“My challenge is finding them,” Teddy said. “Based on the threat about the eagle?—”
“Cutting the head off the eagle,” Greystone clarified to Sean.
“They think the terrorists are coming after the President again,” Evelyn added.
Sean nodded along.
Teddy appreciated they were having this convo. Working with the OPS was great, but getting a different perspective could prove critical to their success. He thought the team worked in a vacuum, but Sean and Evelyn were coming at this from their own angles.
“We checked the apartment complex where they lived back in May,” Teddy continued. “They’re not there, but we didn’t expect they would be. I’m leading this mission, so I’m feeling the heat.”
“How did you find the group back in May?” Sean asked.
“They were all working at a janitorial service company,” Greystone explained, “and one of the employees put down his legit address.”
An acknowledgement nod from Sean before he pushed out of his chair and walked into the darkness of the screened porch.
Teddy assumed the conversation was over. When he was a kid, his dad would get up from the supper table or the sofa and leave. Didn’t matter if he or his brothers were finished talking. When his dad had had enough or had something more important to do, he’d bolt.
“Sorry,” Teddy said as he started clearing the table. The last thing he wanted to do was embarrass Greystone or not get invited back. He liked the Bakers.
“He’s thinking,” Greystone explained. “He’ll be back in a few.”
Teddy flicked his gaze outside. Sean stood staring up at the night sky.
“Tank, you don’t have to clean up,” Evelyn said.
“Happy to help.”
“I hope you saved room for dessert,” she said.
He grinned. “Dessert?”
Greystone started laughing. “Expect him every weekend until the end of time. You just hit his hot button. Sugar.”
“I love sugar too, Tank,” Evelyn said.
“I’m gonna load the dishwasher,” Teddy said. “Do you have a certain way I should do it?”
“Yes, your way,” Evelyn replied with a warm smile as she left the room, returning seconds later carrying a covered cake tray.
After opening it, the smell of sugar had Teddy eyeing the sweet treat. “That looks amazing.”
“I hope it tastes good,” Evelyn said, before she pulled a few ice cream containers from the freezer. “Baking is one of the ways I de-stress. It was bake a cake or ride my stationary bike. Sugar won.”
Teddy laughed. “I’m with you, Evelyn.”
The Pineapple Upside-Down cake was sliced, bowls of ice cream filled. Coffee for everyone, so Evelyn got busy making a pot.
His phone binged with a text from Sydney.
All good here. Look forward to seeing you
Anticipation streaked through him. He couldn’t wait to see her. Couldn’t wait to stare into her eyes, touch her silky soft skin, and make her writhe with pleasure?—
“Gonna be a late night?” Evelyn asked as Sean walked back inside.
“Always,” Greystone said.
