Blink humphed thoughtfully.
“Then it might be time to pause the wedding planning and go back to your day job. I sent the Gambler after Leary. He searched high and low but couldn’t find any trace of him.”
“Chance couldn’t find Frank Leary?” Lavender verified. Blink raised a brow at Lavender as he was handed a report from off camera.
“It would seem that the only person capable of locating Frank Leary is Speed through that phone. Alon has searched for any number associated with Speed that might still be in use and none have called any numbers in the Miami area while Leary was there.”
“I promise you, Speed memorized that number and planned to carry it with him to his grave. Not just because his security depends upon it but because it’s always been his lifeline to Leary and once he gives it up, Speed’s as good as severed it. That won’t be easy for Speed. Everything about his relationship with Leary is deeply sentimental.”
“I’m afraid I don’t have the time or the luxury. See if you can impress upon Speed just how serious this is or I’ll have to.”
“He barely listens to me.”
“True. But the less pressure Speed feels, the better. And it’s going to feel like pressure if I tell him to hand that number over to Beesley.”
“It’s certainly better if Speed thinks this was his call,” Lavender agreed. He threw Blink a mutinous glare. “I already have a child of my own. You didn’t have to send yours over for me to raise.”
“Consider this practice for when Robin enters his rebellious teen phase.”
“Goodbye,” Lavender replied briskly, signaling for Toly to end the call. The screen went dark immediately. “Let me find out you’re laughing over there,” Lavender said to the ceiling as he headed for the door.
“I would never, sir, and we all know that Robin would never give you this much trouble.”
“Let’s hope you’re right. Warn Speed that I’m on my way.”
Lavender opened his front door and pulled in a reinforcing breath before he went to face Speed. He scanned his lawn and Lavender was comforted by the pristine perfection of the white rose hedges and the lush green grass. Paul and Reginald’s yard was just as tidy and so was Toly and Wilder’s. It was all a picture of suburban harmony until Lavender’s gaze drifted over Speed’s yard and caught on the flamingo sentinels guarding the hot pink rose hedges. There were two groups of four flanking Speed’s front porch and they made Lavender’s eye twitch as he crossed the street.
He stopped to regard them with a pinched scowl and Speed’s door swung open. “Don’t even think about it,” Speed hissed accusatively.
Lavender’s nose tipped back as he climbed the porch’s steps. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Ha!” Speed waved for Lavender to hurry and get inside and away from his gaudy plastic birds. “What do you want?” He asked, shutting the door behind Lavender.
“Come on!” Blake complained as he hurried from the kitchen. He shook his head at Speed, then smiled at Lavender. “Welcome. What can we do for you?” He said politely.
“At least one of you knows how to be a decent host,” Lavender murmured.
“You’re not a decent guest,” Speed countered sweetly as he headed for the decanters in the living room. “Want a drink?” He asked over his shoulder. “I suddenly do.”
“Speed,” Blake scolded. “I thought you two were getting along.”
“We are but I know why he’s here,” Speed said, smiling at Lavender while he reached for the vermouth. And Lavender knew that Speed wasn’t in the mood to cooperate when he selected two martini glasses and began preparing them. “You came because you want me to hand over Francis’s number. Or my flamingos.”
“This is serious, Speed.” Lavender kept his voice gentle.
“More serious than the time you shot me?” He handed Lavender a martini and Speed was all charm and swagger as he drank.
Lavender snorted into his glass. “Blink hired Lazarus Chance to look for Leary,” he said, then sipped. It was perfect. Lavender gasped appreciatively at the clean crispness and saluted Speed with his martini.
“Chance? Why would Blink hire the Gambler when he knows I’ve got this under control?”