Page 211 of Perfect Pitch

“Me too, Austyn. The condo’s been lonely without you.”

We walk to the corner where Trevor managed to find a parking spot. We’re chattering away for miles, making me grateful for the privacy of his vehicle where I can talk freely. Finally, I wonder, “How did you know I was dying to get out and smell the fresh air?”

We hit a pocket of green lights in my old neighborhood. Trevor beams at me. “I just knew. Silly, you should have called me sooner.”

“I know. I’m so sorry I didn’t.”

He tucks me close to his side. “Everything’s going to be perfect now.”

“Where are we going to eat?” My head swivels as we pass delis, Greek diners, and pizza parlors. My stomach gurgles in delight at the thought of consuming any of them.

“Home.” His smile is filled with confidence.

I sock him in the arm jokingly. “But, Trev, my condo is back in Manhattan where you picked me up.”

He turns to face me and the green of his eyes is eclipsed by the black of his pupils. “You know your home is with me. You’ve known it since the first day we met. You just forgot for a little while.”

I scoot as far back as I can before he reaches out, wraps his hand around my wrist, and jerks me toward him. Fear drips from every syllable of his name. “Trevor?”

We pull up in front of River View and Trevor lifts me over the console and drags me from the vehicle. “You should have known you were meant to be with me, not my brother. But that’s okay. I know how to fix everything.”

* * *

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED FIVE

Conversation starter: If you could save one person in the world, but you don’t know the consequence to yourself, would you do it?

—Jacques Yves, Celebrity Blogger

I’m staring at the wall at Hudson chewing on my lower lip. “Something’s still not right.”

“I know you’re right, but I can’t see it either,” Kane admits.

There’s a knock on the door. “Yeah?” I call out.

Caleb ducks his head in. “Kane, you received a coded communication that hit my system a few minutes ago... what’s this?” He wanders in.

“It’s a timeline of everything that’s happened to Beckett and Austyn since they met,” I explain.

“We’ve ruled out Zandra and we’re trying to pull another thread,” Kane grumbles.

Caleb stares at the folder in his hand before glancing up at the ceiling. “I think you’re getting a little outside help on this one.” He holds out the file to Kane, who immediately rips it open.

“Christ,” Kane bites off. He turns and glares up at the ceiling, waving the papers.

In response, the lights flicker on and off. “Is Sam fucking with us from the lab?”

Kane’s teeth snap together so sharply, if his tongue was in the way, I’m certain he’d have bitten it off. “No. It’s my military... contact. Crash.”

I turn to Caleb to ask him how the hell a military contact of Kane’s has any clue about what’s going on inside Hudson only to find he doesn’t even appear mildly perturbed someone’s in our network. Shoving my questions to the back of my mind for later, I ask, “And what does Crash have to say?”

Kane holds out the papers. On them are typed YOU’RE NOT GOING BACK FAR ENOUGH.

Followed by KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE AND YOUR ENEMIES CLOSER.

And the timeline drawing has been extended.

I pick up the stylus and extend the line, muttering, “I don’t know what this has to do with Beckett...” when all the lights in the conference room shut down. I know it’s not a power failure because the whiteboard is glowing. I snap, “Okay, who the fuck is Crash? And would they mind turning the lights back on?”

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