“No. The shed they went to holds the mower and a bunch of lawn equipment. I doubt that was what he was after. And I really can’t imagine why Chaz would have any interest—ifhe was in the country, which we’re pretty sure he wasn’t.”
“Did they ever figure out where Chaz was staying in Boston?” Reese asked.
“No, they lost him on the subway, unfortunately.” David would be giving a colleague shit about that for, approximately, forever. “They checked the hotels and he’s not registered. At least, not under his name. Maybe he has family in the area?”
“I don’t think so,” Reese said. “I can’t remember him or James mentioning any, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.”
Hodges shook his head as he read something on his screen. “No, if you keep reading, they haven’t found a family connection.”
David sat back and sighed. “Crap. Why would Frankie break in here? And why was Chaz in Boston?”
“Let’s ask,” Reese said.
Everyone looked up.
“What?” David asked.
“I’m not saying we talk to Frankie, but why not go to Chaz’s office and ask? I’ve known Muffy as long as I’ve known Chaz. We all went to school together. I’ll ask her where he is and why. It’s hard to fathom what the hell he’s up to, but I really can’t believe Muffy is in on it, too. She doesn’t put up with her brother’s shit, and she’s always been the more honest of the two.”
“She’s a lawyer?”
“No,” Mati said. “She’s his office manager. Chaz treats her like just any staff in front of his clients.” She smiled at Reese. “Sometimes we talk while you two meet. Maybe I should ask her.”
“Okay, let’s do it.” Reese glanced at his watch. “Unfortunately, it’ll have to wait until tomorrow.”
It was only four o’clock, but since they were on the east end of Jesus’s butt, David supposed they wouldn’t be able to get into town before most offices closed.
David rose from his seat and stretched his arms above his head, aware of at least two sets of eyes running over him. He tried not to bask. Or to groan. After a day in the car, the thorough working over Reese and Mati had given him the previous night, and now a day primarily made up of paperwork and driving, David needed tomove.
“I don’t suppose there’s a gym I could go to out here in the sticks?” he asked. He could go for a run, but the dark, winding road and high snow banks wouldn’t be a particularly safe route. He could always go through his stretches and some calisthenics.
“Come, city-boy. I’ll show you how civilized we are out herein the sticks,” Hodges said with an epic eye-roll.
David kissed Mati and Reese’s cheeks, and ignored Hodges pretending to stick his finger down his throat as he did so. He followed Hodges upstairs to what David assumed was the master suite, where their bags were piled at the end of a big bed. Hodges waited in the hall, obviously amused when David came out of the bedroom in a tank top, shorts, and sneakers. He led David downstairs and through the living room to a door that David had only noted long enough to ensure it was locked on his tour of the house.
A blast of freezing cold air assaulted David when Hodges opened the door.
Hodges grinned when David shivered. “Welcome to Nova Scotia.” He handed David the key that hung by the door and gestured grandly at what looked like a massive greenhouse about a hundred yards away. The path between was well lit and clear of snow. “Knock yourself out.”
David eyed Hodges, trying to decide if this was a test. Or a prank. Or what.
He couldn’t tell, so he made a run for it and hoped for the best.
Mati tucked the last of the paperwork into its proper folder and stacked it all next to her laptop, which held yet more evidence her brothers were fucking idiots.
Reese slipped his hand over hers. “We can fix this.”
She sighed. “Yes, we can.”
He slid closer to her. “You have to tell me what you want me to do. You know you can have whatever you need. I want to help.”
“Thank you. I’m going to need and want your help. Your advice. Your thoughts on every step in the process.”
“I hear abut…” Reese observed wisely.
“I’m not going to let you use your money.”
“But! Businesses need investors.”
