“Kenna, hey.” Affection softened his tone into a low rumble.
“Are you whispering, or did you lose your voice?” She tucked her legs up on the chair and settled in.
“I’m hanging with Carlos, trying to get him to settle down.”
Kenna smiled to herself. “How is he?”
“Mi hijoneeds to learn how to settle, but babies are like that. Especially little boys who want to battle the world, take no prisoners, and never surrender.”
Kenna chuckled. “He’s six weeks old.”
“I can tell already. My Luci is a sweetheart, as long as she gets what she wants. We are officially in the terrible threes.”
“I thought it was the terrible twos?” Wasn’t that what everyone said?
“Oh, girl, you have no idea.” Ryson chuckled quietly. “I’ve dealt with criminals that weren’t as stubborn as my girl. And the smart ones are half as clever as she is.”
“Uh-oh.”
“Don’t worry, I’m sure your girl will be an angel. With any luck, she’ll take after her father.”
Kenna laughed aloud. “I’m planning to enjoy every moment, no matter what.”
“Good.” Ryson paused. “Did you call for baby tips? Is it time?”
“Couple of weeks yet,” Kenna said. “We hope.”
She explained about the podcast, then reminded him who Ellayna Feathers was. He’d been working that night, and they’d reconnected over a case. But underneath it all, they would always be friends first and investigators second.
“I tried to call her mom. I don’t know if Ellayna has a phone,” Kenna said. “If she does, I don’t have the number.”
“Send me what you have. I’ll look her up on a precinct computer. See what I can find out.” Ryson made a shushing noise. “Mi hijo, settle down. Do you want me to pay them a visit?”
That was exactly what she’d been planning to ask him. “If you could, I’d appreciate it.”
“Do you know who this podcaster guy is? I could shake that tree as well. Have a word.”
Kenna smiled. “I have a line of people ready to do that. But his name is an alias. The accounts online are all aliases, and when we dig, there’s nothing to find.” Nothing but a loose thread from an old case she wanted to tug on. But was it worth doingthat so close to her due date? If Amara would answer the phone, Kenna could send her and Bruce to check it out.
“Someone is protecting him.”
“We don’t know. And I have no idea what their agenda would be.”
“Distracting you. Tying you up in knots right when you need to be focusing.”
Kenna said, “I’m not focused on taking them down. It’s not like I’m a threat right now. I’m having a baby.”
“As if that would stop you from being the biggest threat they have.”
“That’s the point! I’m not even trying.” She sighed. “Every time I turn around, I stumble over aDominatusoperation.”
“Would you have it any other way?”
“Yes, I would have tweaked the timing. I don’t like being in danger and feeling vulnerable.”
Ryson started to chuckle. “Does anyone?”
“I guess not.”
