Page 108 of The Deadly Shallows

“And Em has more good news,” Logan said. “Hang on.”

Noah checked his watch again. How long had the pair been at the station?

“Hi, boss. I told Logan I can just go over this at our next case board—”

“No problem. What do you have?”

“Unfortunately, the catering company on the logo doesn’t exist—not anywhere I could find.”

Noah sighed. Another dead end. If Emmy couldn’t find it, it didn’t exist. “I expected you were going to say that.” But Logan had said good news . . .

“Yeah, but I did find other vehicle logos with a similar style. Apparently, it’s a special technique, or medium used, if you will.”

“Interesting.” He stifled a yawn and took a sip of coffee while he waited for her to continue.

“There are only two shops that carry the supplies for that method of logo within a two-hour vicinity of Wilmington.”

“Great. Text the names over, and Brooke and I will visit them right away this morning. We’ll take the sketch Mrs. Hunter provided.”

“Sounds good. So a late case board?”

“I think we’ll just go with our p.m. case board since we all have our assignments for today. Brooke and I will hit the logo stores, Caleb and Austin are on foam companies. Finn’s got plenty to keep him busy in the lab, and Rissi is still knee-deep in the mass shooting and lab theft investigation. But I’ll text everyone to make sure we’re all on board. I’ll be back to the station this afternoon for the interviews of Lieutenants Caldwell and Malone.”

He prayed that at least one of their other leads provided answers.

FIFTY-THREE

Caleb tapped the steering wheel on the way to FoamTech—the first company they’d be visiting. His tapping increased. He and Austin needed to talk. “I’ve been thinking . . .” he began, his words sounding awkward to his ears.

“So have I,” she said.

He arched a brow and glanced over at her. “Oh?” he asked, before darting his gaze back to the road.

“I don’t know how you view things . . .” she began.

“View what?” Was she about to bring up the very same thing he’d been pondering?

“Us.” She swallowed. “I mean . . . the kissing.”

She was thinking the same thing. “Yes?” he asked, letting her take the lead.

“I don’t know how you feel about it . . . about me, but I . . .” She sighed. “I’m hoping . . .”

He’d never seen Austin nervous.

“I’m hoping that . . . you’re . . . that we’re . . .”

“Dating?” he said.

She nodded.

“We probably should have talked first . . .” he began.

She shifted. “Oh?”

He cleared his throat. Why was this so difficult? “I don’t kiss just to fool around, and I don’t date just for the heck of it.”

Her brow furrowed. “What are you saying?”