Page 38 of Ex-SEAL Bad Boy

“Oh, yeah, he was here for a little while.”

“I thought you two didn’t get along.”

I had to think fast.

“Yeah, well, we buried the hatchet, so to speak, when I drove him home the other night. He came by to let me know abouta potential marketing opportunity opening up with his Navy buddy who’s starting his own company.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah, but I don’t think it’s right for me. It’s stuff that’s not really in my area of expertise.”

“I’m sorry to hear that, I know you must be disappointed. But hey, I’m glad you two are getting along now.”

Getting along?

I guess he could say that. If only he knew.

We have dinner out on the back deck.

I feel safer with Liam around, even though he has no clue what’s happening. Even if he did, he wouldn’t be much help.

Liam is not much of a fighter and never has been. That’s another odd thing about his friendship with Ethan. But then, that might be the key after all.

There’s never any competition between the two of them. Liam has his place, and Ethan has his; they fit together perfectly, each with his own strengths.

I ask Liam about this game he’s developing, more to keep my mind distracted than anything else.

“Well, you’re familiar with Grand Theft Auto, right?”

Unfortunately, I was. Dax loved that game. Sometimes, he’d play all night, leaving me alone and bored.

“It’s sort of like that,” he continues. “The player goes through several scenarios, being chased by cartel baddies whom he double-crosses. It’s very realistic.”

“The graphics are tremendous. One of the things developers have struggled with for years in first-person shooters is getting explosions to look realistic, but I think we solved that problem. We have some excellent graphics guys.”

I’m sorry I asked.

While I’m doing dishes my phone pings.

I see it’s Ethan and take it in the other room.

“What are you doing?” he asks.

“Cleaning up after dinner. Liam came by and ....”

“No time. Listen, can you get out without being noticed?”

It had begun to rain, and I saw Liam involved in a conversation with Mom and Dad in the living room.

“I think so.”

“Good, meet me outside in ten and don’t say anything to anyone.”

“But ...” I begin, but he’d already hung up

“Get in,” Ethan shouts over the rain drumming on the old silver Ford Taurus roof.

I don’t get it. Why is he driving this car? Where are we going?

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