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I hesitated, wracking my brain for a response that would seem convincing. "Oh, around Europe mostly. You know, the usual places. Paris, Rome...Amsterdam," I added, recalling a friend who had recently visited the Netherlands.
Just as I finished speaking, I saw Downing finally raise his thumb, his face lighting up with a triumphant smile. Relief flooded through me, almost making me dizzy. Downing had done it. He'd traced the call.
"I'll have to call you back when I have a better idea of my father's plans, Mr. Tyree," I told him, struggling to keep my voice steady. "But Seattle sounds like an exciting opportunity. I look forward to discussing it more."
Tyree seemed satisfied with this response, a hint of anticipation in his voice. "I look forward to hearing from you, Courtney. Safe travels."
With that, he hung up, leaving me sitting in the quiet booth, the tension from the past few minutes still clinging to me. I looked up to see Brad and Giuseppe grinning broadly at me, their faces a reflection of Downing's triumphant smile. I'd done it. We'd gotten through the first hurdle.
I hung up the phone, the room suddenly feeling a lot brighter. For the first time in what felt like forever, I took a deep, full breath.
Stepping out of the booth, I found the air outside to be fresh, a welcome change from the suffocating tension inside. Downing was waiting, offering me a bottle of water from the small fridge by his desk. I accepted it with a grateful nod, the cool liquid soothing my parched throat.
"We need to determine Tyree's exact location," Downing stated, his voice filled with authority. "Knowing where he is calling from may have a bearing on our next steps, setting up the actual meeting between you two."
We huddled around Downing, watching him closely as his fingers flew over the keyboard, his eyes flicking between the various screens he had set up. The room was silent except for the hum of electronics and the low murmur of Downing's mutterings.
Minutes passed. Then, finally, Downing sat back in his chair, his eyes wide. "He's not in Seattle," he said, turning to face us. "He's in San Jose. Silicon Valley, to be precise."
Brad and Giuseppe exchanged a glance, their expressions unreadable. I looked at Downing, confusion etched on my face. "What does that mean for us?" I asked.
Downing stroked his chin, deep in thought. "I'm not sure yet," he admitted. "Tyree's choice of location might suggest various possibilities. But we need to analyze this information thoroughly."
Before we could ponder further on the implications of this revelation, Downing's phone buzzed, disrupting the momentary silence. Downing picked up, listened for a few seconds, and then with a grim nod, he hung up.
"I'm sorry," he apologized, looking at us. "But we can't dwell on this any longer. I have another appointment."
"Where to?" Brad asked, curiosity piqued.
"The county jail," Downing said, his eyes flashing with determination, "to interview Alexander Steele. He's the man who had been tailing Amy and Mitch. Ariel and Meagan picked him out of a lineup, and he's finally decided to break his hunger strike and talk."
A silence descended upon the room, the significance of Downing's words hanging heavy in the air. Steele was ready to talk. After days of refusing food and remaining silent, he was willing to ease his mind. This could be the breakthrough we were desperately searching for.
"Steele wants to come clean?" Brad asked, disbelief evident in his tone. Downing merely nodded, a grim smile playing on his lips. “He’s probably ready to make a deal.”
A visible relief washed over Giuseppe's face at this news. After all, Steele was the man who had harassed and probably kidnapped his daughter, Amy. The prospect of him sharing information was a welcome development.
"That's good news," he said, with a hint of gratitude.
Downing rose from his chair and started gathering his things, the energy in the room shifting palpably. There was a sense of anticipation, it seemed everyone was holding their breath. We were on the cusp of something significant.
Brad, Giuseppe, and I shared a look, a silent agreement passing between us. We were in this together, each one of us driven by our own motivations but united in our desire for the truth. If there was one thing that was clear, it was that we were deep into a tangled web of intrigue and lies, one that was getting more intricate with each revelation.
Tyree's unexpected location, Steele's sudden change of heart—the puzzle pieces were slowly coming together. And yet, the complete picture remained elusive. We had to trust in Downing's expertise, knowing he would deftly navigate the complexity of this investigation.
Downing's phone buzzed once more, a stark reminder of the pressing urgency of the situation. He gave it a glance and then turned back towards us, "I'll update you as soon as I have something substantial."
With that, he strode out of the room, leaving us in the midst of silence thick with unspoken questions and possibilities.
ChapterSixteen
Brad
The sun was a brazen intruder,slashing through the blinds of the corporate conference room. The Rosedale Tech boys were assembled—me, wise-cracking Guy, brooding Chase, analytical Daniel, charming Ryder, and silent-but-deadly Mitch. We were all preoccupied with thoughts of our firecracker colleague and the love of my life, Courtney, and her daredevil plan to meet with Clint Tyree.
We were a motley crew, huddled together in our makeshift war room, debating the pros and cons of Courtney's proposed journey into the lion's den—Seattle. Clint had suggested it under the false impression that she was tucked away safely in Maine with her father.
The air hung heavy with a cocktail of tension and anticipation, an uneasy mixture of dread and determination. The vibe was surreal like we were walking a tightrope, teetering on the brink of a revelation or a disaster.
