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Val nodded. “André was going to get one of his people to review it, to ID whoever’s leaking information. Did you find it?”
“No. It’s gone.”
Val’s frown deepened. “What do you mean, it’s gone?”
“It’s gone,” he repeated. “There’s ten minutes missing from the video stored on the NOPD server. It starts out fine, even shows Kaj coming through the lobby doors, then it disappears. Ten minutes later it restarts.”
“Someone erased it,” Val murmured. “Did you tell André?”
“I’ve tried. Left him a bunch of messages, but he hasn’t called me back.” Antoine looked ill. “He always calls me back.”
“Maybe he’s gotten a lead on Noni’s whereabouts,” Val said, but she was worried, too.
“Maybe. I hope so. I’m getting ready to call Farrah.” André’s fiancée was a favorite among Burke’s group. “She usually wakes up about now to go to work. André’s usually been up for an hour by now. He goes running every morning.”
“He’s got a lot on his plate. This isn’t his only case.”
Antoine forced a smile. “I know.”
Val didn’t know what else to say, so she finished her breakfast and listened as Molly drew Jace into a conversation about her garden. Jace was wistful, saying that his mother had grown her own vegetables and he missed helping her.
The boy needed a garden. I could make that happen for him.
Foster parent certification. Val pulled out her phone to google it but paused when Kaj came down the stairs.
He pulled up a chair and sat down. “What’s wrong with Antoine?” he murmured.
“André’s not answering his calls or texts,” Val murmured back. “He might be working or asleep, but Antoine is worried.”
“I’ll make some calls,” Kaj said. “His boss might be able to tell us where he is.” He found André’s boss’s contact info and was about to dial when Antoine’s phone began to buzz.
Antoine snapped it up. “Farrah? Is he home?” His eyes filled with fear. “When?”
No, no, no. Val could feel Antoine’s anguish. Not André.
“Where did they take him?” Antoine demanded. “Okay. Hold on. I’m coming. Do Mom and Dad know? And DeShaun?” After listening for another minute, he ended the call. “She found him outside their house, in the backyard. He’s been stabbed, at least twice. Once in the gut. He’s still alive, but it’s not good. I need to get to the hospital.”
Molly and Val looked at each other, trying to figure the best way to support Antoine while maintaining security for Kaj and Elijah.
“You should drive him, Molly,” Val said.
“I can drive myself,” Antoine insisted.
“Uh, no,” Molly said firmly. “Nobody goes out alone. Plus, you haven’t slept and you’ve had a terrible shock. Phin and Val can stay, and I’ll come back as soon as you’re settled.”
Val hugged Antoine hard. “You’d do the same if it were one of us. You know this.”
Antoine nodded, his shoulders shaking. “I can’t lose him.”
Val took Antoine’s face in her hands. “You won’t. You go and be there for Farrah. I’ll call Burke and we’ll hold down the fort until backup gets here. We love you. Now go.” She led him to the door, Molly right behind her. “Be careful,” she told Molly and hugged her, too.
She watched them leave, then turned to Phin, Jace, and Kaj. “How’s that panic room coming, Phin?”
“I never got to finish painting, but it’s done except for that.”
“Why don’t you show Kaj how it works? Y’know, just in case.” Because they were very low on staff and the timing felt very suspicious. “I’ll stay down here and call Burke.”
“Cuff me,” Jace said, holding out his hands. “I’ll be down here with only one of you. Burke’s rule.”
