“Josh.” Wallace used a fatherly tone. Which might have been fitting. He seemed old enough to be Josh’s father. “The DEA is always recruiting. You could be a dog handler. Where is your service dog by the way?”
Josh stood, extending his hand. “Home with my dad. Thank you for the advice, and as much as I would love the idea, I couldn’t entertain anything like that since my dad’s health prevents me from doing anything other than managing the inn.”
They exchanged a handshake.
“I’ll give you a call later this evening,” Wallace said. “Dennison and I will be staying in the city.”
“Let me see where Riley is. She might be on her way back.” Josh tapped on her number in his phone then hit the speaker button. The line went directly to voice mail.
Surely, she should be finished with Taylor by now. It was well after noon. Granted, the drive there and back would take hours, let alone the fact that two women could talk for a long time.
Wallace padded to the door. “If Riley does get anything of value from Taylor, please call me.” Then he waltzed out.
Josh rubbed his jaw, deciding what to do next. The FBI’s breakthrough was weak at best. They were no further on finding Liza than the SFPD.
Josh’s phone rang, and Riley’s name came across the screen.
“Are you okay?” Josh answered. “Where are you? Did you get any info from Taylor?” He couldn’t contain himself. His breathing sped up.
“Josh, Liza just called me.”
“What! Where is she?”
“I don’t know. I lost the connection. She sounded rushed and frightened.”
He chewed on the inside of his cheek. “Where are you?”
“I’m at a coffee shop one block down from the Stitches office building. I’ve been hoping she would call me back.”
“Redial the number. Did she call you from her phone?”
“That’s the problem. The call came in with no caller ID.”
Josh started for the door. “Stay put. I’m on my way. Text me the name of the coffee shop.”
“We should tell the agents.” Her voice cracked a little.
“Not much to tell them if you don’t know anything, and you don’t have a number they can trace.”
She expelled a heavy sigh.
“Riley, I want you to watch over your shoulder. Wallace found out that the dark-haired man you saw in the SUV is none other than Moretti’s son. The verdict is still out on the bald guy.”
Her tone rose in pitch. “For real?”
“Baby doll, don’t move from that coffee shop. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
She whimpered. “I like it when you call me baby doll.”
Man, if she whimpered one more time, Josh might have to take a cold shower.
