Page 125 of Contentious

“We’re here, boss. Let me know whatever you need. We feel terrible that he got to you.”

“He made sure he wasn’t seen, and no one thought he’d be dumb enough to go back into the yard after he nearly got caught there the night before.”

“Still, I wish we’d stayed on the case after she switched law firms.”

“Even if you had, the best surveillance is never a hundred percent successful. It happened, and now we move on from it. I’d feel a lot better if we could fucking find this guy. Every time Cresley and Ty leave the house…”

He couldn’t handle the fear of something happening to them.

“I get it, boss. We’re on it.

“Thanks. I’ll talk to you later.”

After he ended the call, he shifted his focus to the laptop, opening the file he’d kept on Cresley’s case and reviewing all the video again, looking for something he might’ve missed the first time. Nothing new stood out.

Frustrated, he’d just closed up the laptop when Ty came bursting through the front door, making a beeline for Carson.

“Hey, buddy, how was your day?”

“I got in trouble for being antsy. What does that mean?”

“You couldn’t sit still.”

“Yeah, that’s it. I was excited to come home to see you.”

“I was excited to see you, too.” He patted the cushion. “Have a seat, my man.”

“Mom said I can’t get too close because you’re still in pain.”

“If you go slow, everything will be fine.”

Ty’s backpack landed with a thud on the floor as he gently sat on the edge of the chair. “How do you like our new house?”

“It’s pretty cool. A lot of history attached to it.”

“Mom said someone named Mama… What’s her name again?”

Smiling, he said, “Mama Cass. She was in a famous band called The Mamas and the Papas.”

“That’s cool.”

“Sure is. How was school?”

“Long and boring. I couldn’t wait to get home.”

“I’m glad you’re here.”

“I’m glad you’re here. What do you feel like doing?”

“Honestly? Not much right now.”

“Want to watch a movie?”

“That sounds perfect.”

“Do you care which one?”

“Surprise me. What’s your all-time favorite?”