“Am I going to get arrested?”
“No, son,” George said over the speaker. “But you might be in more trouble than that with your mom. I’m going to call off the search. I’ll call April first.”
“Leave that to us,” Kyle said. “No need to keep anyone out longer than necessary looking for him.”
“Thanks, all.” George disconnected.
“What’s going on, Kevin?” Shane asked.
Kevin stood up and solemnly said, “I need to talk to you, Mr. Foti. Man to man.”
Shane couldn’t stop his grin.What a kid. But, something in Kevin's eyes and in his voice told him this was genuinely serious. “Look, we can't let your mom be scared for another second. I'm going to call her and say that you’re here and we’ll take you back to her. You can talk to me on the way over to Riversong, or wherever she wants to meet up.”
Kevin looked alarmed. “But… It might take longer than that to tell you.”
“I'll drive slow. This is as much as I'm going to negotiate with you.” He leaned down. “Man to man.”
Kevin nodded as he considered the offer. “Okay, that's fair.”
More than fair, little man,Shane thought. But instead of rebuking him, he reached out to shake Kevin's hand. The seriousness with which Kevin regarded Shane's hand before shaking it impressed him. He caught a glimpse of the man Kevin would become and that man was a good one. But in the meantime, where was the squirrely boy who couldn't stay quietor in one place for more than ten seconds before something new and shiny overtook his attention?
This has got to be serious.
Kevin looked up at him, all boy again as he asked. "Can we take Peetie?"
Shane grinned. Kevin adored Peetie as much as Shane did. "Yeah, buddy, we can take Peetie."
Kevin looked relieved. "Good, because I think I'm gonna need him to soften up Mom." Then he considered. "And if that doesn't work, he can always guard me from her."
Shane held back a snort. This kid was killing him.
“Do any of you have her cell phone number?” Shane asked.
“Affirmative,” Kyle said. “Arden’s got it. I’ll text her.”
“You don’t have to do that, Mr. McGuire, I’ve got it.”
But of course, Kevin had his mom’s number even though he didn’t have a phone. The adults in the room looked at each other, feeling foolish for not asking him first. Kevin rolled his eyes likeAdults, sheesh. He gave Shane April’s number. He punched it into his phone. Then he ruffled Kevin's hair and told him to go out to reception where there was a charity box of snacks on the desk.
“Pick something that doesn't have sugar in it.” He looked at Jodie. “Put it on my tab.”
She grinned and nodded. “You got it.”
Shane pointed at Kevin. "And don't even think about leaving reception. I'll be there right after I text your mom." But Kevin was already halfway out the door at the mention of 'snack.'
“Wait up, Kevin,” Jodie said. He stopped and came back to her. “Let’s go find something to do while we wait.” Jodie put her arm around Kevin’s shoulders and led him back to the lobby.
Shane held his phone up and told Kyle, “I’ll call her and take him home.”
“Noted.” Kyle said. “While you’re at it, tell her I’m hiring Kevin as my new security troubleshooter. What is it with people sneaking onto Watchdog property with bicycles? First it was Ellie, now it’s a little kid sneaking past my cameras and alarms.”
Shane chuckled. “It’s not just any little kid. When he’s not distracted, Kevin’s a wicked smart little guy. Just like his mother.” He turned to leave Kyle’s office.
“How are things between you and April these days?”
Shane stopped in his tracks. How could he even begin to answer that question?
“Fine.” Shane said flatly. “Let me go call her before she tears the entire state of Colorado apart to find him.” He started down the hall toward an empty conference room before Kyle could ask anything else.
