Page 100 of Rules of Engagement

"He hasn't returned back to your house at all?"

"No. I've been here all day. What's happened? Is Damien okay?"

"I'm sure he's fine. I'm just trying to track him down."

"Are you at the hospital?" Dad asked. "Is there any news about Solomon?"

"Only that he's stable and under twenty-four-hour guard. Yesterday's incident doesn't seem to have caused any damage. Dad, I have to go now. I'll call you later, or if you see Damien, please have him call me."

"Okay," agreed Dad.

I shook my head at Maddox. "No sign of Damien at my parents' house. What did Delgado say?"

"Just that he and Anastasia were at the hospital. No one's seen Damien but they're looking for him. We need to think of someplace Damien would go."

"There isn't anywhere. He doesn't have any friends here that I know about, and there's nowhere that he frequents. He's staying at my parents and aside from the hospital and police station, there's nowhere else I can think of where he could be. Unless —" I paused, realizing there was one other option. "Maybe he's at my house."

"If he's desperate, he's probably looking for cash. A lot of it."

"My parents don't have any cash lying around. Mom is thrilled if she finds a ten-dollar bill in the laundry basket."

"What about Anastasia? Does she have money?"

"I don't think so. Not the kind of money we're talking about."

"Solomon, then? He's done pretty well in life."

I thought about the uncashed million dollar check again. "He keeps some money in the gun safe and there's some petty cash here at the agency. Sometimes, it's a few thousand for payoffs and expenses but I don't know how much is here right now." I turned back to Solomon's desk. There was a cash box in the bottom drawer. I pulled it open. "The lock's been smashed," I said as I pulled the heavy case onto the desk and opened it. "It's empty!"

"Did you tell him about the secret compartment at the house?" asked Maddox.

"No, but Solomon could have told him. I don't remember seeing any cash inside. Could he want what's inside?" I asked, while avoiding telling Lucas what I found in Solomon's closet.

"Maybe to sell on the black market," said Maddox. "Would he know how to get inside?"

"He would need keys and the access code to the house."

"Where are your keys and Solomon's?"

"Mine are in my pocket. Solomon’s are at the hospital. Damien could easily have lifted them," I realized with a gulp.

"Would he guess the alarm code?"

"Solomon's keys have a fob that can be tapped against the alarm keypad. It switches it off without any need for the code. Lucas, you stay here and do everything you can to find Damien. Get everyone looking for him. Maddox, we need to get over there. Now!"

We parked at the end of the street, jogging to the house. Nothing looked different. The drapes hadn't moved, and the windows remained shut. No one had scribbled "maniac brother hiding inside" on the door. Yet my nerves fizzled uncomfortably as I took the steps. This time, however, it wasn't because the shadow of that terrible night still lingered.

"What if he's not here?" I said to Maddox.

"Then we have to find him."

"What if he is here?"

"Then I'd go back in time and not answer the first question."

"Very funny."

"Yeah, I thought so." He shifted his jacket back and reached for his gun. "Let's go inside. Stay behind me. If Damien's here, I don't want him to panic."

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