Page 46 of The Missing Couple

The other man poked his head out the door. “Yeah?”

“Charly and her friend want to talk to you,” Perry called back, not turning in that direction as if he worried about giving his back to them.

With obvious reluctance, Finn Grayson stepped out the door and slammed it shut. He poked his hands into the pockets of his jeans and walked their way. He wore a tee that sported the logo of his business. Like Perry, he had long hair but his was stick straight and hung loose around his shoulders.

When he arrived at his friend’s side, he said, “What’s up?” He looked from Charly to Billie in expectation.

Since his gaze lingered on Billie, Charly stayed quiet.

“I’m looking for my sister, Briana,” Billie said. “She and her husband went missing Monday night. I was given a handful of names of people who might have the right connections to find information. Yours was one of them.”

“I know nothing about your sister and her husband,” he said without hesitation. “I never saw them around and barely even heard they were missing.” He glanced at his friend. “Perry here told me a couple days ago. That was the first I’d heard of it.”

“There’s a reward,” Perry said quietly, the words obviously meant for Finn’s ears.

“Ten thousand dollars,” Charly spoke up. “I’m sure you know plenty of people who could use ten thousand dollars.”

“The payment would be in cash,” Billie said, backing her up.

Perry and Finn shared a look. “Too bad we don’t know anything,” Finn said.

“That is too bad,” Billie agreed. “But if you know anyone who might know something, that could count, too.”

“Kerrick sounded like he might have some information,” Charly offered, pushing the point with a total lie. But Billie had said they were looking for reactions. Hoping to prompt actions.

“Then maybe you should talk to him again,” Finn countered. “I’d love to get my hands on ten k, but I’m not in the loop. Not even near it.”

“We’ve been looking for him,” Charly went on with another fib. “His mama probably has him running errands today.”

This prompted snickers from the two men. “Yeah,” Perry said. “He’s a mama’s boy all right. His mama tells him when to take a piss.”

“What loop did you mean?” Billie asked, ignoring the other comments.

Both men stared at him.

“You said—” he looked to Finn “—that you weren’t in the loop.”

Finn exaggerated a shrug. “I just mean whoever is working on the case, I’m not in the know.”

“You have friends in the sheriff’s department?” Billie fired back.

Finn grew still, dangerously still. “I have friends in all kinds of places.” There was no humor in his tone or his expression now. “Friends who look out for me.”

Billie made a confused sound. He turned to Charly. “Did Kerrick mention protecting either one of these guys?”

Charly shook her head slowly side to side. “He didn’t mention protecting anyone but himself.”

The two stared at each other again. “You tried to call him, right?” Perry asked Finn.

“Yeah. He didn’t answer.”

“I guess we’re not the only people he’s avoiding since he said more than he should have last night,” Charly said to Billie. “I suppose we could give what we have to your contact at the FBI.” She shrugged. “Then you can just keep the reward.”

“Guess so,” Billie agreed. He turned back to the two men. “Thanks for your help.”

They had just reached the SUV when Finn called out to them. Rather than remain standing next to Perry, he jogged to catch up with them.

“Was there something else?” Billie asked.