Page 80 of Ride the Lightning

“What about the prison guards?” Jonah asked Felix. “Have you had any luck there?”

Felix shook his head. “Opie was Joshua Matheson, who passed away in 1997. I haven’t been able to track down Bird yet. I figure he’s the one we really need to speak to because he worked at Georgia State Prison when the coercion would’ve happened.”

“I have connections at GSP,” Jonah said. “Let me take a swing at it.”

“Thanks,” Felix told him. “I also reached out to the Ison family this week. Dennis was friendly and eager to talk about his brother. The sister, Ava, slammed the door in my face. I decided to take a chance and interview Earl’s mother at the nursing home. Dennis gave me permission and said his mother was still sharp and alert to what’s going on around her. When I showed up, she was in the community room watchingDrag Raceof all things. The other residents were loving it, but Mona Ison looked sad. I introduced myself and told her why I was there. She was polite, but her gaze kept shifting to the television. She pointed at it and said, ‘I bet my Earl was magnificent.’ I’ve never heard so much regret in anyone’s voice. She remembered Earl’s death like it was yesterday. She and Thomas were out of town at the time. Police notified Dennis, who tracked them down in Sarasota. Thomas definitely has a solid alibi, and I think we can safely eliminate Dennis. Maybe it’s someone from the construction crew, but it wasn’t them.”

“More dead ends,” Jonah said.

“Maybe we can trace the listening and tracking devices back to someone,” Rocky suggested.

“How?” Jonah asked.

“Avery sent me pictures of the bug he found planted in the receiver of your phone. I took pictures of the tracking device on your car. Both are the kind law enforcement agencies use in their investigations,” Rocky said. “Someone had to put in a request for them. We just need to find out who.”

Felix tipped his head to the side and tapped his index finger against his chin. “If only we knew someone who could sneak in like a ninja hacker and find proof that Trexler is the one who requested those devices.”

Avery.

“It’s too risky. No matter how talented he is, Avery could get caught. Then he’d go to prison.”

“Avery said he has a contingency plan for that too,” Felix replied. “First, he laughed at us and explained he wasn’t using an ordinary laptop that you can get at Best Buy. Then, he used a bunch of cyber-geek speak but it was something about the dark web and how anyone looking too close will blame the Russians.”

Jonah narrowed his eyes. “If he gets hurt because of me…”

“We’re keeping him safe and will continue to do so until you get back on your feet,” Rocky assured Jonah.

“What will we do once we can verify Trexler is the one who planted the devices?” Jonah asked.

“Use them to our advantage and set a trap, of course,” Felix replied, smiling like a Cheshire cat.

After Rocky and Felix left, Jonah took some Advil and kicked back in his recliner, intending to take a brief nap. Sunlight bathed his chair, and the gentle breeze coming through the open window ruffled his hair. Jonah closed his eyes and imagined he was lying on a blanket with Avery on the beach. Nope. He’d had enough sand to last him a lifetime. A picnic? Yeah, that’s better. Blanket, sunshine, and Avery. It was a good start.

They’d just finished eating and decided to stretch out on the blanket in the sun like lazy dogs. Jonah imagined reaching for Avery’s hand and lifting it to his mouth so he could kiss Avery’s palm. Then maybe he would press a kiss to Avery’s pulse point on his wrist before working his mouth higher along Avery’s arm, stopping when he reached the junction of his shoulder and neck. The curve was the perfect place to lick, kiss, nibble, and mark. Jonah’s body started to come alive as his brain relaxed further into the fantasy.

Avery would make those whimpering gasps that drove him crazy. Jonah wouldn’t be able to resist licking upward to Avery’s earlobe and biting the tender flesh once there.

The next logical step would be to cover Avery’s body with his own, to give him the weight and heft Avery craved. Avery would look up at him with trust and want. Capturing Avery’s mouth in a long, lazy kiss had to be the next objective. Jonah would slide his hand inside Avery’s hair, anchoring his head in place. He imagined Avery parting his lips to grant him entrance. That’s where things could get dicey. One taste of Avery and Jonah wouldn’t want to stop. But they were on a picnic blanket in a park. A public indecency charge wasn’t something either of them would want.

This is a fantasy, dumbass.Strip him naked. You know you want to.

Jonah tasted the sunshine on Avery’s skin as he removed each piece of clothing.Oh, yeah.Now, we’re talking.Picnic porn.

The breeze kicked up again, and Jonah was confused if it was happening in real life or his imaginary picnic. Who cared? All he needed was to keep kissing Avery, to keep soaking up the sunshine. Jonah’s breathing deepened and his body felt heavier.

Beep. Beep.

A car horn jolted him awake. Glancing at his watch, Jonah was shocked to see he’d slept for two hours. He hoped to catch Avery at lunch and sent him a quick text.

I’m thinking about having a pizza picnic in my living room and watching a movie. What do you say?

Sounds fun. Who’s your lucky date?Avery asked.

Avery’s sass did more to ease Jonah’s dull headache than the ibuprofen or nap.He’s an irresistible guy with a quick wit and a smart mouth.

Irresistible, huh?I’ll be there by six if you can agree to a few terms.

Jonah chewed his bottom lip while he tapped out a reply.Such as?He couldn’t wait to see Avery’s list of demands.