Page 25 of Twice Missing

"Are you sure that Jake isn't a distraction or a means of creating jealousy?"

"For who?"

"Noah."

"Noah? What has he got to do with it?"

"I don't know. You tell me. Maybe I can help."

"Help? You haven't had a relationship with anyone inages. I don't know why I'm discussing this with you. I'm done with this conversation."

"Hold that thought."

"Oh now you want to shut me up."

"No, Thorne, we've got some action," he said, pointing across the street and handing her the binoculars. "Looks like we've got a john."

She peered through. "What the hell. I know that guy. Where do I know that guy from?" she muttered.

"A past relationship, perhaps?" McKenzie teased.

Thorne elbowed him. "No. I've seen him before. He's usually wearing a suit." She lowered the binoculars, deep in thought, then it hit her. She brought the binoculars up and looked through again. "That's Doug Grayson. Lena's father."

"You're shitting me."

"I am not. His billboards are all around town."

"Let me take a look again," McKenzie said, peering through the binoculars. "Well, well, well. Look at that. What does every good illegal business need?"

"A financial advisor, someone who knows how to work the system, do the paperwork, and make sure that everything looks aboveboard,” Thorne said as she set her unfinished burrito down and went to get out of the car.

"Where are you going?" McKenzie demanded.

"Well, it's clear. I'm going to have a few words with him."

"Get back in," McKenzie ordered. "You're going to blow this thing before we've had a chance to gather some evidence. The last thing Noah wants is for you to gocharging into the fray and sending the cartel and the Ashfords back into the shadows for the next ten years. No, we play this cool. Our job is to observe, take photos, build out a case."

Thorne hesitated with her hand on the door before reluctantly getting back in.

"Besides," McKenzie added, "we don't know what that situation is. Doug could be meeting a client."

"At a sleazy one-star motel?"

"Could be the client's choice."

Thorne blew out her cheeks before returning to eating her burrito.

"Thorne, most if not all of life is perception. Good detective work relies on getting all the facts, not blowing your load because you're excited to close a case. I would think you would know all about that."

"What is that supposed to mean? Are we even talking about the same thing here?"

"I don't know, Thorne, are we?" He glanced over at her and grinned.

Just then, they heard a scream. Both of them looked across the street and saw the door open on the motel room Doug had gone into, only to see a woman come rushing out, a shoe off, her top partially open.

"To hell with this," Thorne said, getting out.

"Thorne!"