Page 17 of Anarchy Missing

“I insist,” Randy says, stopping for a red light a few blocks from City Hall. “We can go to my place, order takeout, and then watch the video feed of Wade’s house. I didn’t see his friends’ cars in the driveway while we were there, but I’m almost positive Reider and Brooks will show up tonight. At the very least, Detective Masters will for sure, because she lives there with him now.”

Shit. Case. I have not seen him in a very long time. Not since that night he was my date for the Debutante Ball. Is one aerial glimpse of him worth spending more time with Randy?

“Well, OK,” I say, giving in. “But I can’t stay too late. I just feel… wiped out, to be honest.”

“Work like this does that when you first start. But it’s kinda exciting too, right? I mean, spying is a little exhilarating. Besides, I only live a few blocks down from you. Any time you’re ready to leave it’s a five-minute walk.”

My stomach rumbles. “What did you have in mind for food?” I ask, a little more interested.

“Whatever you want, Lulu.” We pull in to the parking garage, wind our way up to level six, and then he stops in front of my car. “You go home, freshen up, and meet me in your lobby in thirty minutes. I’ve got another idea for how we can get Case Reider to notice you’re back in town. We can discuss that tonight.”

Get Case to notice me. Just the thought of Case noticing me again sends a shudder down my whole body.

“OK,” I say, opening my door. “I’ll see you in thirty, then.”

He drives off, heading back down the garage ramp, presumably to check the drone back in with the guy he got it from.

I get in my car and lean my head back. I feel so tired for some reason. Maybe Randy is right? Maybe this was just a very exciting day and it’s worn me out. I just hope I don’t get stuck at his place for too long. Because what I really want to do is go home, look Case up on the internet, and think about him and his life for six or seven hours.

I start my car and head down the ramp, wondering how Case Reider, that perfect gentleman who went to Debutante rehearsals for months and months just to make me happy back when I was graduating high school, could possibly be mixed up in robbing all the Cathedral City banks.

What happened to him? I have to wonder. Because the Case Reider I knew was a good, good man. He was sweet, and attentive, and… open. That’s one word I’d definitely use to describe him. Open. Honest. It’s what attracted me to him in the first place. He expressed his feelings openly, no matter what they were. Joy, anger, happiness, frustration. He always had it written on his face.

If his friends really are the ones who robbed the banks this morning, and he really is involved, then I need to know what changed. How did he get here?

I ponder that as I make my way to the garage of my loft, and when I get upstairs and change out of my work clothes and into a casual pair of jeans and sweater, I’m still thinking about it.

I check my watch, realize I still have ten minutes, and grab my laptop. I sit at the kitchen bar, open it up, and do a search for Case Reider, Cathedral City.

ToyBox Inc. pops up first, along with a picture of him.

Damn. I forgot how handsome he is. It’s not how I remember him, because he’s in a nice suit, clean-shaven, and hair neatly styled. But I like the new version.

“Case Reider is the CEO and founder of ToyBox Inc., a gaming company that he started in his parents’ garage when he was seventeen.” That was many years before I met him. So… he’s been building this for a while.

I glance down to the second headline. “‘ToyBox Inc. Partners with SkyEye in an effort to make a virtual game out of Cathedral City.’” That was just dated two months ago. Hmmm. “What kind of virtual game?” I wonder out loud.

My phone buzzes. I take it out of my pocket and check the screen.

Randy: I’m downstairs. You ready?

Lulu: Be right there.

I close my laptop and grab a coat as I head out.

I need a lot more time alone with Mr. Reider, I decide. A lot more time. He can’t be involved with this robbery. Never. I don’t believe it for a second. And even though I have a feeling Randy will be trying his best to make Case look as guilty as possible, I can’t imagine I’d ever believe that the man I knew could be responsible for robbing all the Cathedral City banks.

If he is—I need caution, because it’s clear his friends Wade and Brooks are probably not as up-and-up as he is—but if he is, I know there’s a reason behind it. I know there is more to this story.

I might even be able to offer him a deal if he helps us.

Yes, I decide. A deal to save himself if he gives up his friends. It could work.

So maybe dinner tonight with Randy won’t be a waste of time? Maybe whatever plan he cooked up to get Case’s attention will be a good one?

I nod, just as I get out of the elevator and see Randy talking to my doorman.

Yes. I’m going to be going along with this plan.

I’m going to get Case Reider’s attention again, no matter what.

And I’m going to get justice for the bankers and the city along the way.