Page 27 of Out of the Shadows
He didn’t say anything.
“I’ll text you the photo.”
“No promises,” he said and hung up.
Margo texted him the photo with a kissing emoji.
No, they weren’t dating anymore and likely would never rekindle a relationship. But... it wasn’t as awkward as it used to be. Margo was relieved, because Rick was Jack’s best friend and the tension wasn’t doing any of them any good. Jack would love for them to get back together, but Margo didn’t think it would work... maybe. Damn, she was still confused about it all.
She sat there and waited for the police... and for a text from Rick. If Rick didn’t help, she had others she could call... but Josie didn’t work Mondays, and her MVD contact was prickly and slow. She was fairly confident that Rick would come through for her.
An hour later, the police had come and gone. They took photos, prints, and would follow up with the homeowner. They were surprisingly uninterested in Charlie’s whereabouts, and Margo didn’t volunteer any information. Neither Logan nor Laura had filed a missing persons report, but if he didn’t turn up today, that should be the next step.
Margo texted Logan the police report number, then called her sister Tess, the guru of research.
“Hey Tess, did Jack fill you in on the new case?”
“Yes, I’ve been on the phone half the morning with Logan’s admin, Veronica, working through potential threats, disgruntled vendors, and the like. Thing is, Logan doesn’t actually hire anyone. He only has two employees in his office, doesn’t supervise anyone else. People like him. Jack said you talked to Brittney?”
“I don’t think she has anything to do with it, but she’s up to something—I’m going to ask Mom to follow up on her alibi for the hit-and-run. Just to crosst’s and all that. And get the tea on her new boyfriend.”
“She has a boyfriend,” Tess said bluntly. “The divorce isn’t even final.”
“Well, to be honest, she had a boyfriend her entire marriage, so I don’t think the divorce decree means anything to her,” Margo said. “I’m heading out to Litchfield Park to talk to Charlie’s old roommate. I’m going to send you some names, can you do basic backgrounds for me?”
“Sure.” Tess sighed.
“What’s wrong?” Margo asked.
“Everyone is divorced.”
“That’s factually inaccurate.”
“You know what I mean.”
“No, I really don’t.” Margo felt an insecurity rant coming on. She wasn’t wrong.
“We set the date and now... what if something happens? Logan loved Brittney and she cheated on him! And Laura and Charlie, I mean I don’t know them, but they’re divorced and havekids. You know Gabriel and I have to start trying for kids right away because I’m going to be thirty-five this year. And Jack and Whitney—I know Jack is still heartbroken about his divorce and—”
“Stop,” Margo said. “You’re working yourself up for nothing. You and Gabriel have been engaged for more than a year, you’ve known each other even longer. You’re getting married in April, and it’s going to be great. You’re great together, don’t start worrying about what-ifs and what happens to other couples. Mom and Dad have been married for thirty-nine years. Pops and Abuela have been married forsixtyyears. You’ll fix any problems that come up, but if you start stressing out because other people have failed marriages, you’ll give yourself a coronary. Got it?”
“Yeah,” she said, as if she knew she had to agree with Margo but didn’t really want to. She knew Tess was still going to worry. Empathy was good, but too much empathy was depressing.
“So, I’m going to send you the names. Can you work your magic?”
“I’ll call when I have something.”
Tess hung up and Margo mentally swore. She loved her sister. They were eighteen months apart and had shared a room their entire life, until Tess went to college the year before Margo enlisted in the Army. They were very different—Tess super feminine, Margo more a tomboy. Tess tall and gorgeous, Margo not so tall and not so gorgeous. Tess was compassionate, smart and empathic. Margo... yeah, she was smart, but not book smart, and her compassion had limits. But they complemented each other, and Margo hadn’t realized how much she missed her sister during the three years she’d been estranged from the family until she came back.
She’d missed her, but she hadn’t missed how Tess worried about everyone and everything and, as their mom said, “borrowed trouble.”
Margo headed out to Litchfield Park and hoped she didn’t get stuck in traffic.
Chapter Ten
Laura’s property was problematic, Jack thought as he finished walking the perimeter of the five acres for a third time.
There were some positives. Only one way a vehicle could enter. Though the split rail fence could easily be climbed, it was sturdy, and it would take a large, heavy vehicle to crash through, giving them time to prepare. The house was in the center of the spread, which gave them ample line of sight, except behind the barn where trees lined the fence and blocked visibility.
