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"No. He just knew you wouldn't want to take the time off, even if you would be the only one in the office. He asked me to help get you out of here for a while. That's all. You've been busting your ass, juggling more than any one person should. He just thought you needed some time to relax."
"And you agree?"
He shrugged. "I think he has a point. You do take on more than you should and that puts a lot of stress on you."
"That's my business, not his and not yours. I'm a grown-ass man." I was trying not to snap at him. Brant was just the middleman in this and getting pissed off at him wouldn't help the situation.
His eyes met mine and he nodded. "I know you don't like what Clay did but just think about it from his point of view."
"How so?" I scowled indignantly.
"He and I spend all of our time in the field, on job sites, getting our hands dirty. At the end of the day, we get to go home and wash all that away. When you go home you're still taking calls from clients, working on scheduling, balancing the books... it never stops for you. You're on the job 24/7 and we both feel like shit because there's nothing we can do to help. I think that's what Clay was trying to do, help. He wanted to make sure you got some down time because, more than anyone else, you deserve it."
I dropped the pen onto the desk with a groan. "How the hell am I supposed to be mad now?"
Brant just smiled.
On the way home, with a seemingly endless expanse of free time stretching out before me like blacktop surrounded by barren field, I called Clay.
He picked up before the second ring, as if he'd anticipated the call. "Hey, Spence. I was just about to pick up the phone to call you. You must be clairvoyant."
I harrumphed softly, the last of my annoyance slipping away. I still had to bust his balls, though. "You sure you weren't going to call Brant instead? Maybe get an update on operation 'Spencer needs a life'?"
There was laughter in his voice when he replied. "It was all his idea, I swear."
"Yeah, right."
He tried again. "Okay, it was Ali. You know how women are." Ali's voice rang out in the background but I didn't quite catch what she said. I did, however, hear a thud and Clay's startled 'ouch'. Served him right. "Okay, okay. It was all me. I'm a terrible friend for wanting you to enjoy your vacation. God, what an asshole I am."
"It's okay. I'm well aware that you're an asshole. At least you mean well. Usually."
His voice was finally serious when he said, "So, I'm forgiven?"
"Yeah, fucker, you're forgiven. Now why were you about to call me? Ali's there with you, so I know you're not in need of bail money."
He blew out a breath and hesitated.
Oh shit.
He never did that pause-for-effect thing. Hated it. This must be bad.
The soft rustling of a hand covering the phone was followed by a moment of quiet discussion, I assumed with Ali. Clay's voice finally came back on the line, softer and unsure. "I kind of need a favor. Well, we both do."
"What kind of favor?"
"You remember Talia, right?"
I remembered Talia. She was Ali's best friend and — before Ali moved in with Clay — roommate. We'd met for the first time in Denson the night of the fire that had nearly killed Ali. Talia had been a wreck and I had done what I could to keep her spirits up between trips to visit Ali in the ICU. "Of course I remember her."
More hesitation, then, "I told you that she owns a restaurant in D.C., right?"
"Yeah."
"Well, there was some sort of issue there a couple days ago, something with a restaurant critic, and she hasn't been into work since. She won't answer her phone, not even for Ali. No one knows where she is or what exactly happened. All we know is that she texted the manager and told her to take over until further notice. She's been totally off the grid ever since."
From what I remembered about Talia, she wasn't the type to shirk her responsibilities. Something serious had to have happened. But I wasn't sure what Clay was asking of me. "Okay, I'm assuming you want my help, right? What do you need me to do? You want me to try and track her credit cards or something?" I knew my way around a computer, had a few tricks up my sleeve that could help locate her.
He sounded relieved. "You can try the cards but your best bet is her phone. Ali says she carries it with her at all times in case of an emergency at the restaurant."
