Page 32

Theo

On Monday morning, I check my watch, running the math in my head. Two and a half hours. That’s how long Mackenzie said she’d be gone. Mike, a new guy with Clear Security, is driving her today. She had something to handle at the office, but she’ll be back by lunch. It’s been a little over a week since Crystal’s flurry of video releases, and the press gaggle has been unrelenting, as have the police. It’s wreaked havoc on our schedules and our emotions and our lives.

Grantham still assures us they’re not buying what Crystal keeps trying to sell, but he’s also encouraged us to cooperate as fully as possible. And that means more publicity and more questions from the board and our customers. I’ve been trapped on the phone and called to meetings and site visits at all hours, trying to keep everyone pacified and feeling secure about the future of our company and our ability to continue functioning effectively.

All this to say, I don’t mind working from home today one bit, but that’s not my sole duty this morning. Levi’s upstairs, curled up in bed, warm with fever but resting instead of going to camp. Georgia is on vacation until September, so I’m in charge of him for now, until Mackenzie returns. I’ve checked on him twice already, refilled his water, made sure the ibuprofen kicked in. He’s okay.

For now.

I exhale slowly, pushing down the knot of unease in my gut, and try to focus on my call with Grantham.

“Inspector Harris isn’t asking anymore,” he tells me, low and firm. “He wants you to come in. Now. There are some files he wants you to review.”

I press the heel of my hand to my forehead, eyes squeezed shut for a beat. “Tell him I’ll come this afternoon,” I say. “I can’t leave right now. Mackenzie’s out, and Levi’s sick.”

There’s a pause. Not long, but long enough to say everything.

“I don’t think they care,” Grantham replies. “They’re threatening to issue a warrant. You need to get ahead of this.”

I glance at my watch again. Two and a half hours. Surely, I can review documents and be back before then. I just hate the way this is going to fire everything up again—rumors, speculation, my own emotions. This is all Crystal’s fault. The district attorney did exactly what she hoped he’d do. She has the police crawling all over us, and today is yet again my day. I’ve tried putting them off, but it seems their patience is gone.

Talk about the worst timing.

I push away from my desk, moving quickly. Phillip is downstairs, so he can drive me, but I need to let Scott know. He’s working the home security office right now, just a few feet away.

I knock on the doorframe as I step in. He’s hunched over paperwork, pen tapping rhythmically against the desk. His eyes flick up, alert.

“Got a minute?” I ask.

Scott sets the pen down. “What’s going on?”

“The cops want me at the station,” I say, keeping my tone casual, like it’s just another meeting. “I should be back before Mackenzie gets home. Levi’s still asleep upstairs, but if you hear him call out or he needs anything, just check on him, all right?”

Scott nods. “Got it.”

I turn to leave, but something nags at me, the feeling that this isn’t just a quick errand, that once I walk out that door, everything might change.

Scott leans back in his chair. “You want me to sit with him?”

I shake my head. “No, just listen for him. He was out cold last time I checked. Should be fine.”

“Okay,” he says, already turning back to his paperwork. “I’ll keep an ear out.”

I stand there for a split second longer than I should. There’s something tugging at me, an itch at the edge of instinct, but I ignore it. Levi’s fine. I should be back in ninety minutes, maybe less.

My phone buzzes with another call from Grantham as I head for the door. I don’t slow down. I don’t look back.

And that’s my mistake.