Bank robberies were complicated.
Federal investigations were layered.
But nothing unsettled me quite like not knowing what was happening with my best friend.
And that worry settled in deeper than any mystery I’d tried to solve.
CHAPTER 12
The next morning felt almost suspiciously normal.
Ian sat across from me at the kitchen table, a tablet propped in front of him, tea steaming beside his hand. Sunlight filtered through the trees outside, dappling the floor with soft patches of gold. Mo stationed himself by the front door like a furry security detail, watching us both with unnecessary vigilance. Roxie couldn’t care less about anyone, too busy sunning herself on the top tier of her cat tree by the living room window.
Ian let out a low whistle.
Your assistant is a gem.”
I smiled into my mug. “I take it Sherman impressed you?”
“He didn’t just organize the information,” Ian said, swiping through the file. “He layered it. Bank locations plotted geographically. Dates charted. Known employee overlap. Even weather patterns on the days of the robberies.”
I leaned forward. “Weather?”
“Rainstorms on two of the heists,” he said. “Visibility lower. Fewer witnesses lingering outside.”
I raised a brow. “That’s not a coincidence.”
“No,” Ian agreed. “And this timeline—” He tapped the screen. “Sherman color-coded Smith’s involvement. His entry point. His exit. It’s clear he wasn’t part of the original planning. He was pulled in late.”
“Which supports him being expendable,” I said.
Ian looked up at me. “You picked a good one.”
“He’s freed up my time,” I admitted. “Which means we get more of this.” I gestured between us.
“I fully support this business decision,” Ian replied.
I laughed softly, then sobered. “So, where to next?”
He leaned back. “What are you thinking?”
“I want to see if I can get anything out of Dad about interrogating Todd Smith.”
Ian considered that. “Carefully.”
“Always,” I said.
My cell rang.
Mo’s ears perked.
I reached for it.
“Pep!” Danny’s voice exploded through the speaker, frantic and rapid-fire before I could utter a word. “Two of the summer workers just called out sick, though I bet I’d find them boating on the lake if I had time to look. I’ve got deliveries stacked up, vendors asking questions, and we’re already swamped from yesterday’s buzz. I need help. Like, immediately.”
I closed my eyes briefly. “I’ll be right there.”
“You’re a lifesaver, sis.”
