Page 87 of Sunflower

“Fuck. You.”

Erin’s lips tightened into a straight line as she stared at Leland, before giving a subtle nod to George to continue.

“Do you know who was following them?”

“Fuck. You.”

“Unclear, although I’m getting the sense that he does. How are you blocking me, Leland?”

“Fuck. You.”

“Do you knowwhythey were being followed?”

“Fuck. You.”

“Oh, he definitely knows because the thought lit him up like a Christmas tree, but I can’t get a clear read. How are you blocking me, Leland?”

“Fuck—”

“Yeah, yeah. Fuck me.” Erin looked at Bailey in amusement. “It sure looks like I’m getting lucky tonight. My husband will be so thrilled.”

Dad snorted again, while both Callum and I cringed. Even when we both knew Erin was just playing, neither of wanted to think about our parents fucking.

“Oh, hang on. What was that?” Erin stopped and focused hard on Leland’s eyes. “I had it for a second… Let me chase…” Her eyes widened and she stepped back.

“You think you’re all so powerful,” Leland spat, his head still pressed flat against the table. “Just because you have abilities that usnormiesdon’t.”

Erin’s mouth opened and closed before she focused on George, a look of horror taking over her face.

“You never could see me coming, could you,old man?”Leland continued, an evil smile emerging on his face. “What makes you think you could seeanyof us coming?”

Erin let go of Leland’s hand like it had burned her and took another step back. “Oh, God…”

Bailey held Leland where he was but kept shooting confused looks between Erin and George.

“It’s not like the old days, old man.” Leland struggled to slide his head around on the table so he could glare at George. “Two decades ago, you put me away. We’ve learned a lot since then.”

George watched Leland silently, slowly putting his paperwork back in his folder as he let him speak.

“How close do you think we’ve got, huh? Close enough to get to your family?” Leland laughed mirthlessly. “It was easy enough to get to Callum. Then Joey. Even you, Princess Petrichor.”

Erin paled. “How do you know that name?”

“How do we not? You’re famous. Didn’t you know?” Leland laughed again. “Famous little Petrichor and her mentor Zookeeper.” He slid his eyes to the window. “I bet Locksmith is behind the window, isn’t she? Hello, Marcy. How’s your husband, Carmine?”

“Fuck.” Marcy pushed back from the table and fled the room, leaving Pippa in charge of the cameras.

“What—” I started asking before Callum pushed me away from him.

“Carmine’s Marcy’s husband,” Callum said urgently. “He’s at home with their baby. Alone.” He looked at me pointedly before rushing out the door after her.

“Oh, God.” I stared back through the window at what was going on in the interrogation room. Had we missed something? We’d all been so focused on Callum and me, and how it all fit with George. Should we have spread the net wider? Looked at the team more?

“It sure would be a pity if I missed my check-in time, wouldn’t it?” Leland asked mock-innocently. “Oops.”

Frantically, Bailey looked over his shoulder at Tama, who was showing the first signs of worry.

Tama stepped forward, earning George’s attention. George shook his head ever so slightly, and Tama hesitantly stopped, his hands dropping to his sides, clenching and unclenching in his agitation.

---