Page 89 of Talk Birdie to Me

“Because you’re going to come with me, and you’re not going to make a peep.”

“I don’t know what’s happening?”

She was afraid she didn’t sound quite so innocent anymore. It was hard when her voice was as shaky as her insides. And as pained as this now obvious betrayal felt.

“You do know,” James said. “And you’re going to do exactly what I say. And I say to stand up and walk to the exit.”

She dropped all pretenses and glared at him. “And why would I do that?”

The weariness in his tone grew as he said flatly, “Because if you don’t, that bird is expendable.”

23

Cody pulled into the parking lot of Geena’s office building, where he killed the engine and exited his car in one smooth motion.

He’d told Lauren to cover for him while he took a long break. Geena wasn’t answering her phone, presumably because she was busy with work. He figured he could pick her up and take her to lunch, where they could talk about Gary and that potential PIN.

Halfway down the row of cars, he spotted Geena walking out of the building with a man behind her. She must be going to lunch with a coworker. Although, he’d have thought she’d return his call or reply to his texts before leaving.

Something about the way they walked made him pause beside a large, black SUV. Geena was staring straight ahead with a stiffness to her movements. The man followed close behind, his long legs making easy strides while his head swiveled to scan the parking lot.

Cody tried to remain hidden behind the vehicle, glad for a break in the rain so he could peek clearly at the pair. He dared a better look once the man’s gaze shifted from Cody’s location.

His stomach sank.

He was looking at the man who had dropped off Gary at the zoo.

The man who would have known exactly where to find Gary that night that Cody interrupted the break-in.

No, Cody thought. If the thief was this guy, wouldn’t he have just kept Gary and not dropped him off in the first place?

Then Cody remembered Anthony had arranged the drop-off himself before he went to jail. This guy wouldn’t have been able to keep the bird without the zoo knowing Gary had never arrived.

Adrenaline rushed through his body as it took every bit of concentration he could muster to not rush across the lot and tackle the man.

Why hadn’t Geena let Cody know she was going to lunch with this guy? Assuming he was a coworker.

Did she know this was the man who had dropped off Gary? Had she put something together that she didn’t have a chance to tell Cody about?

He reexamined her stiff posture and purposeful movements. Her stony gaze was aimed straight ahead of her.

This could just be how she presented herself at work for all Cody knew.

Or it could be how she looked when she was in danger.

Cody’s pulse picked up its pace as he weighed his options. She didn’t look like she was in any immediate danger. The man behind her didn’t seem to have a weapon. Not a visible one, at least.

Maybe Cody was wrong. Maybe this was just lunch between two coworkers.

Or maybe Geena was in as much trouble as Gary was.

Gary.

If this guy was responsible for Gary’s disappearance, he might be their only lead to find the parrot.

If Cody approached the man, he’d probably lie. And if Geena knew that he had Gary, the man would surely ditch any evidence that he had the bird.

Plus, there was the risk of escalating the situation, which could put Geena in real danger.

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