Ronnie had no doubt that she looked like a marionette with some psycho on the strings as she jerked and danced to the beat.Not that she cared.There was no one here to see her, and she wouldn’t care if there was.She was dancing to suit her, and to burn off excess energy, not to impress or attract anyone.She could do that, if she wanted, but what she wanted now was just to feel the beat pounding through her.To give herself something to think about other than how badly whatever her brother needed to tell her was going to screw up her life.
She danced around her house until she was out of breath and her side hurt, then she collapsed onto the sofa, picked up her phone and turned down her music, changing the play list from the upbeat rock she’d been dancing to, to something a little softer, more relaxing.Then she dropped her head against the back of the sofa and stared at the ceiling while she tried to catch her breath.
A knock made her jump.Standing, she shook her head, she’d been waiting for him, why did Gavin knocking startle her so bad?At the door, she looked out the peep hole to make sure it was her brother, then she flipped the lock and opened the door.
“Come on in.”She stepped out of the way and watched him step inside, a six-pack in each hand.“What’s up?”she asked as she closed and locked the door, then followed him into the kitchen.
He pulled one bottle from each carrier, setting them on the counter before putting the rest in the refrigerator.She went to pull her bottle opener from the drawer, grabbed the bottle of Kilt Lifter and popped the top with practiced ease.She handed him the opener, not knowing if he would need it, then tossed the cap into the recycling before tipping her bottle back and taking a long pull.
“Damn,” Gavin said, watching her with wide eyes as she lowered the bottle.“Either you were thirsty, or I should have brought whiskey.”
Ronnie shook her head.“No more whiskey tonight.I’m just a little thirsty, I had a mini dance-a-thon before you got here.”She set her bottle on the counter beside her as she leaned back against the cabinets.
Gavin scowled.“What’s got you stressed?”
“Work, life, everything.”She threw her hands in the air.“I was doing pretty good until I got a call saying we have to talk, but not on the phone.”She shot him a scowl, leaving no doubt, at least in her mind, that she was talking about his call.
He met her gaze and held it for several seconds before sighing and tipping back his own drink.
“Let’s go sit down, this is going to take a minute.”He headed for the living room, and the sofa where they’d sat while sorting through files the day before.
Curious to know what was so bad that not only did she have to be told in person, but he wanted her sitting too.If this wasn’t something huge, she was going to kick his ass for putting her through this.
Once they were both seated, she took another long pull from her drink, almost draining it.She considered going for another, but wanted to know what he had to tell her first.She twisted on the sofa, pulling one knee up into the seat as she faced him.
“Okay, spill.What did you have to tell me tonight that you couldn’t say over the phone.And why the hell couldn’t you say it over the phone?”
He took another pull from his drink then he set the bottle on the table beside him and turned to face her.
“You know I was reaching out to some contacts to see what I could find out on the skips Dad gave you, right?”
Ronnie nodded.She knew that.She hadn’t expected it, knowing he could get into serious trouble if he got caught, but he’d said that was something he would worry about.She’d said no, what more could she do?Break his fingers so he couldn’t use a computer or his phone?That wouldn’t work anymore because of voice recognition.No, she’d told him not to, that was all she could do.
Gavin licked his lips and glanced away, as if he didn’t want to tell her what he’d found.
“So I started with the two names we narrowed it down to.”He reached over and thumped one knuckle on top of the stack of files on her coffee table.
Ronnie nodded, not wanting to stop him now that she’d gotten him talking.
“Anyway, I put them into our system and came back with the usual things.Stuff I’m sure you’re used to being in your files, but the one I pulled up on Jennings is a lot longer than what’s in that file.”He tilted his head toward the files again, this time without looking in that direction.“That’s not all that was missing from the file.”
Ronnie scowled.What else had Dad left out of the file as he tried to make things harder for her.He seemed determined that she fail, she didn’t understand it.Did he hate her that much?Why would a parent who cared for you, who wanted you to succeed, do this to their kid?There was only reason she could think of.
He didn’t want her to succeed.
Just acknowledging that, even to herself, made her chest ache.She let her head fall forward until her chin rested against her chest and she stared down at her lap.She didn’t want Gavin to see how much it hurt to realize her father wasn’t looking out for her or for the family, he was all about his name or maybe it was the money?She didn’t know and she needed to find out.
“What else was missing?”
“I don’t know if they still do it but when I was working for Dad, we always had a known contacts listing.Nothing extensive, but somewhere to start, you know?Anyway, when we were going through things yesterday, I noticed it wasn’t there on Jennings file, not a single known contact, the only clue you have is the name and address of whoever put up bail.It’s a woman’s name, but the address isn’t his, so I’m thinking mother or sister, since it doesn’t say.I doubt an estranged wife would put up bail.”
She didn’t tell him what she’d learned this evening.She’d tell him later, after he finished telling her what he’d discovered.
“Anyway, I started looking at the reports I got back and comparing them.”He shrugged.“Something felt off.I don’t know what, but I did what I sometimes do when I’ve hit a dead end looking for someone and ran the known associates, on the off chance that he’s talked a friend into hiding him out and they stashed him with a friend.I know it’s a long shot, but it’s paid off more than once.Sometimes I find that two, three, or more are all known associates of each other, and can start looking there.”He paused, picked up his beer and took another drink.
Ronnie tilted hers back, finishing it.She stood and headed for the kitchen.
“You can continue, I’m listening, I just need a fresh drink.You want another?”
