I’m two steps away when she calls out, “Say hi to your sister for me.”
Record scratch.
Why the fuck would she say that now? And to me, of all people?
Feigning normalcy, I give her an affable nod, then bolt out of the casino.
In the car, I fire a text to my sister, asking her to call me immediately. Odds of her complying are nil, but before I involve our mother, I might as well make the attempt. Dealing with Kenzie is significantly preferable to my mother. Well, myadoptive mother, I should say. For that matter, Kenzie’s my adoptive sister.
Next, I send the pictures I took of the players at Lila’s table to Carson, a fellow agent who serves as tech specialist on our team. She’ll dig into their backgrounds.
While waiting for replies, I tap the envelope icon on my phone and peruse my email inbox.
When I’ve cleared out all the new messages, there’s still one unread glaring at me like it has been for a few days now. The subject line is only four simple words, but they hold far more weight than a fucking Mack truck.
Let’s talk about Perry.
Apparently, this Alan Lancaster guy doesn’t want to let this go. He left me a voicemail a few weeks ago, the day after we met. Naturally, I promptly blocked him and cleared the message. Then the email came, and it’s been sitting unopened ever since. I haven’t been able to delete it. Yesterday, he sent a message through Special Agent Warren Andrews, my quasi-partner. He wanted to know if I got the email. I confirmed I did, then Andrews told me that I should answer him.
As if he has some sway over what I do with my personal life. Give me a break. Does he think he’s my dad or something?
I don’t have one of those anymore.
Not that I ever did.
I don’t need any more family drama. I’ve had enough of that for one lifetime.
Speaking of... I’ll find out what Lila meant by that sister comment without calling my mother. I’ve got a better idea.
Fuck family.
With a tap of my index finger, I delete Alan Lancaster’s email without opening it. Gone.
FIVE
Gold medal deflecting
LILA
The secondI finish my end-of-shift procedures, I storm toward the locker room with flames under my feet.
Once again, Reed Hayes materialized when I was at my worst and amplified my problems without batting an eye. He’s a master of disaster where I’m concerned. No wonder Kenzie can’t stand him.
As he was walking away, I mentioned her to see his reaction. That perplexed little look over his shoulder told me everything I needed to know. He’s clueless. Despite being a flipping FBI agent, he has no idea his sister’s been missing for six weeks.
Six. Weeks.
He’s not only a dunderhead of a law enforcement officer, but a craptastic brother. If I were lucky enough to still have a sibling, I’d be sure to see and talk to them all the time.
Given how devastated he was when his father passed away, you’d think Reed would cherish his remaining living family members, right?
Wrong.
After a week of being under Reed’s microscope, I hoped he found a connection between the creepy dude from last week andhis sister. Part of me was excited that he was looking into it. Maybe he’d be able to bring her home.
Cue the buzzer sound.
He’s simply hung up on that guy because he was hovering near me. Classic Reed, snooping around for no reason other than to mess with my head. Guess I’m still his favorite toy.
