Page 71 of Family Bonds- Kelsey & Van

“There are swings,” Christian said. “I would have thought Kyle would fill you in on that.”

“He did,” he said. “I’m asking you because most of these calls came after midnight. Did you realize that?”

Christian pulled the paper forward as if it was news to him. “I’ll have to look into this more. It’s possible that they were on break or dealing with another issue.”

“Break?” he asked. “So if security is called, they don’t get off of break to handle an emergency?”

“No,” Christian said. “By law they are entitled to a lunch break.”

“If they are paid during their breaks, they still have to respond and not leave the premises,” Van said. That seemed pretty basic knowledge to him. And he knew the security staff were paid for their meals.

“Again,” Christian said, “I’ll look and get back to you.”

“Thanks,” he said.

It went on for about an hour. Not the answers he wanted but gave Christian something to think about.

“That went well,” Kyle said.

“Did it? I think I pissed him off.”

“Nope,” Kyle said. “You’re going to make him work and get you those answers. He’ll do it. Don’t worry. He’s a worker, but it’s possible he’s let things slide with Barry not around.”

“Why?” he asked.

“It happens. Human nature for some. I bet you get your answers by the end of the week. He’s going to want to prove his worth. He’ll most likely find problems that you pointed out and he’ll apologize for not seeing it and get it fixed right away.”

“Why do that for me and not you?” he asked. “Or he’s not afraid of you, which I find hard to believe.”

“I’ve been waiting for you,” Kyle said.

Jesus. Just like his daughter hitting him with shit like that he couldn’t make heads or tails of.

20

SAFE IN HIS ARMS

“Ididn’t know Barry had it in him to be such a dick like that,” Kelsey said later that night frowning.

“I wasn’t happy,” Van said.

“How many have you opened?” she asked. She’d felt bad that it’d taken him so long to consider opening the envelope and then to find out there were more sealed pieces of information to go.

“Two,” he said. “The first one was pictures of me. The second were pictures of my mother.”

She saw the sadness in his eyes. “Can I see them? Or would you rather not?”

“I don’t care,” he said, handing over one pile. They were at his house tonight. He was ordering dinner out. They did try to take turns at each other’s houses, but they spent the night at hers.

Tonight she was staying here with Frankie. It was the first her dog had been in Van’s house and the puppy was a little skittish about leaving the same room his mother was in.

Kelsey figured that was better than him taking off exploring and leaving puddles or piles in places.

She reached her hand for the pictures. Van on the top. “Ohhhh, you were a chubby kid.”

“Thanks,” he said drily.

She moved over and bumped into him as she slid the pictures around in her hand. “Damn. Do you still have that uniform? Does it fit? Hubba hubba. You look skinnier there.”

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