Page 19 of The Secrets We Share

“Keith Sullivan, forty-two, married with three kids. He’s a broker for a firm in the city, but works at a local office here in town. No prior arrests. A couple of speeding tickets. Nothing that seems important to our situation.”

“I figured. Thanks.”

“No problem. Have you heard from Harkin this morning?” he asks.

“Yeah. He’s getting stuff settled with his mom. He wanted to check her into an inpatient center, but she isn’t making things easy. He might have to hire help for the house and extra security for her so she feels safer. He told me he found something but didn’t want to share it over the phone. Did he tell you what it was?”

“He’s got a lead. But shit isn’t looking good for his father. Your father’s men took him; it might not be as easy as we hopedto get him back. Though I’m not sure if that’s Harkin’s MO anymore.”

“Did he tell you what the lead is? Maybe we can start getting shit together here for when he gets back.”

“You should probably talk with him first.”

These two piss me off with all their little boys club secrets. James is beyond loyal to Harkin. Which was great, unless I’m trying to get information from him, and he’s sealed up like Fort Knox. I don’t want to wait for Harkin to get back in a few days to plan our next move. Maybe there’s something I know that could help with whatever it is he’s learned in California.

Harkin isn’t the only one with connections that can be useful to us. It’ll mean going back into the city, and I’m sure that’ll go over about as well as an erection in a nunnery. But if they don’t know, how much trouble could it be?

TEN

KEIRA

Scream My Name - Thomas LaRosa

James insists on driving Cinder and me back to the rental. He takes a short detour to pass by Keith’s house, probably making us seem suspicious as he slows to a crawl, looking for something that isn’t there. The rest of the day ticks by slower than sand falling through an hourglass. My mind fixates on Harkin knowing something I don’t, and whatever that information is that he’s not sharing it with me, only James. We’ll discuss his choices when he gets back and establish an understanding of who comes first inallaspects of our relationship.

Plating the final addition to my dinner, I take the makeshift charcuterie and my glass of wine upstairs to crawl into bed. I need to plan my trip into the city, and I’m banking on the fact that Harkin will be too busy in California to keep an eye on the tracking device in my arm. We’d agreed the trackers were for emergencies and discussed deleting the app on our phones and leaving it up to James, but ultimately, he refused. Some bullshitexcuse of not being able to get to the information right away if he needed it.Like he couldn’t just check from his browser.Then again, he could always track my phone. But that’s easy enough to keep off his radar when turned off.The thing does an awful lot of dying lately.

Going through the options, I start with taking the rental car. That’s flawed, because if James drives by, I need him to believe I’m still tucked away and safe. There’s a short window of opportunity for me to go and get back before Harkin’s return tomorrow night. An Uber for a three-hour drive would be astronomical. Not to mention, the charge would probably ping Harkin, defeating the purpose. Looks like the train is my best option. It runs every two hours, and I can leave first thing in the morning, make it by noon, and return before anyone notices I’m gone.

With my plan set, I scroll through the streaming service to find something to watch before bed. But as I’m about to click play on a new horror release, Harkin’s name pops up for a video call. Answering the call, I expand the video, taking in his tired demeanor. Things must not be going well.

“Hey, sweetness. In bed already?”

“Not much to do but call it an early night when I’m alone.”

“Aww, are you missing me?” He sits forward, his face illuminated more by a light nearby.

“Hmm, Cinder misses her daddy.”

The dog in question lazily moves her eyes in my direction, but doesn’t try to get up.

“And do you miss your daddy?”

My face contorts in the small reflective video of me in the corner. “Listen, I’ll call you Sir every day of the week and twice on Sundays, but I draw the line at Daddy. That’s a hard limit.”

The seriousness of my declaration draws up the corners of his mouth before a contagious laugh spills from his lips, causinghis body to bounce in the computer chair. “Shit, little one. I needed that.”

“You’re still coming back tomorrow, right?”

“That’s the plan. I’m ready to be out of California and back on the East Coast with you. But until then, I’ve got a little present for us.”

“Oh?” I perk up, excited to see what it might be.

“Go check the bottom dresser drawer on my side. There’s a small box for you.”

I leap out of bed, almost depositing my computer on the floor. Cinder stands at the edge of the mattress, looking around for whatever caused my unexpected excitement.

“Down,” I hear Harkin demand through the computer.

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