When we aren’t sleeping or eating, we’re hunting down leads on Seth’s parents.
Seth, strangely, does not seem very anxious. He demonstrates urgency and concern, but if my parents hadn’t disowned me after my conviction, and Erich Pointer had kidnapped them, the energy in Nove would be very different.
I finish my sandwich in the Nove building’s bar, washing it down with a strong coffee. Then it’s back into the elevator to our offices.
Seth told me about his text exchange with Madison last night. Smiling at the thought of her, I take out my phone to send her a message. I heard you had an interesting conversation with Seth yesterday.
She doesn’t respond. I frown at my phone, waiting for those infuriating three dots to tell me she’s writing.
Damn it. Nothing. And as soon as I step out of this elevator, it will be back to work, with no time for texts or calls.
My phone buzzes. I open it to find a photo from Madison.
This isn’t the one she sent him. It’s a shot of her lying on a bed, wearing a little camisole and matching shorts. Her shirt is hiked up, exposing her smooth stomach. I want to kiss that little freckle by her navel, rip away her flimsy clothes, and?—
Ding!
The elevator stops. Fuck, now I must walk down the hall while battling a hard-on.
I pause on my way to the tech room to text her back. Send more of these, bella. You are driving me wild. I miss you.
She texts back, I miss you, too. Any luck with the search?
Not yet. But we’re working hard.
When I step inside the tech room, I see Fozz, Seth, Landon, and Cody at a large table, monitors, laptops, and other devices scattered about. Fozz has brought his set-up in here, and his face is illuminated by quickly-scrolling text and images on his screen.
“I found something,” Cody Wells says. “Maybe.”
I hurry to the table to look. Cody Wells scrubs a hand over his cheeks and chin. He’s looking worse than usual. Like me, he could use a good night’s sleep, a shower, and a shave.
“We checked Pointer’s wife,” Cody says. “Nothing—she has no business assets save for a fashion line she invested in. But that got me thinking of whoever else is in his life. Turns out that POS has a mistress, Melanie Noem, and she owns a ‘consulting firm.’ It wasn’t easy to hunt it down, or their holdings, but Fozz came through.”
I look over the short list of buildings—there are three. Two are located in Colorado. The third is located in a California town called Penster. “That’s a half-hour drive south, isn’t it?”
Seth nods. “Let’s go.”
MADISON
I pause at my gate when I return from the grocery store. It’s time for a new code. Ford seems to be letting himself in whenever the mood strikes. Maybe this will dissuade him.
I follow the steps for changing the code, and try it out. I drive through the gate and smile to myself as it closes behind me.
The new code is a deterrent, not a fail-proof barrier. It won’t stop someone determined to get in—they could just climb over the tall fence. But maybe it would slow someone down, give them time to rethink their life choices.
Maybe I should build a moat and fill it with bloodthirsty sharks.
Bloodthirsty sharks would make anyone rethink their life choices.
As I pull up to the house, my phone chimes. Damiano just texted. We think we’ve found Seth’s parents. I’ll text you again when we have more info.
I exhale and lean back in my seat. Thank god they’ve found Nick and Sonia.
The sun is dropping below the horizon, and a chill fills the air. I quickly get out of my car and grab my grocery bags.
The motion-sensor light on the porch flicks on as I approach, welcoming me home.
The sound of a door at the Kavlans’ house pulls my attention toward their place. I look over automatically, even though I can’t see their front door from this angle.
