Page 15 of The Question of Us (Fisher & Church #2)

“We can’t tell him exactly why we need it,” Mads warned. “We’re talking about practically stalking a guy.”

“I know.” Gazza’s expression grew serious. “Mike deals with confidentiality all the time. If you knew the big names he’s worked with, you’d be impressed. He’s trustworthy.”

Mads turned to me. “What do you think?”

I shrugged. “I hate the idea of putting Gazza up front like this when it’s not really his problem.”

Gazza’s tawny eyes turned a stormy brown. “Don’t you dare. It is my?—”

“I understand you feel guilty about Tobin, or rather, Ben,” I interrupted.

“But Ben is in jail where he should be and Mads is safe. Lee isn’t your responsibility.

We’re the ones who outed him, so to speak.

We should be the ones to put ourselves out there.

” Without meaning to, my tone still came off patronising and Gazza looked ready to punch me.

Mads’ hand landed on my knee and he caught my eye.

“Actually, I’m the one who outed him.” He held my gaze long enough to make his point, then turned back to Gazza.

“But what Nick means is that we care about you and we want you to come with us, but it doesn’t feel right, you taking such a big and potentially risky role. ”

Isn’t that what I said? Judging by the soft expression on Gazza’s face, I had to assume no.

“I know the risk,” Gazza insisted. “But I’m not a kid and I want to do this. At least let me call Mike and see if he’s up for the challenge. If you don’t like the results, then we’ll find another way, okay?”

The room fell quiet. Mads caught my eye and I shrugged. This was his quest, after all.

He chewed the inside of his cheeks a moment longer, then blew out a long sigh. “Fine. Call your friend. I hate to say it but if Lee is really being coerced into staying against his will, then Gazza’s idea might be our best chance of getting close enough to him to find out.”

I still didn’t like it but I had to agree.

“After losing track of Lee for a few years, I doubt Marty is letting the guy out of his sight too much. We need to be realistic. Nothing we do might end up working and we’ll have to accept that.

Lee might not even be allowed outside the house, let alone answer the front door.

And even if we do manage to get to him, he might not want to be helped. ”

Mads shot me a disgruntled look.

“It has to be said,” I pointed out, and he reluctantly nodded.

“I know,” he relented. “But we can’t plan for that. All we can do is give ourselves the best opportunity we can.”

He was right and I nodded to let him know. “Okay, let’s see what the friend of Gazza’s can do.” I caught Gazza’s eye. “Ask if he’s happy to come here. Then maybe he can give us old guys a few tips as well. Nothing fancy. Just enough to help us stay under the radar for as long as possible.”

Mads nodded enthusiastically. “That’s a great idea. Not just a pretty face, are you?”

I snagged a quick kiss, sending his cheeks a rosy red. “You think I have a pretty face, huh?”

“Oh. My. God,” Gazza grumbled. “You guys are fifty-plus. How about a little consideration for us young dudes who really don’t need to see a couple of old dudes getting their sexy on. We’re gonna need new rules in the studio, I can see that.” But he was smiling.

I grinned against Mads’ lips. “Do you hear that? We’re fifty-plus.”

Mads chuckled. “Horrifying, right? There are wrinkles and everything.”

“Mmm,” I rubbed my nose against his. “You wanna kiss me again? I think you missed a wrinkle.”

“I’ll get right on that.”

Gazza groaned and shot to his feet. “That’s it. I’m going outside to call Mike to see if he’s free this weekend. Be done before I return, yeah?”

And we were . . . just.

“So, what did he say?” I asked Gazza once he was seated again.

“He’s between films right now, so we’re in luck.

And yes, he’s in.” Gazza slid his phone onto the table.

“He’ll come by tomorrow morning with his bag of tricks and see what can be done.

That’ll give me Sunday to practise any applications I need to do before we leave, and he’ll think up a few suggestions for you guys as well.

He said to tell you, changing your hairstyle can make the biggest and simplest difference so you should think on that before he gets here. ”

Mads and I exchanged a look.

“I’m down for whatever,” I told him.

“But I like my hair.” He pouted like we were suggesting cutting off one of his hands.

I twisted a lock in my fingers and smiled. “Just think about it.”

“Fine,” he grumbled, then winced. “God, I hate that word. I guess we’re really doing this then.” He looked genuinely nervous for the first time.

“I guess we are,” I answered, equally concerned.

“Yep. Me three.” Gazza launched himself out of his chair and joined us on the couch. “Group hug, kids.” He threw his arms around both of us until all I could see was his bright shirt. It was like being hugged by a giant avocado.

Mads laughed and pushed him away. “You better get ahead on that book you’re working on, then.”

He nodded. “I’ll work late tonight and extra on Sunday. Can I bunk down here?”

“Of course.” Mads switched his attention to me, a sly smile stealing over his face. “Are you going to let Samuel know?”

Good question. Samuel knew Mads intended to follow up on Lee and he’d told me I needed to keep the man safe and be the voice of reason.

But I was pretty sure it hadn’t occurred to him that we might leave so quickly, and I didn’t want to give him the opportunity to lay the law down about what we could and couldn’t do before we’d even laid an eye on the place. ”

“I’ll let him know once we get there,” I said, avoiding both their eyes.

Mads snorted and shook his head. “You’re going to be in so much trouble.”

I so fucking was. “Nah. He’ll understand.”