Page 31 of Final Approach

Now he was sweating. A glance at his phone told him his time was running short. He was going to have to leave to meet Hank. He studied Kristine. A woman who’d captured and continued to hold his interest. He turned his attention back to the task at hand. Allowing her to distract him might cause him to miss something.

On the garage wall opposite the entrance to the house, there was a mounted organizer for yard work tools that held items like a rake, brooms, a spade, and a digging hoe. He nudged Kristine, who’d just closed a toolbox. “The shovel is missing.”

She raised a brow. “Okay.”

“Well, look at this place. It’s in perfect order. Where’s the shovel?”

“Maybe it broke? Someone borrowed it?”

“Yeah, of course. Maybe.” He looked around. The outside lights were on. “I’m going to take a look around outside.”

“You think he buried it.”

“Yeah.”

She followed him outside and he shivered in the cool night air while he scanned the backyard. He could see pretty well, thanks to the exterior lights.

“What are we looking for?” she asked.

“That. See it?”

“I do.”

They walked together to the edge of the fence. The shovel was leaning into the corner of the fence and there was a hole in the ground next to it.

Kristine planted her hands on her hips. “Stating the obvious here—someone dug it up.”

“Why do I think that someone is Jacob?”

“Or the guy who hired Marcus?” she asked. “Trying to get his money back now that Marcus is dead? But I don’t know how he’d know it was here unless Marcus told him.”

“Well, the only way to find out for sure is to locate them.”

“Any ideas on how to do that?”

“A few.” He glanced at his phone. “But I’ve got a meeting.”

“What kind of meeting?”

“I’m not exactly sure. Guess I’ll find out when I get there. My buddy who’s undercover with the Serpentine Network reached out and wants to meet.”

“Meet? In person? Is that safe?”

“Not by a long shot. He’s been in the South Carolina branch of the organization, so it’s a bit of a drive for him.” He paused. “You want to come? You have to wait in the car and not let anyone see you, but it might be good for me to have backup.”

“Sure, but what about Nathan?”

“He left earlier to go meet Jesslyn. I don’t want to bother him. They need their time together.”

She smiled. “You’re a good friend.”

“Nah, just collecting points for when it’s my turn.” He studied her, wondering when he’d work up the nerve to ask her out. Thunder boomed, a loud crack that made his ears ring. “Wow, sounds like the storm is going to be a doozy.”

“I love storms.”

“I’m sorry, what?”

She laughed. “I do. As long as I don’t have to be out in them.”