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Laura smiled. “Now that I do know. One of the agents grew up here. They’re friends.”
Peg nodded. “That makes sense.”
“So, Laura, what’s on our to-do list tonight?” Bill asked.
“Just carrying out the garbage and that’s it for the evening. You’ve both been working like slaves, anyway. We’re expecting a new shipment of supplies tomorrow, so we’ll have to unload that when it arrives.”
Bill nodded. “Okay, thanks. At my age, I can use a couple extra hours of sleep.”
“Yeah, me, too,” Leon said.
“Where’s Judd Allen?” Peg asked. “He usually helps you with the lifting.”
“I don’t know,” Bill said. “I haven’t seen him all day. Have you seen him, Leon?”
Leon shook his head.
“Well, when he shows up, tell him I need to talk to him,” Peg said.
Bill waved his spoon to acknowledge the order and finished off his food. He dumped the plastic bowl and spoon in the trash, and headed out into the gym with Leon at his heels.
Mary eyed him curiously. “Leon’s a strange one, but Bill isn’t a bad-looking guy, if you don’t mind a bald head and a few wrinkles,” she added.
Peg frowned. “Bill is a little bit bowlegged.”
“And what does that have to do with anything?” Laura asked.
Mary giggled. “Peg’s first husband was bowlegged. He cheated on her, so she doesn’t trust bowlegged men.”
Laura grinned. These two women made her day. “I have some reports to write up, so I’m going to take my food back to the office. Great job, you two.” She grabbed an apple on her way out.
* * *
Across the room, Cameron saw Laura leaving the kitchen and watched her walk all the way through the gym until she disappeared around the corner before he turned back to the conversation in progress.
“After you eat, we want to show you some pictures,” Tate was saying to Nola.
She frowned. “I already told you I wouldn’t recognize him.”
“It’s still a shot we have to take,” he said.
“Fine, I’ll look. Are they here, or do I have to go to the police station?”
He tapped his laptop.
She sighed and took another bite just as Tate’s phone rang. When he saw the caller ID was the hospice in Washington, D.C., he frowned. She remembered that look. Something was up.
“Excuse me. I have to take this,” he said, and walked away.
She watched, telling herself it was curiosity and not a desire to sneak extra glances. It was obvious by his body language he wasn’t happy, but when he ended the call, she made a point not to stare.
Wade glanced up as Tate sat back down.
“Is it your mom again?”
Tate nodded.
“Sorry, man.”