He motioned for the passenger in the front seat to open the door as he said, “I’m looking for my daughter, Maddie Nakamura…?” He leaned down a bit to see into the back of the car. “Long black hair, brown eyes, petite, about five-two…?”
The SEAL stepped back as both the passenger and the driver climbed out. They weren’t high school boys as Shay had first thought. They were young men, really—both in their late teens or early twenties.
Both were white. They were dressed in jeans, T-shirts, and unzipped hoodies, and both had facial hair. The driver had a chin-strengthening goatee, while the passenger had a full, bushy hipster beard. He also had long, limp, straight hair that he wore down around his face. Maybe Peter had seen him getting into the maroon sedan and somehow thought he was Maddie…? That seemed so unlikely.
Twilight plus wishful thinking might’ve created the illusion, Harry murmured.Damn it, the girl’s not in the car.
Shay could tell from Peter’s body language that the backseat was empty as the long-haired, bearded man shook his head. “I don’t know any Maggies, do you, Ding?” He looked over at the driver, who had a deer-in-the-headlights blankness on his slack face.
Ding, Harry said as the driver managed to shake his head, no.Wimpy McGee’s nickname is Ding. Sweet baby Jesus, save us all.
“It’s Maddie,” Peter repeated with better enunciation. “With a D.” He’d expanded to full, menacing Navy SEAL alpha-male size as he held out his cellphone, where presumably he showed them a photo of his daughter. Ding shuffled a little closer so he could peer at it, too. “Have you seen her? Maddie Nakamura.”
He was looking directly at Ding, who needed to clear his throat extensively before he managed to speak. “Don’t know any Maddies, either. Sorry, mate. Can’t help you.” He had a weird Australian-ish accent.
Ding attempted to shuffle away, but Big Beard asked Peter, “Is your last name really Nakamura, man?”
“Maddie took her mother’s name. Mine’s Greene.” The SEAL somehow got even bigger. More dangerous. “Lieutenant Peter Greene.”
Oh, that wassoJames Bond,Harry murmured.How are you not melting into a puddle?
“Shh.”
“If you see her,” Peter continued, “or hear from her, you can reach me at the naval base on Coronado. I’m a BUD/S instructor. A Navy SEAL.” He looked hard at Ding.“Mate.”
Ding quaked, even as Big Beard said, “Wow. Thanks for your service, bro. Seriously, that Navy SEAL shit isintense.Sorry we can’t help. But good luck finding her. C’mon, Dingo. The mall is calling.”
Dingo!Harry was elated.Of course. Because he’s an “Aussie.”He made air quotes.
Shayla agreed. That accent was faux.
Mofo-faux,Harry said.Your SEAL knows it, too.
He wasnot. Her. SEAL.
Dingo and his buddy headed toward the elevator, and even though Peter made like he was heading back to Shay’s car, he stopped suddenly and called after them, “Oh, one more thing. I’m pretty sure Maddie tells people she’s older, but she’s only fifteen.”
Dingo tripped—no doubt over his giant, hulking guilt.
And, scene!Harry said. He began to slow-clap.Well done, Greene, Lieutenant Greene! That was a perfectly executed Columbo. Take their picture, Shay. We’re going to want to ID ’em as we follow up their tremendously stanky box o’ bullshit.
Shay used her phone and snapped photos of the pair as Dingo’s friend covered for him deftly. “Dude, your shoe’s untied. I swear to God, I can’t take you anywhere.” He pushed Dingo down to fumble with his shoelace as he raised his voice. “Sorry, man, I get that you’re pissed, but we still don’t know her.”
“I’m not mad,” Peter tried. “Not at her, not at you. She’s not in trouble.”
Ooh, a man who listens and learns,Harry noted.That’s a new one for you, Shay.
“Shh.”
“I just want to talk,” Peter implored the two young men. “Please. Ask Maddie to call me. I just want to know that she’s okay.”
“Stillhaven’t managed to meet her in the past three seconds,” Big Beard said as he now hustled Dingo toward the other end of the garage.
Meanwhile, Peter went back to the maroon sedan for one more long look into the backseat. He tried the door, but it was locked. He tried the front door—also locked—then looked around, up at the ceiling where…
Yup,Harry said.Security cameras. A full array. Will he or won’t he B&E…? My money says no.
The SEAL chose not to break and enter. Instead, he climbed back into Shay’s car. He still smelled great, despite the disappointment that practically dripped from him.
