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My father looks as if he can’t breathe for a moment as he processes this information. He despises having his time hijacked, and I just did that quite successfully.
Drew shrugs. “Look, you are going to need to meet with people outside of your immediate circles and you know this, Grant,” he murmurs. “You need the good graces of your future constituents.”
Dad sighs. “I know, but Derek, you just chose the two most annoying people in all of Kentucky,” he complains under his breath.
They’re perfectly lovely people… just very persistent.
“Drew is right, and you know it. Everyone has been gushing about the upcoming elections and how exciting it all is. They’re all happy you’re running as well.”
“Alright, that’s enough kissing my ass,” he mutters and I snort as I take a small sip of my drink. Grant Williams doesn’t take compliments very well, even though he loves the power of his position.
People walk up to us as we finish our conversation, and I wrinkle my nose as I glance at my drink. Dropping it on a waiter’s passing tray, I refuse to order anything else while I’m here. The soda water had a faint hint of metallic to me, and I swear I can hear Turner in my head telling me not to drink the rest.
The last thing I need is to be drugged at a swanky event like this and act like an ass.Who would have had the time to fuck with my drink?
I vaguely remember the bartender, annoyed at myself for not keeping my eyes on him at all times. Anyone would want to drug Grant Williams’ son, but they’d be sorely disappointed because I don’t know many of his secrets.
Finally, my father starts saying his goodbyes, but not the way I expect.
“Well, we’re going to call it a night, friends. I’m taking my son to see his mother at the hospital tomorrow, and it’s a long drive,” he says with a sad smile.
Everyone gives him sympathetic smiles and nods. “Have you been to see her yet, or is this your first time, dear boy?” a woman asks. The faces are starting to blend together, and I stopped making an effort to remember everyone about twenty minutes ago.
“This is my first time,” I murmur, ignoring the shiver that wants to take over from her calling medear boy. I may never get over the trauma Carrie O’Reilly has caused me. Maybe I’ll try torture therapy and see if it helps give me closure. “I have been able to talk to her a few times over the phone, but we’ve been waiting for her to have a good day for me to visit,” I lie.
I refuse to let my father throw me under the bus in front of these people. Maybe I shouldn’t care, but he’s starting to get under my skin.
I smile serenely at him, and my father shrugs. “The boy is a devoted son. Derek has been wanting to see his mother every day since he’s been home, but I couldn’t bear for him to see Marian like that. Hopefully she’s having a good day, and he’ll be able to spend some time with her,” he says and the women fawn over him.
Well played, old man. I really hope Orion or Greg find something on him tonight, or I’ll just have to create an opportunity to get into his office at the hospital. My father is springing this trip a day early on me, but I don’t mind a bit. He’s doing me a favor. Hopefully, it’ll give me time to get that damn address, so we can bring Lennon home.
Orion
I feel like an idiot.Under the cover of darkness, I unlock Grant’s office window from the outside. I’m wearing all black, in a ski mask, and gloves. I’ve never had trouble walking in the dark or being night blind when a light suddenly turns on and off. I have always learned how to protect my vision so I can always see.
Maybe it’s from being a country boy and spending so much time outside, or possibly because my soul welcomes the darkness. Either way, I’ve always been able to move well in the dark.
My lips part with a hiss of triumph as the old lock turns. Grant is notoriously cheap, and while the inside of his house is beautiful, things like locks are overlooked. Oh well, this is my good fortune today. Pushing up the window, I hoist myself into the house.
Texting Greg quickly, I let him know I’ll be inserting the drive for him. Striding towards the computer, I move the mouse to wake up the monitor. Another piece of good fortune is that because his office door is always locked, he didn’t think to lock the computer. Setting up what Greg needs from me, I glance down as he texts me back that he’s in.
Next, I turn on the flashlight on my phone and begin going through his files and desk drawers. There’s endless paperwork about the house, warranties, who to call if something breaks, and I roll my eyes. I refuse to make any noise because while I closed the window behind me, I left it open a crack.
Looking for a safe, I continue to search. A gorgeous photo of Marian hangs from the wall in front of me and I purse my lips. Grant isn’t a sentimental man, so there’s got to be a reason for it. Running my finger along the inside of the frame, I feel a slight lever. Hoping this isn’t going to trigger some kind of silent alarm, I remind myself of how much of a cheapskate Grant is.
Please don’t blow up on me or something.Pushing down on the lever, only my tight rein on my reflexes keeps me from flinching when it clicks. Frowning, I pull to find that the commissioned canvas on the wall is actually a facade for his safe. Rolling my eyes, I stare at it.
There are so many different code combinations, and while I could guess, I don’t know how many tries I’ll have.
I found a safe, and it’s one of those fireproof ones with a digital keypad or key. How likely do you think the key is in the office?
Greg: Oh shit. Did you look under the sides of the desk or under the shelves or bookshelves?
On it now.
I don’t have much hope it’ll be there, but whatever. Feeling underneath every desk, side table, and bookcase, I search for the key. All the while, I start thinking about important dates. Biting my lip in thought, I ask Greg a question.
Hypothetically, how many tries would I get to guess on this thing? Because I haven’t found shit yet.
