“Husband,” Sue provided.She might have sounded a little smug about that, but Javi let it go.“He’s scheduled to be out of town, but he’s definitely not answering his phone.”
Javi nodded as he took that in.He turned and headed back over to the picnic table.Cloister had collared Bourneville and pulled her to sit at his heel.He raised a straight, heavy eyebrow at Javi expectantly, but Javi gestured for him to wait.
“Call his work,” Javi instructed Sue.“Find out where he should be, if he’s there, and if not, whether or not it’s a pattern.But don’t lead with ‘missing.’Keep it routine and low-profile.”
She made an agreeable noise to that.Javi could hear the rustle of the phone against her shoulder as she reached for her ever-present stack of Post-its to write down a note.The pen scratched softly in the background.
“First, though, send me Joel’s address,” he told her as he gathered up what was left of his lunch (most of it) to toss it.“I’ll do a wellness check.”
“I don’t know…I’m not sure SSA would want that?She’s—”
“Then she should have called in.”
It would be hard to argue with that.Sue didn’t try and just gave in instead.
“I’ll text you,” she said.
Javi hung up on her and stuck his phone back in his pocket.His hands weren’t trembling.It felt like they should be.That—making the calls, giving orders—had feltright.As hard as he was trying to be a good team player that Joel couldn’t complain about, he missed being in charge.
He supposed he’d better make the most of it.It wasn’t likely to last long.Javi turned to give Cloister a searching look.
“I need to go do something,” he said.“You free to ride along?”
Cloister looked confused, but he didn’t ask any questions.He just nodded.
“Of course,” he said, gathering Bourneville’s lead up in one hand as he stood up.“Whatever you need.”
Most people would appreciate the unquestioning support.
Javi did as well.Hedid.
That feeling was just accompanied by a prickly need to stress-test the tall deputy until he found where it stopped.Because it always did.It had to.
Perfectly normal, Javi told himself as he snapped the plastic fork in half and shoved it in on top of the congealed lump of cheese and potato, but it would have to wait.Not only had he pushed his luck enough today, they didn’t have the time.
“Good,” he told Cloister, ignoring the ache in his jaw.“I’ll explain on the way.”
Chapter Four
1194StreetcarBlvdwasa long-term Airbnb let, a modest, low-profile soft blue house that sat off the road behind an arc of dusty grass.
Javi pulled up in front of the drive and got out of the car.He absently checked his shirt still covered his gun as he closed the door and turned to scan the street.Most of the drives were empty, cars gone for the day.There were a few with minivans and people-movers parked outside and residents stationed in the windows as they craned their necks for a better view of what was going on.
Javi would put money on there being a “Neighborhood Watch” sign displayed prominently on the property somewhere.
Cloister got out on the passenger side.He left Bourneville stationed inside the car as he closed the door and walked around the front.He nodded toward the garage, the gray door raised enough to expose the tires and undercarriage of a Chevy Tahoe in aggressively nondescript navy.
“Car’s still here.”
“I see that,” Javi said.He pointed with his chin to the weathered gate at the side of the garage.“You clear the back.”
“Got it.”
While Cloister got Bourneville out of the back of the car, Javi headed up the front path at a leisurely pace.Mindful of the watching residents, he kept his hand off the butt of his gun for now, but the restraint made his palm itch.He paused in front of the low, worn step out onto the porch and looked over to check on Cloister.
As he watched, Cloister casually boosted Bourneville over the six-foot gate, then grabbed the top of it with one hand and scrambled up and over after her.The way the thrifted cotton of his T-shirt pulled tight over lean shoulders and worn denim clung to his lean thighs made Javi’s mouth go dry.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.Held it for a moment.
