Page 80 of Love Again

Jim stands there for a moment, unsure what to do.

“You were on your way out,” says Luke. “Go.”

I glance at the two men. I try to shift Luke’s attention from Jim and what he said to me. “What happened with Finn? Did it work?

But Luke is too focused on making sure Jim leaves the building that he follows him down the hall.

Mateus puts a hand on my arm. “He’s just making sure that asshole is gone.” Then he answers my question. “It was flawless. Kevin Barr heard exactly what we wanted him to hear.”

“So, what building does Carlson and Keller think Kevin or Jim will go after next?”

“We’re about to find out. Nic’s got a pretty good idea.”

Chapter Twenty

Luke

It takes me a minute to settle down from kicking that asshole out of the building. I wanted to pummel him. I heard everything he said, every word. That stuff about Chloe, Claire, and Laurel was disgusting. I know they all have shit they have to work through, but they’re working through it with love and respect. I can see it when they’re together.

They lost their family. But they’re building a new one. It’s what Keller and I are trying to do.

The map with red pushpins for every site hangs on a windowless wall in Carlson’s office.

“Great job, everyone. Nicely executed. And, Devon, you are a rock star.” Carlson glances to Finn. Devon is sitting in Carlson’s chair, and Mateus has one leg off the floor, leaning on the edge of Carlson’s desk. The rest of us stand.

Keller, the beast, takes up the most room, but he seems oblivious, standing with his legs spread wide and arms folded.

“We’re sure Kevin heard what he was supposed to hear?” Carlson is asking for consensus.

Finn nods. “Yes. He even slowed down and lingered a moment or two. If they are working together, he is sure as shit worried Jim will confess and turn him in.”

“Okay. Keller and Nic, what’s the target?”

My brother takes a large index finger and drags it from Old Orchard Beach to Portland to Rockland. “It’s definitely going be around here if they stick to their pattern.”

Nic, frowning, brings up some data on his phone and start scrolling. “Here’s my bet. There’s a building in the harbor that’s been subdivided. It used to be a cannery. One half is a fish mart, the other is empty. If Kevin’s trying to frame Jim—my bet’s on that building.”

I touch Devon’s shoulder. She doesn’t try to shrug me off. I’m now the one checking in. “I take it Barr owns that building too?”

“Affirmative. Half.”

Devon sits up suddenly. “Is that the one down from Main Street in Echo Bay? The one Owen works at?”

Nic shrugs. “I don’t know. 16 Border Road, Saxton’s Bay. Is that it?”

She rises and peers at Nic’s phone. “Yes, that’s it. All Echo Bay addresses are Saxton’s Bay.”

Finn opens with another question. “It’s clear the perp isn’t Jim Whitehead, or at least the primary. Mateus and I were watching his body language and we agree. Jim was genuinely surprised, if not shocked, by the revelation of the teeth. So where are those baby teeth coming from?”

Carlson grins. “I think I actually have a lead on that. I ran into Jim’s mother, Sally, two days ago at the gas station off 1A, and guess what?”

Finn’s face darkens. “Her house was broken into.”

“Well, nothing as dramatic as that. But her back door was unlocked and Trin, her little Irish-whatever dog, was out in the yard when she got home from shopping.”

“Did she report it?”

“No, because she didn’t think anything had been taken. But months later, she realized stuff was missing. Nothing really valuable, so she figured it was kids. All that was missing were several small, old photos of her grandparents, an old broken wristwatch from a great aunt, and the small wooden container of her son’s baby teeth.