“Did you tell your mom that we’re seeing each other?”
A brief pause. “Yes. Fuck. Did she bother you?”
“You told her? What were you thinking? That this wouldn’t blow back on me?”
“Hey, you’re the one who seems to think everything is okay, that Kyle’s gone, and we should live our lives.” He sighs. “I figured it’s not a big deal to you.”
“I’ve struggled with you being my former brother-in-law. Maybe not as much as you, but it hasn’t been easy.” I close my eyes, hoping for patience. “This is a very big deal to me.”
“Okay, okay.” His voice is soothing, like I need to be talked down. “You’re right, it’s a big deal.”
Fuck this. He’s agreeing with me just to shut me up. “I have to go. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Madison, wait?—”
“Bye, Seth.” I end the call and immediately put my phone on silent.
A text from Seth flashes on my phone screen, but I turn the device over before I can read it.
The faint buzz of Jerry’s chainsaw punctuates my irritation.
DAMIANO
The Penster police detective gave me her card the other night, following the rescue of Seth’s parents. I don’t like that it’s been three days without any updates. Frowning at the gray view of San Esteban outside my office window, I dial her number.
“Detective Franks,” she answers.
“This is Damiano Romano,” I say. “Co-owner of Nove. I was there the other night when the two hostages were rescued.”
“Right.” I hear background noise, like papers being shuffled around.
“I am calling to find out if Erich Pointer has been apprehended, and what the status is with the investigation.”
“Unfortunately, none of his men will admit to Pointer’s involvement. They insist they acted of their own volition, that this was a crime borne of jealousy on their part, not his.” She shuffles more papers around. “We won’t be able to bring him into custody without proof that he was involved.”
There’s the voice recording, but Landon and Cody determined that it isn’t Erich Pointer’s voice. He really has insulated himself from clear involvement.
“So there’s nothing you can do.” I try to keep the frustration out of my voice. It isn’t Detective Franks’s fault. At least, not entirely.
“No, but we’ll keep working on it. I’m sure this is the guy—I believe you and Mr. Colton. It’s just a matter of coming up with the hard evidence.”
“Understood. Thank you, Detective, for your time.”
I end the call and pinch the bridge of my nose, hoping to stave off a headache. Erich Pointer is still a free man. Slippery bastard.
With that phone call behind me, I get back to work. Nove has a mission coming up, to escort a rich heiress from Europe and over to Caperna to meet with one of the princes. It’s a tricky prospect, because her family is often the target of kidnappers hoping to extract ransom.
I’m midway through an email to Cassidy Fletcher, who will meet the heiress in Munich, when my phone buzzes.
There’s no text, only a single image.
Madison. She’s walking somewhere downtown. I recognize the street—Caro Boulevard. She has on jeans and a black sweater. She’s carrying a shopping bag from Carol’s Closet, the logo plainly visible on the side. Her handbag is looped over her shoulder and she’s brushing a lock of hair behind her ear.
She’s completely oblivious to whoever is taking the photo.
This is a surveillance image.
Someone is stalking my girl.
