I smoothed along the tension that seemed cemented in my brow, but it didn’t help.
“How is that going to help me persuade her? She’s going to think I’ve lost it. She’s also going to wonder why the fuck I’ve sought her out. She doesn’t look like she’s ever been on the inside of a stadium.”
Rafe tipped his chin in Cody’s direction. “Code, can you find something she’s done which is easily accessible in a Googlesearch that Penn can use? And it needs to seem like a legitimate reason for why he’d suddenly wake up and want to offer her a job.”
“Yeah, that paper I found before would work.” He ran his fingers along his keypad and the screen changed again. “She was studying optimal trajectories for energy conservation in rocket fuel.”
“Also, can you find out what her salary is?”
“It’s one hundred and thirty-seven thousand a year.”
“Thanks, buddy.” Rafe spun back around to me. “There you go… give her a salary she can’t refuse, offer her the chance to create something with you, and give her the job as Head of Baseball Science, or whatever it was…”
I rubbed my hands together, only half listening to Rafe. Cody had actually sparked something in my brain. I remembered reading an article a few years ago about a guy who’d studied the way a pitcher transferred energy through his body before throwing the ball. Maybe I could get her to do that and use it to help us win. It didn’t really matter though, as long as it sounded legit enough to entice her.
I jumped off the desk, ready to get out Rafe’s office and find Lowe again. I’d never been able to talk to her about work. I’d never been able to talk to her period, and now she was the only one I wanted to talk to. I wanted her opinion, her take, her expertise.
Her.
“Yeah, that might work. I need to figure it out.” I ruffled Rafe’s head, earning myself a slap. “You’re the best, Raferty. Thanks for letting me hijack your afternoon. I gotta head out now. Code, you’re amazing as always. Beulah, I’ll call you later to discuss your hours.”
“He’s more destructive than an earthquake,” I heard Rafe grumble as the elevator doors closed behind me, and I descended into the parking lot.
I hit dial on the car intercom the second I drove back out into the sunshine. It barely had time to ring before Jupiter answered it.
“Shepherd.”
“Hey, buddy.” I hit the gas, speeding through the light before it turned red.
“What’s up?”
“Just letting you know I found Marnie and I’m working on a plan to get her to New York. I’m not there yet because I need to figure some shit out, but I just thought you’d like to know I found her.”
The silence was so long I thought we’d been cut off.
“Jupe?”
“Yeah.”
“You okay?”
“Yeah. You really found her? You found her that quickly?”
“I did.” Or Cody did, but he didn’t need to know that.
“Then yes, I’m good. Thanks, man, I really appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll keep you updated.”
“Thank you,” he replied quietly, then hung up without saying another word.
Fine by me.
I had one stop to make before I got to Lowe’s apartment - a place I’d never set foot in, but walked past more times than I cared to admit.
52
LOWE
