Rachel frowned. “Red house? That’s Tom McCall’s place, and he’s eighty-four. His grandkids live in Vegas, and they’re in their thirties.”
Kenzie’s eyes widened. “He did not.”
Lila blew out a breath. “Oh boy.”
“What’s going on?” Evan had a schedule these people were destroying minute by minute. “Look, I really have to get going. And I need my phone. So if you have any idea where this kid is, I’d appreciate you telling me.”
Kenzie gripped the knife in her hand even tighter, Evan noticed. “Ah, maybe you should put down the weapon, Kenzie.” Saying her name gave him an odd thrill, and he chalked it up to adrenaline.
“Knife? What?” She looked confused.
Lila answered, “I think he means the potential murder weapon in your hand. Put it down before you stab someone.”
Will took a step back, and Rachel planted herself in front of him. “Not the face, Kenzie. You can stab him anywhere else, but I like my men pretty.”
“Jesus, Rachel, it was one time and an accident,” Kenzie snapped.
“That I’ll never forget.” Will showed Evan his forearm, where a large scar bisected his arm. “Almost took my arm off.”
Lila and Rachel erupted into laughter.
“If you could see your face.” Will grinned. “Kidding, man. This is from a car accident years ago. Kenzie only stabbed me with a paring knife when I got too close to her cucumbers.”
Kenzie chimed in, looking furious, “That I was in the middle of cutting.Daniel,” she shouted. “Get your ass down here!”
“We can never be truly sure it was an accident,” Rachel added in a loud whisper.
Will nodded. “I still have the emotional scars.”
Evan felt as if he’d fallen down the rabbit hole. “You people are giving me a headache. Do you or do you not know where my phone is?” He stared at the knife still clutched in Kenzie’s hand.
She dropped it in the sink and stomped into the living room.
Everyone followed her, so Evan did as well. He couldn’t help seeing a fairly neat and eclectically decorated house full of color. Rich hardwoods and handcrafted moldings gave the house an upscale feel, but the furniture appeared worn and comfortable. No sign of clutter except for some gaming magazines, a pair of large sneakers by the couch, and an opened bag of chips on the coffee table.
They continued up the stairs and passed two bedrooms and a bathroom then paused at the doorway to the last bedroom down the hall.
“He’s not here,” Kenzie fumed. She spun around and moved so quickly she knocked into Evan.
He gripped her shoulders to stop her from movingthroughhim. The contact startled him, once more shocking him into immobility.
Kenzie stared back, her lips full, rosy, and begging for a kiss.
Someone cleared her throat.
Evan immediately dropped his hands and stepped back. “Sorry.”Shit.His voice sounded thick, gravelly.
“S-sure. I just… It’s my…”
“Mom! I’m home,” a familiar voice called from downstairs.
Evan stared into Kenzie’s face, putting the pieces of the puzzle together. Now that he thought about it, the boy did look a lot like his mother. Yet their ages seemed a little close for her to be a mom. Unless she’d had him as a teenager herself.
Her eyes darkened. “Mom?” She stormed past Evan.
He noted the caution on the others’ faces. “This can’t be good.”
Rachel sighed. “You got that right.”
