They carried on a few moments of mumbled conversation.
Bo returned the phone to his pocket. “Lisa says Walter usually bought coffee from a coffee shop. She doesn’t know who brought the cup.”
A plain white mug. Like the ones stored in the break room for anyone to use.
Lucky braced himself for an argument. “There’s only a handful of people with access to Walter’s office, and not many could get in and out without comment.”
Bo drummed his fingertips against his thigh. “He’s usually early to work, and didn’t make a face when he drank, so the coffee likely wasn’t cold. Someone had recently brought it.”
“Who do we know that shows up early?”
Bo grabbed his phone. “Lisa, sorry to bother you again, but can you tell me if anyone came in early the day Walter had to be rushed to the hospital? No? That’s quite all right. Thanks.” He closed his eyes and shook his head. “Dead end. Lisa doesn’t get to work until eight, and spends time setting up the mail room, so any number of people could have come in.”
Keith knew about the missing cup, likely he’d used all the technology at his disposal. There were no cameras in the elevator, too few in the parking garage.
Any number of people could have come in early to spend time at the gym before work. Employee badge readings fell to surveillance. Given the missing camera footage, if Lucky asked for records, he’d tip people off about his suspicions, and likely get bullshit for his trouble.
Besides, Keith would have checked those records too. He might be an asshole, but he wasn’t stupid or he wouldn’t work for Walter.
“Okay, out with it.” Bo glared hot enough to melt lead. “What else have you been up to?”
“What makes you think I’ve been up to something?” Lucky shot back.
Bo arched an eyebrow. “Umm… Because I know you?”
“Oh, right.” Lucky filled him in on the fire-stricken company, his suspicions about Forsyth. He left out his meeting with Chastain. Might as well save something for later.
“Are you telling me you think the Chastain case and Walter’s attack are related?” Bo scratched his head. “To what end? What’s the connection? I can see why a competitor would want Chastain out of the way, but where does Walter fit in?”
“Think about it. The missing file was about the Chastain case, and Boss Man was talking to me when he picked up the cup. It was no secret we had a meeting. Hell, even Keith knew.”
“Keith? What’s he got to do with this?”
Oops! Had Lucky said that out loud? “I’ll tell you later. Anyway, there was something in that file someone didn’t want us to know about. You gotta admit, the DEA boys are up each other’s asses at work. O’Donoghue, Phillip, and Landry. Rogers is one of ours, but brown-noses O’Donoghue so badly if O’Donoghue stopped suddenl—”
Bo held up a hand. “Stop. That’s a mental image I don’t need. Now, who’s in our corner?”
“You, me, Lisa”—Lucky paused— “Keith. Maybe a few others. Though I’m guessing with all the assignments designed to keep you out of the office, they’re counting on you to be a company man.”
Bo leaned closer and captured Lucky’s chin in his hand. “I’m your man. Regardless of how hard-assed you try to be, you’ve got good instincts. Walter trusts ‘em, I trust ‘em. What do you want me to do?”
Now came the hard part, asking the man he loved to do something he totally wouldn’t do himself. “Let them keep believing you live and breathe the SNB. Suck up to them. Find out what you can.”
***
Where had the summer gone? Charlotte better get her ass back soon or Lucky would be moving Todd into his college dorm without her.
While he normally would be lounging at home, or maybe finally taking Bo hiking or something, a day off meant another chance to visit Walter.
It took all of Lucky’s self-control not to latch onto Bo like a lifeline. He hated hospitals. He’d spent too much time in them over the years.
For Walter. He’d keep putting one foot in front of the other for Walter. Having Bo at his side helped, though their fingers merely brushing together wasn’t quite the contact he wanted.
What the hell was wrong with him? He didn’t have to hide. Wouldn’t hide. He’d spent too many years hiding. Besides, he kinda wanted to scream to the world,“This awesome man is mine, and fuck you if you don’t like it!”
With a question in his eyes, he laced his fingers with Bo’s. Bo gave him a smile and squeezed his hand.
Now he could conquer the world.
