Page 53 of S.O.S. Perk

It was time to call someone more computer savvy than he, and insist that Mr. and Mrs. Nelsin’s backgrounds be scrupulously researched, if a first foray hadn’t turned up anything. This time he’d throw the task to Mizzay. Rumor had it she was a little butt-hurt over not being part of the op so far, due to Rory’s illness. But as of this afternoon, she’d called in and let everyone know she was back on the clock.

He hit her number.

“Mistah Perkins,” she greeted. “Howze things?”

“Getting more and more interesting, Mizzay. Did Del bring you up to speed on everything that’s happening?”

“He did. And I’m anxious to dig in. You gut anything for me?”

“As a matter of fact, I do,” Perk grinned. He assumed Mizzay was also cracking a smile. “I need you take a harder look at our suspect Jeremy’s parents. Jennifer Nelsin, and… I don’t know the father’s name, but you won’t have any trouble finding it,” he teased.

“Nope. I won’t,” Mizzay returned. “Any reason you want these two looked at? I’m assuming they’ve already been investigated.”

Perk thought about it. “Just a feeling,” he told her after a few seconds. “Something about the household’s dynamics seem…off. I think they warrant a second look.”

“Well then, I’ll do my best,” she replied. “Nevah discount your hunches, Mistah Perkins.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Sloane was on her way to New Hampshire, and unlike her normal cool, collected self, she was all over the place with nerves.

When she felt like this, there was only one person to call. Melissa. She hated waking her buddy up early on a weekend, but… That’s what friends were for.

The phone rang three times before a groggy Mel picked up.

“’Lo?” came the muffled greeting.

“Melissa, it’s Sloane. I’m sorry/not sorry to pull you from your dreams.”

“Is this about Kaelyn? Have you found her?” Mel, suddenly awake asked cautiously, as if she were afraid to hear bad news.

Sloane hated lying, but there was no way she could let Melissa know that they’d rescued the girl, and that she was currently in a safe-house with her parents.

Still, she needed to give her friend a little hope. “No. But we have a solid lead, and I hope to have better news next time we talk.

“Well, that’s something,” Melissa allowed. “So,” she yawned, “what are you calling for at this ungodly hour?”

Sloane bit the bullet. “I’m, uh, overthinking something here.”

There was a snort. “When don’t you?” she returned. “This better be good,” she added. “Like maybe regarding something hot and male-like that I can use for daydreaming since I’m still in bed.”

“Well…” Sloane hedged, “I might be headed to New Hampshire to meet a certain someone.”

“That Perk guy?” Melissa squealed, immediately jumping on what Sloane hadn’t said. “I thought he was out on some super-secret spy mission somewhere, and you weren’t allowed to bother him.”

“Well, sort of,” Sloane hedged. “He’s still on that undercover op, but we decided if we met up in another state, it shouldn’t compromise anything.”

“Halleluiah!” Melissa cried heartily for someone who’d been deep in REM only minutes earlier. “And what, pray tell, are the two of you going to do today in New Hampshire?” The innuendo in Mel’s voice sounded smooth, like butter.

Sloane didn’t beat around the bush. “I think I’m going to jump his bones.”

“Of course you are, sweetie,” Melissa scoffed without missing a beat. “But how’s that going to go down? Are you leaping on him the moment you see him? Are you hoping that he takes the lead and springs first? Or will you both dance around things for far too long until shit between you becomes awkward? If it’s door number three, then take my word for it, if you wait too long,nogood bodily fluids will get swapped,” Melissa lamented.

Mel was graphic, but she also had a point. Both Sloane and Perk were overthinkers. If they left things to chance…

Maybe meeting up at the breakfast place wasn’t such a great idea. If they had to make small talk for an indeterminate period of time, one of themmighthave second thoughts and back out entirely.

Sloane made up her mind. That wasn’t going to happen.

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