My mind is playing catch-up, trying to come up with an explanation of how she got a note almost identical to an E.B. Housman drawing, or why she’d think I was responsible.
I’m on the phone with Hart before I let myself rethink it. He answers, “I’m teeing off in three minutes. Can this wait?”
“No. Tell me again what the document Hunt had from JFK’s private papers said. The one you stole from him.”
“Borrowed.”
“Whatever. Tell me the part about the theory it outlined, again.”
He sighs in irritation. “The name link? There was a timeline that followed the name Elizabeth starting in the Middle Ages… an affinity to either the Divines or the Triad. Do you need me to recite the whole damn thing? What’s going on, JJ?”
“Mmhmm, Mhm… okay, something just happened that… Fraine said they’d find us and we’d know, right?”
He launches into a whole spiel, obviously missing his tee time. I just engaged the portion of Hart’s brain obsessed with the Eights.
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I say, “I don’t think I can handle another long, drawn-out conversation of you trying to explain something to me I already understand.”
I tell him about my exchange with Elizabeth, the prima ballerina from Rock Am. The one who not only drew Hart’s attention, but Rett and Rippley’s as well. Then this happened today. Could she be part of the equation?
“Well, where did the drawing come from then? If you didn’t put it there.”
“I’m not sure that matters. The point is it links someone that we’ve already identified as connected toThe Divinities. E.B. Housman was important in 1988… pivotal, really… especially after what Eric told us.”
“Now we have to be on the lookout for anyone trying to ingratiate themselves into her life and ours. That’s the person we need to neutralize. The real threat.”
The grouchy bastard launches into another lecture before I can disconnect. Thankfully, I spot Biz waving her arms at me outside the gallery window. “Gotta go. You can school me on all this later.”
When I open the door, I see a very familiar dog running in circles around her.
“Jubes… what are you doing here? Biz, how did you get Eric’s dog?” The little rascal jumps up, leaving muddy paw prints on my jeans. “What happened?”
“You know who owns him?” She clasps her hands together. “That’s lucky. I’ve been scouring the streets. He found me on my way to see you.”
I lock the shop up temporarily before heading to the house Eric rents three blocks west. Hooking an arm through Bizzy’s, she joins me. “Yeah, he belongs to a friend of mine. I’ve missed you. Here I thought I ran you off with my bad rapping.” Dancing a couple steps, I sing, “Hip hop hooray hooo ayyeee ohhh.”
Her smile is my payoff.
“Seriously though, this isn’t about what happened with your backpack, is it?”
She bites the inside of her cheek, her shoulders lowering. “I’m not proud of messing up your party, but no… I had a few things going on. Sorry for disappearing.”
Knowing that Jubilee was running around with his leash on, and that Eric has been ‘off’ lately, I have no idea what we’ll find at his two-room bungalow. Maybe that’s why I slow my steps.
That, and getting time with Bizzy.
“I get it, I get it. Maybe next time you’ll just send me a quick text so I don’t worry? I was ready to come hunt you down.” I duck my head as my cheeks heat.
I’m realizing that Biz interests me on all levels. That hasn’t happened for a long time.
Jubilee stops at a fire hydrant to stare at it. This is one of his many quirks that has us confuzzled. He’s a West Highland terrier-poodle mix that Eric treats like his baby, analyzing everything Jubes does. His obsession with fire hydrants has never made sense.
“He just… stares at it?”
“Sometimes he licks it.” I shrug. “No stranger I guess than my parrot, Hobey, making fire alarm sounds anytime I make toast, since the one time I burnt it.”
There is no sign of Eric when we reach his house. His vehicle is gone; the door is locked. “This is wild. I’ll text him. In the meantime, I know where he keeps a spare key.”
Bizzy gives Jubilee some fresh water while I look around the house. Eric is a meticulous person. He doesn’t leave his beloved dog outside. His mind has clearly been elsewhere lately.
