Page 66 of 3rd Tango
“You’re fired,” she says.
And then she hangs up.
I stare at the dead phone a second before I hand it to Haley. The security system goes off and Matt enters, waving down the hall. “Sorry, H,” he calls to Haley. “I’ll reset it.”
She hangs up the receiver, and flips Matt the bird.
Head spinning, I raise a hand to fend off Meg’s litany of complaints about taking Mom with us to see Taylor. “I know. I’m sorry, but I think we have something more critical to worry about at the moment.”
“What?” Meg asks.
“What?” Matt echoes, joining us.
I fill them in on what Mom originally told me she was going to do, and the fact she just fired us. “I don’t think she has any intention of going to the Bureau with us. She’s about to do something stupid, and I need you to intercept her.”
My sister laughs without humor over the fact we’re fired, then turns serious. “She could be in real danger, Charlie.”
“I’ll call Dad, you two head to their house. I need to get this picture to Taylor.”
Meg’s already on her way to grab her purse. Matt’s on her heels.
“I’ll drive,” he says.
A minute later, they run out the back door.
24
Meg
My mother is starting to piss me off. Lucky for her, Matt and I are joined at the hip on this case so he’s available to help me on this trip to my parents’. Plus…Marie. I have no idea what to do about her. I should’ve given the age progression assignment to Jerome. What the hell was I thinking? My knowledge of Marie could’ve guided the sketch.
It’s not too late, though. When we get back, I’ll swing by his place. Ask him to do the sketch and see what he comes up with. If they’re close, then we’ll at least know Marie is more-than-likely Mary.
I grab Matt, telling him to drive while I close my eyes for a couple of minutes to focus.
It’s just not the day to kill our mother.
It’s not.
I’m usually the Zen one.
This? It’s taxing me.
Matt swings the Mustang into my parents’ driveway. The garage is closed and my dad’s car, that usually sits outside, is gone. Who knows where he might be?
I bolt from the car, charging across the pristine lawn that glistens in the morning sun.
The door is locked so I use my key then yell for my mother. No answer.
“Damn her,” I mutter. “Of all the fool things.”
I stomp back to find Matt casually leaning against the car. “What’s up?”
I start toward the road. “No one’s home. She must be over there already.”
“I’ll come with you.”
Ha. That’s all I need for this shitshow. Without stopping, I hold one hand up. “I’ve got this. If we all pile in there, they’ll be suspicious. Stay close. In case we need you.”
