“A family?” I snorted. “You’ve got the wrong guy.” There was no way in hell that Bo had a family, unless it was a family of hyenas.
“I think it’s him, but I could be wrong. I hope to know for sure this evening.”
My stomach clenched. “What are you going to do?”
“I don’t have the authority to question him, so I’ll park close to his house and try to take some photos. When I have something, I’ll show it to you. Once you confirm it’s him, it will help with our case for the FBI.”
“Are you planning on going by yourself?”
“Yes.”
“You need backup.”
“Joe—“
“I’m coming with you.”
“The hell you are. You could barely stand to look at his mugshot, so seeing him in person? Come on.”
He had common sense on his side, but I didn’t care. “It will just be us sitting in a car, right? I’ll be fine.”
“Yes, physically.”
I rubbed my temple in frustration. “You promised to stop treating me like a delicate flower. Was that a lie?”
He moved the phone from his mouth, but I could still hear his muffled curses. Once calmer, he said, “Can I pick you up from the studio in thirty minutes?”
So soon?“Yes.”
“You can still change your mind by the time I get there.”
“See you soon.”
*
It was already dusk when Hayden drove his car into the parking lot.
“Hi,” I said and climbed into the passenger seat.
He frowned at the cardboard box in my hands. “What’s that?”
“Doughnuts. Isn’t that what cops eat at stakeouts?”
“Fat cops.”
“I can throw it away.”
“Let’s not be hasty. Show me the goods.”
I opened the box, releasing a sweet pastry scent into the car. The two doughnuts I’d brought for Hayden were heavily sprinkled with cinnamon, while I’d gotten chocolate ones for myself.
“You know me well, Joe, even when you’re being fucking stubborn. Come here.”
We kissed, then headed off to Lakewood, leaving the city streets behind in favor of the suburbs with their white picket fences. The further we drove, the more ridiculous it seemed for Bo to be living in an area like this. I never expected him to stay with The Society for the rest of his life, but a man like that should either be living in a dumpster or dead in a ditch.
Hayden glanced at me. “You okay?”
“Yes.”
