Page 44 of Duplicity

We need to find them.

Her need for justice, and the other innate traits that had been imprinted on who she was, refused to rest. Young women she knew might be in danger. It was one thing to understand abstractly that things like this happened in the world. But in her own community, right on her doorstep? That was another thing entirely.

A soft touch on her forearm caused her to open her eyes. Simon crouched beside her. She gave him a small smile, simply for noticing enough to come over. It meant that he cared. “I need to look at what’s on this flash drive. Then I need to go to the meeting.”

Vanguard and the police department were touching base later, but this just might be the kind of thing the FBI in Benson wanted to get involved with. They might even end up banding around words like “taskforce” and pooling a whole lot of resources to save these girls. If the same thing was happening all over again, that meant new leads and a fresh chance to stop whoever was behind this.

Simon asked, “Do you want to finish eating first?”

The remainder of her meal held no appeal, but it was probably a good idea to fortify herself for what lay ahead of them.

Peter and Simon settled back onto the seat across from her. She studied the similarities and differences between them, allowing her mind a reprieve. Even if the peace only lasted a moment. Then she explained everything Alayna had told her and this possible connection to what was happening now.

The twins shared a look. They seemed to communicate in a kind of shorthand that probably came from being in each other’s lives so closely, enduring what they’d been through together.

Simon had told her some things about his childhood as a missionary kid and how it certainly hadn’t been what anyonewould expect that kind of life to be. Not just when his father turned out to be a criminal.

Then there was his past relationship, something that gave her serious pause. He lived what he believed. It was just that his convictions weren’t like hers. Not that they were anything close to Pastor Tyler Cunningham and his betrayal. More like what she would assume from someone who wasn’t a believer.

Cat had always trusted that God had prepared someone for her. But was that person really out there? Relationships seemed like so much of a gamble sometimes.

She might need to draw a boundary line between her and Simon that kept them firmly in their friend zone. At least until she knew for sure whether they were on the same page about certain things.

Peter said, “Vanguard can be a serious help to the police department.”

She caught an expression on his face that she’d seen on Simon’s and made an assumption as to what it meant. “You want me to persuade them to let you guys be all-in on this?”

The twins waited.

“I’m not prepared to risk a bunch of young women suffering the way Alayna did just to satisfy the police department’s ego.”

Peter nodded. “Vanguard isn’t going to push and force them to allow Bob Davis back in the fold. But we can be a serious asset.”

“Jasper is in charge now, and he used to be a cop.” Cat shrugged. “Surely, he’s the one that can get everyone working together.”

Simon glanced at his brother.

Peter said, “He can talk. But the action is going to come down to us and guys like Romeo.”

Cat frowned. “And you don’t have as much respect for Jasper now because he gave up his detective shield in order to be a manager in a suit taking meetings and making deals?”

Simon’s brows rose, and he glanced at his brother. “Do you think that?”

“I respect the guy just fine.” Peter shook his head. “I just prefer to be kicking doors down rather than wearing a tie. I don’t know why anyone would give that up.”

Cat said, “The money is probably better.” Not just private sector, but more of a managerial position than working as an everyday detective with a schedule of rough hours and pulling overtime.

Simon tipped his head to the side. “Plus, he’ll be married soon, and Destiny is pregnant. Life changes. People want different things—like a balance between their personal life and their work life.”

“Or so you’ve heard?” Peter glanced at him.

The two of them shared an amused look.

There would always be something between the twins she couldn’t be a part of. Cat wouldn’t upset their balance by attempting to insert herself into something she had no place in. What they had was a bond no one else could touch. It was a beautiful thing to see, even if it made her a little envious that there was no one in her life she was that close to.

She finished her meal, and Peter got his to go. Romeo was having her car windshield fixed, then the car would be cleaned and detailed, so they had driven here in a vehicle Simon…

“Hang on a second.” Halfway to the car, Cat spotted Simon’s motorcycle in a space not far from it. She turned back to the twins and asked Simon, “Whose car is this?”

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