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This was going to be the longest month of his life.
There was still no word on Skilton or where he might be. The chancellor was riding Daar’s ass about uncovering more information. He’d already received a few messages from other council members, no doubt feeling out where Daar’s allegiances lay. He did not need Robin to make things any more difficult than they already were.
He leaned back in the chair and stared at the screen.
What to do?
A thought occurred to Daar.
This was the first time he’d been alone in the office.
Was the laptop perhaps here?
He listened for several moments before daring to open drawers and peer inside. He didn’t actually expect to find it just sitting around. If that were the case, Robin would have remembered. But there could always be a clue. Cassim had always lived a coddled life. That was Daar’s doing. He’d been too young to know better.
Friday. Harper’s Safe House, New Orleans, LA.
Harper threw the headphones down on the table.
“I cannot fucking believe that guy,” he growled.
Samuel held up a hand. “Easy.”
Harper couldn’t take it easy. He couldn’t let it go. He pushed to his feet and stalked across the apartment while Samuel remained at the laptop.
The surveillance van was parked down the street in a lot with a For Sale sign on it. The signal from the bugs transmitted to the receiver in the van. This way Samuel or Harper could keep tabs on the house at all hours of the day or night from wherever they were.
“You need to calm down,” Samuel said again. “You don’t know this conversation happened.”
“The hell I don’t.” Harper paced to the door then back to the dining table. “Where does he get off saying she should have been born a boy?”
Samuel glanced at him. “It’s Daar’s opinion. Doesn’t make it wrong or right.”
“I’ve never met anyone like him,” Harper muttered.
He’d spent lots of time building relationships with families and people in war-torn areas. The weight of convincing people out of their homes for their own safety had often been on his shoulders. Unlike some of the people he’d served with, his ability to communicate with people had deepened his military experience. It was a big reason why he’d retired when the door had still been open for him to remain.
Over the years, he’d seen a preference for male children, but never like this. The way Daar spoke to and about Robin, it was like some unfortunate family event that she’d been born female. Why? To what purpose? Were they simply that backwards? Or was there another reason?
Harper slowed his pacing.
There was a reason here.
Where was his phone?
Harper scanned the apartment until he spied his cell on the kitchen counter. He crossed the room picked it up and dialed Zora without hesitating.
“What are you doing?” Samuel asked slowly.
Harper held up a hand. “Hold that thought.”
“Wright,” a gruff voice that wasn’t Zora’s said through the phone.
Harper had to pause. He’d been called Gonzalez enough the last two weeks it took him a moment to remember his last name was actually Wright.
“Tucker? What are you doing answering Zora’s phone?” he asked slowly.
“What?” Samuel muttered and stared at Harper.
