Page 61 of Kill Me Sweetly

“Sorry, what was the issue?”

“So the phone numbers were different, and it’s not a huge thing, but they were vastly different. The one on the application was the one we called to set up an interview, but on the employment form it was different so I wasn’t sure which to put in the system, so I called both.”

The TV showed a view of a coffee shop a block from Harper Reese’s building.

“Every morning at nine, there was a hit here and across the street at the deli. Like they got coffee, then lunch before going to work.” Nick pointed to the TV.

Lizzy started talking again, but I’d missed the first part while I was listening to Nick. “And they told me they hadn’t been home for a while and were worried and I was confused, so I said sorrymy mistake and good luck, because what the hell do you say to that and after that, I called the second number.”

“It took some time, but we got a face for the cell-phone owner.” Noel hit a button, and three different angles of the same face came up on the screen…a face I’d seen before.

“And then that number was the one I needed. I fixed it in the system but weird, right?” Lizzy chuckled.

JJ and Mason gasped at the same time Gabe growled, “That son of a bitch.”

“Lizzy…who are we talking about?”

“Were you not listening to me?” She giggled.

“Lizzy,” I repeated louder, and everyone looked at me. “Who?”

And as I stared at the television at the familiar face, she answered me.

“Wes.”

“Shep,” JJ called my name. “Isn’t that Wes?”

I nodded. “Lizzy, listen to me carefully. Text me the number of the first place you called. Do not let Wes know about the mix-up or anything.”

“You’re scaring me, Shep.” Her voice trembled. “And I already told him about the discrepancy in the phone numbers, so I could find the right one.”

“That’s fine, he might not suspect. But keep the shop closed; act no differently.”

She was silent for a minute. “He’s bad news, isn’t he?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, I’ll send you the number and keep the shop closed.”

“Thanks, Lizzy.”

I disconnected the call, and the text came through.

“What’s going on, Shep?” JJ asked but I held up a finger to hold off, instead calling the number Lizzy sent.

“Hello?” a man answered.

“Good morning, is this Wesley?”

“No, it’s his father. This is his phone, though.”

“Sir, I’m Shepard Saint from Saintly Sweets. Did your son have an interview with me?”

“Oh my God, please, do you know where he is? He left to go to the interview, but I didn’t see him again. I told the cops.”

The cops never showed up, and I had a feeling that was all thanks to the consortium.

“No, sir, he never showed up. It’s been over a week, and I was actually calling to find out if he was still interested, but I’m so very sorry for what you’re going through.”

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