Page 10 of Lost Truth
Hayden fired a testy look at his partner. “This is really important to her, so I’ll do it off hours then.”
Nolan gave an offhand shrug. “I’m not saying we shouldn’t do it. I’m just saying it takes a back burner.”
Hayden didn’t like his buddy’s answer. So what? It was the right answer. A missing person could be in danger here, and Percy’s life was no longer in the balance.
Nolan turned to Cady. “What about searching your father’s house? Have you done that?”
She shook her head and clamped her hands together on the table. “I’ve only looked at his journals. He insisted on bringing them to my apartment when he came to stay with me. After reading them, I came here to talk to Kai. I’m not sure if I can bring myself to search through Dad’s other things.”
Reece gave her a sad smile. “Do you think you’d be up to it if you have one of us along for the ride?”
“I hope so,” she said, her answer tentative.
“I can go with you.” Hayden watched her expression to see what she thought of him accompanying her.
She offered him a hint of a soft smile. “We’ll see how I feel at the time.”
His heart rolled in that funny somersault it did when she looked at him in such a sweet, innocent way.
“Oh-h-h. Oh.” Abby’s eyes widened with sudden clarity. “So it’s like that for sure, huh?”
She was talking about Hayden’s feelings for Cady, but now wasn’t the time to discuss it. Not like there was ever a time to have such a talk in this group. Any group for that matter.
He fired a look at Abby, warning her to leave it alone. “We’ll make time for you to visit your father’s house in between our other duties tomorrow.” He pulled the cap from the marker and added the visit to the board. “Mina’s team called the hospital and homeless shelter in town, but I think we should expand the calls to the surrounding area.”
“I’ll be glad to make those calls,” Reece offered.
“Thank you.” Hayden jotted the information on the board with Reece’s name.
“Do we have any information on Kai’s vehicle?” Gabe asked.
“There isn’t one parked in his driveway or garage,” Cady said.
Nolan shifted in his chair. “Mina didn’t mention anything about it.”
“Let me see if I can get the vehicle details through one of my trooper buddies.” Gabe’s Oregon state trooper connections had come in handy more than once.
Hayden scribbled down the additional information and toyed with the marker in his fingers. He looked at Jude. “You good with keeping us organized and manning the phone?”
A crooked smile formed on his face. “Never met a person I couldn’t charm so you know I’ll handle the phones just fine.”
“Are you sure about this assignment?” Gabe looked between Nolan and Jude. “I mean, you’ve known him for years. Organization isn’t really his thing.”
“Hey, I resemble that.” Jude laughed. “I know where each and every thing is and can put my finger on it in a flash.”
“You couldn’t have been an FBI agent if you couldn’t organize case files.” Hayden tossed the closed marker to the whiteboard tray. “You might not like it, but you can do it.”
“You’re right.” Jude grimaced. “It’s time for me to take one for the team.”
“Good,” Hayden said.
“This is a solid start,” Nolan said.” I’ll check in with Mina in the morning. See if she has any other leads or if she might have phone or financial information she’ll share.”
“We all have our assignments,” Hayden said. “Just remember as you go about your tasks, we might not have any proof at this point of Kai’s abduction, but we need to move forward believing he’s in danger and needs our immediate attention.”
He believed what he’d just said, though he preferred his number one priority to be helping Cady find her father’s killer. But he’d have to resist his feelings. Kai’s life could be on the line, and the hunt for her father’s killer had to be put on the back burner so they could focus on Kai and bring him home before he came to grievous harm.
