Page 19 of A Touch of Frost
“Jesse!” Mozart called.
“I’m coming!” I yelled. “Can’t a guy take a piss in peace?”
Mozart said nothing. He merely banged his fist into the door.
Still, I paused to wash my hands and dried them in the thighs of my pants before opening the door.
“What?” I asked.
“I’m heading back. All three of us need to talk before I do.”
We had a meeting—and I watched as Mozart dropped a backpack in front of Frost.
“I know you’re always prepared,” he said. “But we figured a little extra help wouldn’t hurt. It took some doing but Tink helped me out.”
“Tink?” Frost asked. “How’d you get her to do that?”
“Trust me.” Mozart scoffed. “She didn’t do it for me. She did it for you.”
Frost hunched down and unzipped the bag. She removed a gun, checked it like an expert then dropped it back in. She rummaged through but didn’t lift anything else out.
Once she had it zipped again and rose to her full height, Mozart hugged her.
“I know you hate hugs but…” Mozart laughed.
I had a feeling he was the only man who could do that to her and not pull back missing his life.
The thought made me chew on my bottom lip.
When Mozart stepped back, though he towered over her, Frost merely looked up in his eyes as they had a silent conversation between the two of them.
“I didn’t know.” Mozart told her. “I promise.”
Frost bowed her head then nodded.
“You’ve never been a secret, Frost.” Mozart spoke. “One of the reasons Summer and I get along so well is that we’ve hidden nothing from each other. She knows who you are and what you are to me—what you were to me. My only shame is I should have been stronger when you were in trouble.”
“Mozart—you’re talking as if we’ll never see each other again.”
He chuckled softly. “Do you know how long it took for us to find you?”
“Widow…”
“Don’t be angry at her. I think she only told us where you were for selfish reasons.” Mozart’s large shoulders rose and fell. “She probably figured if we found you, at least she would know you were safe.”
“She’s worried.”
“She misses you.” He nodded. “You fall off the face of the earth and she feels like she’s missing out on so much with you. Widow loves you.”
“I know.” Frost walked over to one of the chairs and fell into it. “I meant to call her. It’s just—picking up the phone—the thought of having to explain…”
“I get it. I’m the last person you need to explain that to.” Mozart checked his watch. “I should go. Watch your six.”
Frost winked at him and Mozart laughed.
“I mean it.”
“Oh, I know.” She told him.
