Page 109 of Smoke Screen
Laptop in hand,Phin hauled ass into the Theater.
Cruz, being a notorious night owl during an active case, sat in his normal spot at the conference table, pounding away on his computer.
His brother flicked his gaze over the top of the screen. “What are you doing up?”
“Couldn’t sleep. I found something. I think. I don’t know. Maybe.”
“You’re babbling.” Cruz sat back held his hands wide. “And you don’t babble. What is it?”
“When Maddy was questioned by the feds, they showed her a video. Neck Tattoo guy at her apartment. He had a key.”
Cruz’s jaw dropped and anticipating the vicious tongue-lashing he was about to receive for not clueing his brothers in on that little development, Phin held his hands up. “I know.”
“Then why didn’t you tell us?”
An excellent question Phin had no response to. A sour taste filled his mouth. “I … uh.”
When was the last time he, of all people, was speechless?
Fatigue. That’s what this was. Total lack of mental and physical rest.
“Forget it,” Cruz said, clearly sensing Phin’s impending self-flagellation and giving him a reprieve. “We’ll deal with it later. What have you got?”
Cruz. Always willing to give a guy a chance to make things right. Had to love him.
Phin set the laptop on the table, opened it, and entered his password. He brought up the video and spun the laptop. “Thompson sent security footage from the executive suite. I couldn’t sleep, so I started going through it.”
“You got a hit?”
“Maybe. Thompson’s nephew—Louis Three—is interning as an executive assistant.” Phin pointed at the laptop. “Watch.”
Cruz tapped the mouse pad. “This him?”
“Yep.”
A minute later, Cruz sat back and let out a whistle. “We’re assuming those are Maddy’s keys?”
“He didn’t have them in his hand when he walked in. At first, I figured eh, no big deal. Maybe Maddy told him to grab them for her or whatever.”
“Did you ask her?”
“It’s the middle of the night. I’m not waking her up for that.”
He’d also rather not mention exactly where specifically she snoozed.
Phin pointed at the laptop. “Did you see how he walked by, looked inside, kept going and then turned back? He made sure she wasn’t in there.”
“Suspicious, for sure.” Cruz sat forward. “Let’s get Zeke down here.”
His phone lay next to his laptop on the table, and he tapped it. A ringing sound filled the quiet air, and then abruptly stopped.
“Three-thirty?” Zeke said, his voice carrying the jagged edge of sleep. “This better be good.”
“It is. I’m in the Theater with Phin. He has a possible lead.”
“Give me five.”
Poking at the screen, Cruz sat back, propped his feet up. “I didn’t get into you holding out on us. No sense pissing him off when he’s half asleep. We’ll tell him when he gets here. Now, do you wanna explain what you’re doing up at this hour?”
