Page 104 of Night Watch
“No. Unless a friend dropped one when they visited.”
“Mind if I look so I can get Pong to stand down?” Erik explained about Pong’s working dog status.
Finley waved a hand. “Knock yourself out.”
Erik moved to the couch.
The cat eyed him and must’ve found him lacking, as it jumped down and strolled toward a scratching post in the corner. Pong followed the cat and sat next to it.
“That’s weird.” Erik joined Pong and knelt next to him. “What is it, boy?”
The cat circled around Erik’s back, rubbing softly against him, and Pong made the circle with the cat.
“Whatareyou doing, Pong?” Erik picked up the cat and something dangled on the collar, catching his attention. He flashed a look at Finley. “It’s a mini flash drive. Someone put it on the cat’s collar.”
Finley hurried over to them. “Must’ve been my mom.”
He removed the collar and jumped up. “You have a computer with a USB port I can use?”
“I’ll get my laptop.” Finley headed down the hallway.
“Good boy, Pong.” Erik moved to a chair by the small breakfast table, and Pong trotted along. “I wish I had a reward for you, but I didn’t expect to need your services tonight.”
As Erik waited, he looked around the space. She’d packed two suitcases and a few boxes. His gut tightened. These items served as a reminder that when he found Kennedy—and he would find her—she would be leaving. Leaving him. But at least she would be safe in WITSEC.
Now? Now he just didn’t know.
Finley returned and set her laptop on the table. Erik booted it up and plugged in the drive. It opened to reveal a document and a spreadsheet. He clicked on the document.
“It’s a letter to you and Kennedy from your mom.” He started reading, and she looked over his shoulder.
Wanda explained that she’d participated in a denture trial to raise money for medical bills. She wrote the letter in case anything went wrong so they would know about it and could make sure the company’s owner was held accountable. She said the spreadsheet held daily records she’d made about her blood pressure for inDents.
And then she mentioned the owner’s name—Professor Oscar Edwards.
“Edwards,” Erik said. “I should’ve leaned on that guy harder.”
Finley looked at Erik. “Do you think he has Kennedy?”
Did he? “I don’t know who else would.”
“But why?”
“Yeah, why? We have to figure the guy who was arrested is connected to Edwards, and maybe he doesn’t want her to identify him.”
“But you saw him too.”
“Right. I did. So why else would he take her, and more importantly,wherewould he take her?” He met Finley’s worried gaze. “Keep this flash drive safe. I’m going to call my brothers and one of them will be over to make sure you’re all right. The rest of us will find Kennedy.”
He looked at the dog. “Come, Pong.”
Erik’s furry buddy trotted over to him, his leash dangling. Erik picked it up, and they jogged to his truck. Erik dialed his brothers and got on the road as he waited for them all to join the call. He explained the situation. “I need one of you to provide a protection detail for Finley. The others gear up and grab the drone and my red helicopter with controller from my spare bedroom and meet me at the marina.”
“I’ll handle the detail,” Brendan offered.
“Thanks.”
“What do you have planned for Kennedy?” Aiden asked.
