Page 36 of Mensa's Match

Any doubts Mensa had in Todd Morton were quickly dispelled over the course of the hour.

“Are you holding my client?” Morton asked.

Robinson took a deep breath and stared into the one-way mirror for a long beat as if he could read the minds of the people sitting back there. Finally he said, “No. He’s free to go.”

Robinson opened the door for them, and to Mensa’s dismay, the door to the adjacent room stood open. He looked back to Robinson, but Todd Morton gestured for him to move forward.

They walked three paces before Mensa asked, “Where’s Whitney?”

“I would think she’s with Ms. Wright, but since I’ve been with you the past hour, I honestly don’t know.”

They stepped into the lobby and he saw Monica sitting in a chair with her phone in hand.

“Where’s Whitney?” Mensa asked, his tone not just demanding, but borderline menacing.

Monica looked up at him with a gleam in her eyes. “She left with Finn and Riley. I’m confident Finn is capable of keeping her safe, though I doubt there’s a threat to her any longer.”

With effort, Mensa kept himself from glowering and instead gave a single nod. “Right. Thank you for your help, Ms. Wright.”

She smiled. “It’s what you pay us for, but it’s always a pleasure, Mr. Ragstone. Tell Mr. Merino an invoice will be sent this week.”

Mensa’s lips tipped up a touch. “Will do. That should make Block’s day.”

Monica stood. “I’m sure.” As she gathered her attaché case, she threw a sharp look at Mensa. “One more thing, if you talk to Whitney, be sure to mention that her brother’s friend, Phil, hurried back looking for her before she left.”

That was the last thing Mensa expected her to say. He leaned forward an inch. “What was that?”

Monica shook her head. “Sorry. Ms. Blume and I came out here after her questioning. A public safety officer, who’s friends with Whitney’s brother, saw us. His name is Phil. He was called away for a moment, but he came back hoping to see Whitney again before she left.”

“She’s not from here,” Mensa said on auto-pilot.

Monica grinned. “No, but this man mentioned being friends with her brother… so I’m guessing that’s how they knew of each other.”

Jealousy stormed through his veins, but he refused to acknowledge it. In fact, it had to be something else because why would Mensa be jealous? She wasn’t his.

Hell, he didn’t want anything to do with her. Or so he thought.

The fact Finn and Riley came to take her home should have been a load off him… but it wasn’t.

Being separated from her for questioning shouldn’t have bothered him, but it did.

He should have felt free as a bird now that he didn’t have to take her home… but he didn’t.

Fuck.What was his problem?

Mensa nodded to Ms. Wright. “Sure. I’ll let her know that Phil’s looking for her. Thanks for the heads up. Hopefully, I won’t need your help in the near future. Later.”

Mensa checked his mirrors more frequently as he left downtown. He wouldn’t put it past Fortner or even Robinson to follow him. For that matter, they’d probably have someone else follow him. When he approached Beach Boulevard, he hadn’t spotted any sort of tail. He wasn’t sure if that was good or bad.

He’d wanted to ask Ms. Wright what sort of questions they’d asked Whitney, but he also didn’t want to have that conversation in the police station lobby.

As much as he needed to hit the clubhouse for some food, a shower, and a nap, he detoured to Dontrell’s first restaurant instead. He hoped Dontrell would be there, but after having a location burnt to the ground, he might be dealing with insurance adjusters and other people.

Mensa had barely put his kickstand down before Dontrell came out of the restaurant.

“What the fuck do you want?”

Mensa swung off his bike. “I’m not your enemy, man.”

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