Page 39 of Protecting Talia

“Make it sausage and black olive.”

“Got it. I’ll be about thirty minutes.”

Zip hung up and wrote a note to Talia, asking her to call if she came home. He glanced back at the kitchen, trying to decide if he was overreacting or if his feelings that something was off were real. It felt real. She wouldn’t have left the coffee in the pot. Worry filled him as he stepped out. She was in trouble. He placed an order for the pizza before he pulled out of the driveway. Worry hung heavy. He hoped he could find her. He didn’t think she’d left on her own. Her hair stuff was there, along with her face cream. She loved that face cream. Said it was the one luxury she never would give up. Something had gone wrong.

He picked up the pizza, resisting the urge to call Thario. He was busy working, and he didn’t need Zip interrupting him. It took all his restraint to keep from calling and asking if Thario had found something.

When he knocked at Thario’s door, Frog gave a small bark that sounded almost muted. The door opened, and Frog was there wagging his tail alongside Thario.

“That smells great. I’ve got some information. Not sure you’re going to like it.”

“Tell me as I get us some pizza. How many slices do you want?”

“Two to start.”

Thario moved to his desk and sat, groaning. Zip worried about his buddy. It had to be hard navigating everything. Thario had been a ladies’ man before the bomb that had blown his legs off. Now, women didn’t want anything to do with him. Zip wasn’t sure how to help, or if there even was a way to help Thario. He should come around more just to hang out.

Zip turned to face him. “The jerk who beat her up, her new landlord, he’s still in jail. It wasn’t him. Her sister is living her life like everything is normal. There’s nothing new going on with her, so I don’t think she took Talia. I have no leads, and I don’t like that. I can’t pin anything down.”

“Fuck. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know where she is.”

“I’ll keep looking. Don’t give up.”

He took a bite of the pizza, thinking it wasn’t as good as he thought it should be. If Talia was here, he knew it would taste great. Everything was better with her around.

After he swallowed his next bite, he spoke up. “I’m going to head to her old apartment and see if I can figure out anything.”

“I’d go with you, but my legs are about to give out for the day.”

“No worries. You need to take care of yourself. You’re too important of a friend.”

“Thanks. And I want to meet her when she comes home. I know last time I got sick, and you two couldn’t come over.”

“How do you feel now?”

“My lungs are better. I’m just tired. My legs hurt today. I might have overdone it.”

“Take care of yourself. You’re a friend, not just someone who helps. I would hate to lose you.”

Thario’s eyes darted away for just a second, then swung back to Zip. “Thank you. You guys keep me sane.”

Zip squeezed his shoulder, then patted Frog on his head. “Thank you. I’ll text you about what I find.”

“Be safe. You don’t have backup.”

Zip shut the door behind him, wondering if he should call backup. Everyone was tired after their mission. He was exhausted but had to look for Talia. She wouldn’t have just wandered off. Or would she? He didn’t really know her. Maybe she was fine and had just taken off with some guy for a long weekend. But that didn’t seem like her.

He was mixing himself up. There had to be more to her not being around. She wouldn’t have run off without him. That wasn’t her. He owed it to her to find out what had gone down. She deserved at least that much.

27

Zip glanced down, seeing that his tank was almost empty. He had to waste time and stop for gas. He hated that he hadn’t filled up before the mission. He should have known he would need to fill up at the worst time imaginable.

He pulled into a gas station, cursing himself all the while. He hated that he was wasting time. Maybe he could have made it to Talia’s place, but he wasn’t sure. And if he had to go somewhere after, there’s no way he could drive anywhere else.

As he was scanning his credit card, a car pulled up next to him. He didn’t pay the person any mind and was surprised when they stepped to his side of the pump.

“Zip, I’m surprised to see you out. Didn’t you just get home from a mission?”

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