“He’s okay, still sleeping,” she answered. “He knows what’s going on, maybe not in great detail—but he knows that Richie is his biological father. I didn’t want Richie to be the one to tellhim.”
When Brock and Tessa were busy talking to Becky, I slipped out front to make a couple phone calls of myown.
First, I called Rob. Out of everyone I knew in the security business, I trusted him themost.
“Hey man, look. I’m going to need your discretion on what I’m about to tell you. I don’t want the label knowing, and I definitely don’t want the paparazzi getting wind of anything. I know it’s kind of your off-time, but I’ll pay you,” I said after heanswered.
“Alright. You have my word. What can I help you with?” Robasked.
“Becky’s abusive ex came back yesterday, he’s made some threats and the police are looking for him. When they find him, they’ll charge him with breaching a restraining order, uttering threats, andextortion.”
“Extortion?”
“He wanted eighty grand to leave town and leave Becky’s son alone, and promised he’d be back for Aiden if he didn’t get it within the week,” I explained, looking out down the quietstreet.
“So you want additional security duty, for her and the kid?” Robclarified.
“Yes, but be discreet about it. I don’t want him to see you. I also need some numbers for private investigators. So far, the police haven’t found any leads on where he is, and I don’t want either one of them to worry. I’d rather see him behind bars as quickly aspossible.”
“I know a guy. I’ll text you his number,” Rob replied. “And I’ll be there within the hour, maybeless.”
“Thanks man,” I sighed, disconnecting the call. Before I could go back into the house, Brock stepped outside, a conflicted look on his face. “Hey…what’sup?”
He let the door close behind him before crossing his arms to face me. His jaw ticked with aggravation. “I’m getting tired of waiting. I think I should go to all the local bars. See if anybody’s seenhim.”
“You can’t do that man,” I shook my head. We had a history of being brawlers, when it came to protecting the people we cared about, and with his criminal record, Brock had to be extra careful. “I got a number for a private investigator, I’m going to give him a call, and I’ve hired Rob on security duty. He’s going to tail Becky and Aiden, make sure he’s everywhere that they are. Richie won’t get anywhere near either one of them,” I addedconfidently.
“How much is that going to cost?” he asked, his gray eyes appraisingme.
“Does it matter?” I retorted, arching a brow. I wasn’t about to put a price tag on Becky and Aiden’ssafety.
Tessa opened the door and poked her head outside. “Hey, breakfast is ready. Come in and eat,” she said. Leaving the screen door open, she walked back into thekitchen.
Brock and I exchanged a terse look before headinginside.
Two days passed without any sign of Richie. Rob’s private investigator, Winston, was on the case, and we’d learned a lot about what brought Richie Anderson back to Parry Sound. Mainly an astonishing debt with the wrong people. But so far Richie hadn’t left a trail to his current whereabouts. Aside from coming over to Becky’s, he hadn’t checked in with anybody else. None of his old friends had seen him, and he hadn’t been to any of the localbars.
Becky was trying not to let the Richie situation disrupt Aiden’s life too much. She’d been taking him to his soccer practices all week, but she was struggling with letting him do anything withouther.
On Sunday, Aiden had a soccer game, and Brock’s plan was go as a united front. Becky had a differentplan.
“It won’t work,” Brock argued, shaking his head after she’d pitched her idea to us the nightbefore.
“But it might,” Becky argued. “If I take Aiden to the game, alone, and if he’s watching…Richie’s more likely to approach me. If he approaches me, he comes out of hiding, then the police can arresthim.”
“As much as I don’t like it…I think she’s right,” Tessa voiced, Elle nodding along with her inagreement.
“He already knows what’s waiting for him if you guys catch him, and I don’t think he’d sign up for that again,” Elle said, fixing both Braden and Brock with a pointed look. “It’s more than likely that he’ll wait until she’salone.”
“It sounds risky,” I frowned, not liking the idea at all. There were too many variables, too many opportunities for Richie to hurt either Becky orAiden.
“I just want this to stop,” she admitted, her jaw trembling a bit. My hand found hers beneath the table, and I squeezed itgently.
And so, it was agreed. Becky would take Aiden to his game alone, and I was going to tail her with Rob, because she was nuts if she thought I’d let them out my sight for one hotminute.
Rob and I were in the black Honda he’d rented, parked in the parking lot across from the soccer field with the air conditioning blasting when my phone rang. “Hello?”
“Mr. Channing? It’s Winston,” the clipped voice said. I had no idea if Winston was a first name or a second name, he’d never found it imperative to tell me. Either way, Winston was the polar opposite of Rob. He was short and lean, with one of those faces that faded straight out of your head. He was inconspicuous, which probably served him well when he was on someone’s trail. “I’ve managed to locate where Mr. Anderson is staying. He’s at the SoundInn.”
