Page 44 of Unbearable
“Do all of us have green eyes?” he asked.
“So far. Must have been one hell of a dominant trait.”
“Do you know anything else about him?”
“Mom has a blurry picture taken at some concert in the ’80s, and he stayed with Flint’s mom until Flint was about ten. Mom’s always been pretty closed mouthed when it comes to him though.”
“You have a mom?”
“Yes.” Knox looked over at him with a scowl. “Her name is Sunny, and she lives in Kentucky. What of it?”
“Are you always so defensive?”
“Are you?”
“Okay, point taken,” Fox answered after a moment of thought. “I guess that must be a dominant gene too.”
“Nah. I set Memphis on fire all the time, and he barely flinches. Flint is pretty laid back too. As far as Tyler goes, I never push her buttons since she can break me in half.”
“She and Dover should make an interesting pair.”
“I’m looking forward to the fireworks, personally.”
Fox pulled into the parking lot of an upscale strip mall. There were several boutique shops, a bistro, and the salon on the end. Several of the businesses had already closed for the night, including the one Brooke worked at.
He stepped out of the truck and walked over to the door. With his hands cupped around his eyes, he looked through the glass door. Then he pounded on it with his fist hoping someone was still in back.
“Is there a chance she left him inside?” Knox asked.
“I don’t think so. She wouldn’t want to get in trouble with the boss. She likes working here.” He looked around the front windows for anything with a phone number on it.
“I’ll go ask the other shops if they have the owner’s number,” Knox announced before walking off down the sidewalk. Fox pulled on the front door before heading around to the back of the building. There was nothing in back but a dumpster and a row of metal doors. The only signs indicated that it was for deliveries only.
“Anything?” he asked when he returned to the front to find Knox standing next to the door.
“A couple of names, but no last names or numbers. I also learned they do great highlights, in case I’m interested.”
“Shit.” They stood next to the salon trying to figure out what to do next. Without at least a last name, Fox had no idea where to look. Both men startled when his phone toned in his back pocket. He jerked it out and pushed accept without really registering who was calling. “Yes?”
“I finally got her to respond,” Bailey said. “She sent an address. He’s staying with a colleague from the salon named Suzanne. I’m texting it to you now.” His phone pinged again, and he held it out to make sure the address came through.
“Can I bring him to you?” Fox asked, pressing the phone back to his ear. “I don’t think he should go home until I see how angry Brooke is. I don’t need him in the middle of a dangerous domestic situation.”
“Of course, just bring him straight here. Please let me know as soon as you have him.”
“I will.” He hung up his phone and thrust it at Knox. “Route me to that address. I guess he was left with someone she knows from work. Tomorrow, I’m sending something to Memphis, so I don’t have to worry about this again.”
“Not a bad idea. He has a closet full of bagged stuff from the spouses and kids. The rest of us, those who share the same blood, he can find without anything.”
“That sounds better than calming people down. Except, I don’t guess I can even do that anymore. I’ve never had a nosebleed before.”
“Memphis got where he threw up every time he came back when we were looking for Thayer. Looked like death by the time that was over. I think it just takes so much brain power. There’s nothing to throwing a fireball. I just have to check which way the wind is blowing.”
Fox laughed. It felt good to release some of his frustration.
“Now, let’s go get Ethan,” Knox said.
They climbed back in the truck and drove to an older apartment complex. There was a group of men standing around the entrance and debris spread on the ground. It was obvious that no one was interested in upkeep anymore.