Page 23 of Lost to Thievery
I hooked my arm in his and started walking towards the park. I gave my parents a little apologetic wave to which my mother made little shooing motions. “Want to talk about it?” A part of me wanted to know every new little detail he had to offer aboutthem, while the other part wasn’t sure I could handle hearing it. But Owen needed a friend. He’d been there for me when Iwas at my lowest. He pulled me through it. The least I could do was listen. I already felt guilty for leaving him in the thick of it. But I couldn't continue chasing after a man who never even felt anything for me.
“You really want to hear it?”
I chuckled and nodded.
“I got kicked off my own taskforce. For being too emotional.” He scoffed. “Forthree days.”
I took my shoes off as we reached the still green grass of the park. It was always good to have nothing between yourself and mother earth. And with autumn in full bloom, the grass would lose its lustre at any moment. “Maybe that’s a good thing, Owen. You could clearly use some time away. Go on a short vacation or get a haircut. We have a great barber on Main…”
Owen pushed at me, huffing a laugh. “I know I need a haircut, okay?” He was quiet until we reached our spot, then continued as he sat down on the bench. “I can’t just sit around for three days and do nothing. I’m so close, Ava. I can feel it.”
I sat down on the table, with my feet on the bench next to Owen and turned my face up to the sun, soaking in its rays for a second. “Do you have any new leads?”
He snorted. “We literally have one. Did I tell you that Grayson’s laptop exploded? It literally wentpoof, right in Syntax’s face. She’s fine, but what the hell was on that laptop that he needed to implant an explosive device as a fail safe? It’s fucking ridiculous. Anyway, we uncovered an art informant of Grayson’s from the documents we found in Mexico. The guy’s in Paris. Right now, we only have surveillance on him, hoping that the Apparitions show up, but so far nothing. But I think he’s the key to finding them. I’m gonna bring him in when I’m allowed back on my taskforce,” he scowled.
I nodded. “That’s good. And in the meantime? Why don’t you take your sailboat out?” He had told me once how he’d restoredan old sailboat and how he planned to sail the world with it one day. “Or we have a cozy little bed and breakfast that would be great to relax—”
“That’s not why I’m here, Ava,” Owen interrupted, giving me a tentative look.
Oh, boy. “Then why are you here, Agent Becket?”
Owen gave a nervous chuckle. “Well, I was hoping to get the old team back together? You know, when it was just you and me. For a little side quest.”
I groaned. “Owen…”
“Yeah, yeah, I know. You’re done. I won’t ask again.” He peered up at me, assessing me. “You really do look well.”
I smiled back at him. Then mentally kicked myself for letting my curiosity get the better of me. “So what’s this side quest you’re on?”
Owen grinned like he’d won, and I rolled my eyes at him.
“I’m heading to the town where Grayson’s parents grew up. It’s not far from here, actually. I know it’s a long shot, but maybe, just maybe, I can find something.Anything.”
Gods, I could feel myself slipping back into the black hole that was Grayson. And I had barely clawed myself out.
But this wasn’t as bad, right? It was his parents, not him. It was Dianna we were talking about. A woman I’d felt connected to from the moment I discovered that brutal photo in the bedside table. It would be nice to get to know her. The real her. Not the victim, but the woman.
And maybe I could use the time to help Owen. He was losing himself in the Apparitions. A feeling I was all too familiar with.
I couldn’t believe I was going to say it, but, “Fine.”
Owen laughed victoriously, pulling me into a bearhug. “You’re the best partner I’ve ever had.”
We were driving down a quiet country road in Owen’s black SUV with the windows down and his eighties rock playlist blaring—hisonlyplaylist. It was a tad chilly, but it felt good having the wind in my hair and a friend I hadn’t seen in a while by my side. I could tell that even Owen felt lighter and lighter as the road wound through the golden grassy fields.
“So how much paperwork will this take if we find something?” I asked turning the music down.
Owen cringed. “No! Ava! Why would you talk about such wicked things right now? Please!”
Laughter bubbled out of my throat. “If we find something, do me a favour and pass the paperwork off to Liam. He needs stuff like that to ground him. For the greater good of humanity.”
Owen grinned. “Of course. For the greater good of humanity,” he agreed.
“Speaking of, why didn’t you tell me that you had anactual, real-life best friend? AndLiam Taylorof all people? How didthathappen?” Owen knew a lot of people; there was always someone up his sleeve to help in a crisis or a case, but the more time I’d spent with him, I found that he was more of a loner, enjoying his privacy a little too much. So it was a pleasant surprise to see him and Liam interact in such a familiar way.
He visibly tried to suppress rolling his eyes at me and shrugged. “I don’t know. Director Devereux assigned us to an undercover job together when Taylor just started at our station and he kind ofwormedhis way in.”
That sounded like Liam.
