“I will,” Clarke promised.
“We're going to be talking about this when I get home, Clarke.”
“I know.”
There was so much resignation in that tone I almost smiled.
By the time I checked out of the hotel and grabbed a taxi for the airport, I had been able to book the next flight home. It would still take me about four hours to get there, and every second was going to be excruciating.
I could feel the migraine already.
I pulled my cell phone out and dialed Lyn. “It's Sal,” I said once he answered. “Have you found Lany?”
“No, and that worries me.”
I almost rolled my eyes.
“I've checked every precinct, and he's not booked into any of them.”
That didn't make sense. If he had been arrested, he should have been at one of them. “Have you looked at any of the county jails?”
“Uh, no, but I'll look now.”
“What about the tracking chip?” I'd had our friend Skip put it in Lany's ass. It was just under the skin, but it helped me keep track of my beautiful mess. “Does it show where he is?”
“No, and that's part of what worries me. As far as the chip is concerned, Lany is at home.”
My jaw clenched. “Have Marcus search for it.”
“You think Lany took it out?”
“If it says he's at home when he isn't, then yes.”
“But why would he do that?”
“Why does Lany do half the things he does?” I asked. “I'm on my way to the airport so I'll be out of communication for a while. I'll touch base with you just as soon as I land.”
“I'll have something for you by then, even if I have to hack a few places.”
I couldn't argue with that. I wasn't even worried about Lyn breaking any cyber laws. He was good enough to hack something and not get caught, but he also worked for the FBI's Cyber Crimes Unit.
“You know Clarke and I are going to be talking about this, right?”
Lyn snorted. “Someone needs to talk to him because I'm not.”
“I understand that Clarke gets a little aggravated at some of the stunts Lany pulls, but arresting him is not the answer, especially when Lany just seems to get in more trouble when something like that happens.”
“Oh, I know,” Lyn replied. “Clarke and I have argued about that more than once. He doesn't seem to understand that while Lany causes trouble, his heart is always in the right place.”
“He also doesn't seem to understand that punishing Lany is my responsibility, not his.” And I had some pretty imaginative ways of doing it.
“Lany is a full-grown adult. He may not always act like it, but it's still a fact of life. Just because Clarke may not like something Lany does doesn't mean Lany is wrong in doing it.”
“How long is he on the couch?” I asked.
“Until Lany is home and forgives his stupid ass.”
Ouch. That could be awhile.
