Page 54 of Key Change

I’ll keep that secret, but now you owe me forever.

Or perhaps Hayden was talking to Margot about something other than him. They had more interesting things in their lives than him. At least, he hoped they did. Maybe Hayden was about to leave.

He doubted it even as he thought it.

Was Hayden telling Margot how Anthony had already breached one of his parole conditions?

Fuck.

He walked back around the corner, not knowing what to do.

There was only one thing to do.

Hayden couldn’t hold the threat to his throat if he caught the blade with both hands. He walked along the path, following the same route he took when he went running, stopping when he reached the café. He bought a bottle of water, then sat on a bench that overlooked the ocean.

His gut churned, in much the same way Cillian’s must have at the idea of telling his agent everything. He needed to follow his own advice. Would he really be sent back for another six months? Would he be dropping Liam in the shit?

What a fucking mess.

He unscrewed the cap and took a drink of the icy water, not even seeing the ocean. It wasn’t Hayden’s job to keep tabs on him. It was Mick’s.

And it was better Mick heard everything from him, not from the private investigator tailing him, or Hayden, or the cops. He gripped the cold-water bottle with one hand and brought up Mick’s number with the other, but it was several seconds before he pressed call.

The phone rang a couple of times. Sweat beaded on his back while his thoughts ran in ever darker circles.

Mick picked up and answered in his usual cheerful fashion. “How’s it going, Anthony?”

Anthony gritted his teeth and swallowed before answering. “Not good.”

He needed to get his shit together and be coherent, not an anxious mess.

“Want to tell me why?”

He wanted to rail about Hayden, but he needed to be calm, something he’d once been able to do. “I’ve run into a couple of problems, and I’m worried.”

“Okay. Let’s talk it through and see if we can sort it.”

Anthony closed his eyes and hoped Mick’s version of sorting it out didn’t involve having him arrested. Mick had always been reasonable, and encouraging, even admitting that a class on résumé writing and interview skills was a waste of time, but the box needed to be checked.

Where was the best place to start?

With the smallest issue.

“One of Rafe’s old friends approached me and offered me a job. I called him, but the offer doesn’t feel right. So as much as I need?—”

“Don’t take the job. It won’t look good on your review, plus it may lead to temptations that will end with you doing another stretch. Can I have the name of Rafe’s friend?”

Anthony deliberated for a couple of seconds. “Frank Farring, I didn’t keep the business card, but I can send you his number.”

“Much appreciated. If he’s approached you, he may approach Liam.”

“That’s my next problem. I go running along the beach near my sister’s place. Liam knows where she lives and…” He paused, not wanting to mention the letter. Even if the PI had seen Liam at the house, that didn’t mean he knew about the letter. “He was on the path, waiting for me.”

“What did you do?”

He needed to confess, despite the risk. “I stopped, we had a quick talk, and I reminded him this can’t happen. I don’t want to go back.” He missed his friends, and surviving on the outside would be easier if he and Liam were in it together. He squeezed the bottle, and the plastic crinkled. Condensation dripped onto his jeans.

“I know you don’t, and running into each other once on the public path isn’t enough for that to happen. If you keep running into him, however, that’s not going to look great for him, as he doesn’t live near your sister. Is that the only time you’ve seen him?”

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