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ANOTHER BAD FEELING

It wasn’tuntil they’d left the Tanaka family home that Nick realized something else.

“Where’s Jordan?” he asked.

Turning, he frowned at Morley. “Wasn’t Damon supposed to meet us here? I know we were a little late, but he wouldn’t just take off, would he?”

Thinking about that, Nick frowned.

“He wasn’t the one to lock up the house, was he? Did he go back to the station with the squints or something? Thinking we’d be there?”

Morley frowned.

“You’re just noticing this?” he asked incredulously.

Nick felt his jaw harden.

“It’s been kind of a day for me, boss,” he said, unable to keep the caustic note out of his voice. “I’m not sure you should expect the same blindingly brilliant performance from me that you’ve grown accustomed to receiving.”

Morley grunted. “No shit.”

“Like a fucking day, boss,” Nick added, a touch more warningly. “I’m not kidding.”

Morley nodded, giving him a shrewd look. “Yeah. I got that already. Although you seem to do just fine with the police work part, Midnight. Just not much else. You’re like a fucking zombie until I pull your mind back to the policing bit.”

Nick gritted his teeth, but didn’t answer.

He heard the unspoken message there.

Morley thought Nick was still holding out on him.

Nick got the message. Loud and clear. But since nothing had changed, and neither of them were in a position to be able to talk openly, even now, the heavy-handed messaging only annoyed him.

“So I’ll take you out to breakfast,” Nick said, exasperated. “YouandJordan.”

“Fine,” Morley said.

“Fine,” Nick said.

“Maybe you’ll turn that big fat brain of yours on then,” Morley retorted. “And stop letting it drift off to… wherever the hell you’re letting it drift off to right now. Probably blood and pussy, knowing you.”

There was another silence.

Then Nick lost his patience for real.

“We need to know where he is,” Nick growled. “Jordan. Damon Jordan. Not to be an asshole about it, but it’s not okay for him to just wander off and take a nap somewhere right now. Not without telling us first. Are you in contact with him?”

Nick paused, watching Morley absorb his words.

From his expression, Morley clearly caught what Nick was implying.

“Are you saying––” he began warily.

“Should I ping him?” Nick cut in. “Or are you two already in contact?”

Morley scowled.

Nick caught the genuine annoyance there, but he didn’t much care.