“Oh, I’m so happy to see you too, buddy,” I tell him. “We’ll let you out in just a second.”
“The gate to the property is closed,” Trevor says. “We can let him out now if you wish.”
I follow Trevor’s gaze up the long walk to the front door.
“Did she bring his leash?” I ask. “I just don’t want him getting around back and running off down the shore.”
Trevor ducks his top half back into the car and comes back out with Max’s leash in one hand and Sammie’s crate in the other.
“Hey there, Sammie!” I say to my tabby, but he couldn’t be less interested.
I get Max on his leash and Trevor’s kind enough to bring Sammie in, but once we’re inside the house, Naomi is nowhere to be found.
“I hope you don’t mind me saying, ma’am,” Trevor says, closing the front door, “but your sister’s a real firecracker.”
“Yeah, I’m sorry to inflict her on you like that,” I tell him.
Trevor smiles, “Oh no, it was a pleasure.” He gives the main room a quick once-over and, with a very red face, he says, “If there isn’t anything else, I should get over to Stingray so Mr. Scipio doesn’t have to wait on me.”
“Thanks again, Trevor,” I tell him. “You’re the best.”
He glances around one last time and then shows himself out.
I bend down and let Max off his leash, giving him a good, long round of attention. I’d do the same with Sammie, but he took off once his crate was open.
“Come on,” I tell Max. “Let’s find Naomi.”
Max takes off like a shot down the hallway, and I just start laughing. Even with all the hassle Max gives Naomi, he adores her.
I follow him down the hallway, but a moment later, he’s running back toward me to make sure I’m on my way. The next instant, he’s running back down the long hall.
This is the furthest I’ve been into the beach house so far, but Max just keeps taking me down more hallways until he comes to stop at an open door. He sits and I could swear he’s smiling as he watches me.
I get to the doorway and Naomi’s inside, looking through papers.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
“Come here,” she whispers.
I shake my head. “You should put those down,” I tell her. “Those are Zach’s.”
“Duh,” she says. “I told you I wanted to come out here to protect you. I can’t do that very well unless I have all the information.”
“What exactly do you think you’re going to find going through his business papers?” I ask.
“They’re not business papers,” she says. “They’re mostly receipts from what I can tell, but it’s still super exciting.”
“Naomi, I’m not joking. Put that stuff down,” I command.
She rolls her eyes at me, but sets the papers back on the desk, saying, “Fine.”
I run over to the desk and straighten the papers. In the next breath, I realize two things: First, I have no idea where these documents are supposed to go or how he arranged them. Second, Naomi’s not in the room anymore.
Closing the door behind me, I leave the room.
Max wags his tail and then runs off, so I follow him. I expect him to lead me to where Naomi is again, but once we get back to the main room, he picks a spot on the floor and lies down.
“Naomi!” I call out, but there’s no answer.