Page 85 of Shadow Operative

She nodded. “I remember Cormac talking about you. He always loved those cookouts you threw for the Fourth of July. And you liked to give him fish after long days out on the charters. The tuna was always his favorite.”

His face softened as if her words had caused a temporary trust between them. “He does love his tuna. I told him I would start charging him. Not that I really will.”

“We’re worried about him and trying to find him,” Nia said.

He rubbed his chin. “I figured there was some type of trouble. The police wouldn’t tell me anything. Just that they wanted to question him about an investigation.”

“We think he might be in trouble,” Gage added.

Lillard frowned. “I hate to hear that. I always liked Cormac. He’s a fun guy to have around and a goodneighbor. Never had to worry about the conversation if he was there.”

“Listen, do you have any idea where he may have gone?” Nia said. “If we don’t find him before the police do, there’s a good chance he’ll end up in jail. I don’t want to see that happen. I want to help him.”

The words felt like the truth, probably because they were. She reallydidlike Cormac, and she really didn’t think that he would have killed Rob.

Lillard hesitated another moment before saying, “I didn’t tell the police this. Something told me not to, and I hope I wasn’t wrong. But between you and me, Cormac told me about a fishing cabin his family owns. It actually belongs to his cousin by marriage or something, so it probably couldn’t be traced back to him. But he said he liked to go there when he could. He said it was a good fishing spot.”

Nia’s heart beat harder. “Do you have any idea where this place is?”

“Pretty sure he said it was on the Miami River, out near the Glades. Near an old fishing camp maybe. Can’t remember the exact name.”

Nia knew the basic area. But based on the size of the Glades, going door to door to find him was an impossibility.

“I wish I could give you a specific address,” Lillard continued. “But he did show me a picture of the place once. It’s an old shanty-style cabin. Painted a light-blue color and surrounded by trees. I hope that helps.”

Nia glanced at Gage, and they exchanged a nod.

“This was a huge help,” Nia said. “Thank you so much.”

“If you find him . . . don’t let anybody hurt him.” Lillard’s voice cracked. “He may be the life of the party, but he doesn’t have that much common sense. I think he needs somebody watching out for him.”

chapter

forty

“Good work back there,”Gage told Nia as they headed down the road. “I’m assuming you didn’t just make all that up.”

Nia shook her head. “No, a memory came back to me. The neighbor is right. Cormac is a talker—very engaging and a natural storyteller. I didn’t know if he would ever get out of my office that day he came with Rob. He seemed too content to entertain anybody he was talking to.”

“I suppose his talkativeness worked in our favor.”

“It sounds like it did.” She leaned back in her seat. “Do you think the police know about this cabin?”

“If it’s in the name of a non-family member then there’s a good chance they don’t. And it would be the perfect place for him to go. Escaping to a hotel would be difficult because Cormac would probably have to use a credit card. The police, no doubt, are tracing those.”

“Do you think he’s guilty?” Nia asked. “Are we trying to track down a killer?”

“I can’t tell you that.” Gage stared out the windshield. “But wewillneed to be careful. That’s certain.”

“So this is what we know so far.” Nia leaned back and sighed. “Rob came to my office at two. He seemed happy. He left at two-thirty, and he got a text as he left then a phone call from that same number. Around three, he called Hector.”

“He would have barely had time to get back to his apartment.” Gage readjusted his hands on the steering wheel and stole a glance at her.

“That’s true. And Cormac would most likely meet him at his place, I’m assuming. Rob wouldn’t have even had time to pick him up. Maybe Cormac was waiting for Rob when he got back from our meeting.”

“That’s right,” Gage agreed. “And in that short amount of time, something changed. Rob decided he wanted out. At four, he called to set up dinner with you. Then around four-thirty he called me to ask if I would come.”

Nia turned toward him. “The fact he called you is interesting because I’ve been assuming this was a contract or financial matter. But I don’t know why he would call you if that was the case.”

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