Page 7 of Below The Surface
“Maybe I will.” I grab the creamer, ready to do just that, when my phone vibrates in my pajama pants. “Who the fuck calls someone at eight in the morning?”
“I mean, a lot of people are at work at 8am. Answer it.”
I stick my tongue out again. The caller ID doesn’t give me a name or number I know, so I answer. “You’ve reached Casey.”MaybeI’m a little too cheery.
“Cute name.”
I can’t help the smile. “Darla!”
Kendra’s eyes go wide and she waves for me to put the call on speakerphone.
“I made a promise to you years ago. If I found Charles, I’d let you know.”
All the heat leaves my body. My hands tremble and I set my cell on the counter.
“Where?” The word comes out more of a growl than a word.
“He goes by Matt Brooks now. You might have heard of him.”
“I’m gonna throw up.” I fall onto one of the barstools around the island.
Kendra swallows back her feelings like usual. “He must have had work done, because Matt Brooks looks nothing like Charlesat all. Not even close.”
“He sure did. And he’s gonna be at Influencer Con this year, which you probably already know. Wanted to let you know what I found out so you can deal with him accordingly.”
“How’d you figure out Matt is Charles?” We’ve been searching for so damn long.
“He slipped up, kid. If you don’t take him out, we will. But I’ll give you until Influencer Con to do the job. I’ll even pay you for it.”
“This is one job I’d do for free, but I won’t say no to the payment.”
Darla chuckles, and it sounds like she’s tapping her long nails on a table. “Thought you might. Kennedy still with you?”
“Yeah,” Kendra says tentatively. “Kendra now.”
“Sorry didn’t recognize the voice. Kendra’s a cute name, too. Anyway, it might take both of you to take this sonofabitch down.”
“We’re ready.” Kendra balls her hands and I want to smooth out her fingers.
“Good. I know you got each other’s backs, but if you need more backup, let me know. I’ll send you a team.”
“Thanks. I’ll let you know.” With our target being such a huge influencer I’m not entirely sure this is a two-person job, but I’m damn well gonna try. I don’t want to have to owe Darla again or her owe me.
“I like that show you two got going on in the dark web. Letting your audience dictate how you torture someone? Clever.”
“I thought it sounded like fun.” I grin at Kendra, who rolls her eyes.
“It is, but you’re getting sloppy on the surveillance. I taught you better.”
Kendra glares at the phone. “Excuse me?”
“You wouldn’t be offended if I were wrong. Are you making sure everything’s cleaned up every night?”
I snort. “Of course. But we have a crew do it.”
“You outsourced the most important part?”
“They have just as much to lose as we do if this shit gets out,” Kendra says.
