When I got out of the tub, I went to moisturize my body like I always did, but my lotion was missing. Knowing I’d used it last night after my bath, I searched everywhere but couldn’t find it. It had to be there, but it wasn’t. Feeling like I was going out of my mind, I searched through Toby’s cabinets until I found some hand lotion that I made do with. Then, I dressed in shorts and a tank top and wandered into the kitchen to scrounge up some breakfast.
Lunch, really, since it was already past noon.
I whipped myself up a bowl of oatmeal with nuts and fruit, and carried everything to the sofa. Turning on the television, I flipped through channels, settling on a bizarre documentary about some wildcat breeder in Oklahoma. It was like a train wreck I couldn’t look away from, and before I knew it, most of the day had passed, and all my braincells felt like they’d been devoured by the self-proclaimed gay, gun-toting cowboy with a mullet. Disgusted with myself for wasting so much time on it, I turned off the program and looked to Daisy for suggestions.
“Well, what should we do now?”
She didn’t respond, so I considered checking Hound’s social media again, just in case he’d added new photos. Doubtful since last night I couldn’t help but notice there’d been no activity on his page in months. I couldn’t even tell if he used the account anymore, and was kind of appalled that I’d spent so much time wondering about his social media habits. But there I was, thinking about cyberstalking him, because I had some sick need to see anything he might have put out into the world.
Levi’s right, I need help.
Having talked myself into it, I scurried into my temporary bedroom, plucked the phone off the nightstand, and watched as the cord fell free like it hadn’t been fully connected. Knowing I’d seen the battery charging icon, I tried to power it on, but the damn thing was dead.
The creepy unease I’d woken up to this morning returned. The charger kept coming out of my phone, and I never did find my lotion. These weren’t major issues, but they bugged me and made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Carrying my phone and charger into the living room where I could keep an eye on them, I plugged it back into the wall, made damn sure it was charging, and sat my ass back down on the sofa.
As soon as that sucker charged up, I planned to call Toby and ask if he had a house ghost he’d neglected to warn me about.
21
Hound
SEATTLE’S RUSH HOUR traffic sucked ass. Especially on a bike with the hot summer sun bouncing off the asphalt and making me feel like I was in the seventh circle of hell. It didn’t help that I was more than a little concerned that Mila wasn’t answering her phone.
What if something happened?
What if the killer found her?
Dark thoughts had me scanning the area, checking for police cruisers. It was illegal to split the lanes in Washington—and it came with a hefty fine—but I was worried enough to take the risk. Keeping an eye open for Seattle’s finest, I worked my way through traffic, taking the exit that would lead me to Tobias’s home. Scanning addresses, I came to a stop in front of the one I’d been searching for. Turning off my engine, I put down my kickstand, climbed off the bike, and retrieved my phone to double check the address.
I had three missed calls and a text from Morse. The text said to call him ASAP. Hitting the phone icon, I followed orders.
“Hound. Thank fuck you called. Are you at the house yet?”
He sounded stressed as hell. Wondering what had spooked him, I replied, “Yeah. I’m lookin’ at it, brother. What’s goin’ on?”
“Tap finally heard back from his friend at the CIA. He was able to get us Tobias’s flight records. The bastard was in Ottawa when both Polly and Rishi were murdered.”
“Are you shittin’ me right now?”
“No. And there’s more.”
I couldn’t deal with more. What he’d told me was already bad enough. “Son-of-a-bitch.” Needing to confirm that Mila was okay, I headed for the front door.
“He was scheduled to fly to Florida, but he never got on the flight. He’s still in Seattle, Hound.”
All the blood in my veins froze. I stared at the front door, suddenly fearing what I’d find behind it. She’d been here since yesterday. He could have done anything to her. I needed to move, to reassure myself that she was okay, but I couldn’t seem to put one foot in front of the other. All I could think about was Mila, stoned to death. “If this motherfucker has touched one hair on her head, I’ll make him regret the day he was born.”
“You have backup on the way,” Morse said in my ear. “Havoc, Rabbit, and Zombie will be there as soon as possible. Just make sure she’s okay, will ya?”
I understood his desperation. I felt it down to my fucking toes. “Of course. I’ll call you as soon as I know something.” Needing to get in there and see what the hell was going on, I disconnected the call and picked up my pace.
Mila
The roar of a motorcycle brought me to my feet. I rushed to the window to see a biker dismount. He tugged the helmet from his head, and my heart almost leaped out of my chest.
Hound.
I’d been determined to leave him alone, but now that he was here, I felt so relieved I could cry. I expected him to head for the house, but instead he appeared to be making a call. Intending to go out and greet him, I practically floated toward the front door.
