“Oh shit, so they really were missing?”
“Well, it looks like I was right,” I tell her. “Niki didn’t mention any of this to you?”
“No, but I don’t push for details when it comes to his”—her brows rise—“job?”
“I’d call it a job.” I shrug. It’s more of a job than I’ve got, but I have had a few pieces I wrote up and got paid for.
“Yeah, well, I don’t really push for information. He likes to keep things separate, and I want him to do what he thinks is right, but I think I feel that way because I know if I did ask, he’d tell me.”
“How do you do that?” I shove another bite into my mouth.
“Do what?”
“Not be nosy? I’d die. I’m getting all antsy thinking about it.” I shift in my chair. Andy laughs.
“I think different personalities fit together. It’s why you’re with Bam and I’ve got Niki.” She has a point. Niki is more reserved. Bam, not so much, which works for me; hell, everything about him works for me.
“Well, I’m nosy enough for the both of us,” I say, praying she asks me for the details of what I’ve discovered. Andy is super smart, and I’m hoping to get her perspective on things. But I also don’t want to involve her if she really wants to keep Niki’s work and their life together separate. “I was thinking maybe I could fill you in on some details and you could weigh in on them. Let me know if you think I’ve missed anything.”
“You think it’s safe to do that here?” Andy whispers as she glances around again. I can tell I’ve piqued her curiosity.
“I don’t want to drag you into this if you don’t want to be involved. I respect you wanting to keep your private life with Niki and his work separated. I just thought a fresh set of eyes might help me see if I’ve missed anything,” It’s really Andy’s choice. Even though I’m dying to tell her. “As far as it being safe here, I highly doubt the people or person causing these disappearances frequents the library.” We both burst into laughter.
“Okay, hit me with what you’ve got,” Andy says after we get ourselves together.
I do exactly that. I start by going through my notebook with her, giving her a rundown of everything and everyone we think is involved in this. She listens, asks questions, and takes everything in. I have to admit that it feels good to have a girl’s point of view. We are so engrossed in our conversation that we don’t notice how fast the time goes by.
“I hope you took some time to have something to eat.” Bam’s deep voice has both of our heads lifting from the outline we were going over. It’s not until Bam and Niki approach our table that we realize we have been at it for a couple of hours.
My eyes scan over him quickly, looking for any injuries. Immediate relief fills me, knowing that they’ve made it out of Pipefitters territory unscathed.
I’m about to answer, but before I can, Bam leans down, taking my mouth in a kiss. All of my thoughts quickly make their escape from my brain as I get lost in the kiss.
“I don’t think that’s allowed in the library.” Andy giggles, breaking me from my spell.
Bam looks so damn proud of himself for his PDA moment.
“I guess they’re just letting anyone into the library these days,” I tease as Bam scoops me up out of my chair and then sits down with me in his lap. Niki does the same for Andy.
I rest my head on Bam’s shoulder, knowing there is nowhere else I’d rather be.
Chapter Twenty-Five
BAM
We fill the girls in on the conversation with the Pipefitters’ bookie. Josie’s face is a picture of disappointment.
“Do you trust him?” she asks.
“No,” both Niki and I say. Niki motions for me to continue. “What he says tracks with our previous thinking. You aren’t killing a golden goose even if the goose is late, but there’s another person we can check with.”
Josie brightens. “Who is it? Can I come this time?”
“Actually, yes. You both can.”
Both girls give quiet cheers with their fists in the air.
“There’s a rave on Friday,” I explain. “The Pipefitter that Niki and I know should be going, as his girlfriend is DJing. We can all go to the rave as a cover. The two of you being together will make us worry less.”
