Page 84 of Shadow Operative

The walls were beige concrete, and the house had an orange barrel roof with a brick driveway. Several palm trees surrounded the home. The place was small and not especially fancy but nice, nonetheless.

She expected the police to be stationed outside the place, but she didn’t see anyone. She even scanned the cars parked on the street, looking for anyone hunkering down inside who might be a cop in disguise.

But all the vehicles appeared empty.

Curious. Nia would think the police would want to plant someone here in case Cormac came back. Unless they were betting on him not coming back, which could be the case. Or, for all she knew, they could have already found him.

She didn’t expect to find the man here. But it seemed as if it would be a disservice to the investigation if she and Gage didn’t come here and at least look.

Cautiously, they walked up to the front door, and Gage knocked. He craned his neck, scanning everything around them as he did.

Nia was certain he hadn’t let down his guard since all this craziness began, and she could appreciate that.

There was no answer, just as expected.

He knocked again, but there was still no answer.

Again, not a surprise.

“What now?” Nia turned toward him.

Gage scanned the front of the house. Then he walked to a window by the small porch and cupped his hands around his eyes to peer inside. The sun glinted off the glass, making it hard to see.

“Anything?” she asked.

Gage backed up and shook his head. “No, everything looks normal. No signs of a struggle or anything like that.”

“Cormac’s a smart man. I’m sure he didn’t come back. Half of medidexpect there to be some damage though.”

“Me too.”

“You’re not planning on breaking in, are you?” She stared up at him, curious as to his reaction.

Gage glanced around one more time. “That wouldn’t be a good idea. I don’t see any cops, but I have a hard time believing they’re not keeping their eye on this place.”

“My thoughts exactly.”

“Let me check out the backyard.”

Nia started to follow him around that way when she saw someone step from a neighbor’s house. She tensed, wondering if there would be a confrontation.

“Can I help you two?” the neighbor called.

The man was probably in his sixties with a robustbelly, age spots on his face, and nearly nonexistent hair on his head.

Gage paused. “Just looking for Cormac.”

“You and the police too. They were here last night and this morning.”

“I guess that means you haven’t seen him,” Nia said.

“Nope. Sure haven’t. That’s what I told the police too.”

Suddenly, a memory hit Nia. A memory of a conversation she’d had with Rob and Cormac.

She looked at the man. “You must be Lillard.”

He narrowed his eyes, his shaggy eyebrows becoming one. “Are you a friend?”

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