“My cousin Robby is a pro.”
“Who’s Robby? That’s Burt Goodson.”
“Burt Goodson? I know my cousin when I see him. Maybe he uses a professional name.”
Teddy chuffed out a laugh. “This guy has never—notonce—won against me in poker. He’s got tells no pro would have. He taps the table when he’s lying. He crooks his head to the left when he’s bluffing. There’snowayhe’s making his living playing poker.”
As the reality of the situation unfolded, they studied the photo. After several long seconds, she murmured, “That looks like the Waters’ family cabin. The one his uncle sold after his dad died. Can you zoom in on the left wall?”
After he did, she said, “See those tick marks? That’s where all the kids would get measured every summer.”
Teddy tried enhancing it further so they could read the names, but the image became too fuzzy.
“Why is my cousin with Haqazzii? We gotta find out what they’re celebrating.”
“You know what we’re gonna do?” he said.
“What?” she asked.
“Release the hounds of Hell.”
As they stared into each other’s eyes, the energy shifted. Determination soared through him. He’d gotten a break in the case and he was gonna fly with it.
“Those hounds are us, aren’t they?” she asked. “We’rethe hounds of Hell.”
“Yes. We. Are.”
Her smile brought a brief respite from the constant agitation flowing through him like a raging river.
“You’re giving me a lady boner,” she whispered.
He chuffed out a laugh. “How’s that?”
“I love that we’re so connected. We get each other… completely.”
They paused to share a tender kiss.
“Where’s that cabin?”
“Lake Willow outside Winchester. We used to spend summers there,” she explained. “Robby and I were just talking about that?—”
“You’ve seen him?”
“Yeah. We had a family dinner last week, or maybe it was two weeks ago. It’s just been one long blur of activity. Anyway, Robby’s been living out west, and I haven’t seen him in forever. He said that after his dad died, his uncle sold the cabin.”
“How can we verify?”
“My mom will know,” Sydney said. “Her sister is Robby’s mom.”
A growl rumbled out of him. “Jesus, do you think Haqazzii and his team are hiding out there?”
Awareness lit up her eyes. “My money’s on ‘yes’. Only one way to find out.” She pushed out of her chair. “I’m going to my parents’ house.”
“We,” he said. “We’regoing.”
She placed her hands on the table and leaned down. “Are you my going as bodyguard… or my boyfriend?”
A bolt of energy charged through him. “Both.”
