Page 95 of Beneath The Truth
“Yeah, well, if something happens to your sister’s employees, it’s gonna be on them for not getting off theirasses.”
“I know it’s frustrating.We’re making progress.The gears just turn slow with all the red tape.You get howitis.”
“Tell them to move faster.They might have more to investigate than just him if they don’t hurry thefuckup.”
“I’ll relay the message.Anything else?Ariokay?”
I met her stare.“She’s safe, and that’s whatmatters.”
“Good deal, brother.Take careofher.”
“You knowIwill.”
I hung up and grabbed Ari’s hand.“They haven’t broughthimin.”
She cleared her throat.“I gathered that.What are we going to do if something happened to Erik or Jan?I can’t ...”She trailed off as if the words got caught in herthroat.
I reached out to loop an arm around her and pulled her against my chest.“Don’t borrow trouble.We’ll take it as itcomes.”
“Okay.”When I finally released her, she rolled to the side of the bed.“I need my computer.I need to dig.I have to feel like I’m doing something instead of just waiting andhoping.”
“You do that, and I’llcallEsme.”
She nodded and left the room.I used her phone to call heremployeeback.
“Did you find out something?”Esme asked in lieu of agreeting.
“Carlos Herrera is still walking free.You need to becareful.”
“This is my best friend we’re talking about.I would do anythingforhim.”
“And he would want you tostaysafe.”
“I’ll call you back as soon as I get there.Give me fiveminutes.”
I paced the room while I waited, and finally, thephonerang.
“He’s not here, but his door was unlocked!Erik wouldn’t dothat.Ever.”
“Don’t go inside.Callthecops.”
“They won’t take a missing-person report for forty-eight hours.I saw him eighteenhoursago.”
Fuck.I knew that alltoowell.
“We’ll call in a favor and have someone come check it out.Lock the door, keep your key, and go to the office.Stay there until you hearfromme.”
“Okay.But if something happenedtoErik...”
“I’m going to tell you the same thing I just told your boss—don’t borrowtrouble.”
We said good-bye and I hung up.I yanked on jeans and followed the scent of coffee to the kitchen where Ari was standing on one leg, the other foot pressed against her inner thigh like she was attempting a yoga pose, her fingers flying over thekeyboard.
“Do I want to ask what you’redoing?”
“Probablynot.”
“How manyfelonies?”
