Page 47 of Stay Baby Stay

“I know I’m the last person you want to talk to right now,” I say, “but I just need you to answer one question. The flash drive I gave you with the footage from Russell King’s house. Where is it?”

“It’s in my desk. Where else would it be?”

“Are you sure?” I ask.

“What do you mean, am I sure? I locked it in my desk, like you told me.”

“Can you please go check for me?”

She scoffs. “Sure, I’ll just drop everything and—”

“I’m not fuckin’ around, Abby. Someone broke into my apartment and stole my laptop. I need to know if that flash drive is safe.”

There’s a long pause on the other end.

She sighs. “Give me one second.”

I reach for Holly’s hand as I wait for Abby to jump back on the call. My little girl curls against me, pressing her brow to my chest. I pet her hair and hold her tight, keeping my eye out for any sign of the intruder.

“It’s gone,” Abby says, sounding incredulous. “Holy shit, it’s just gone.”

My stomach twists into a tight knot. I exhale through my teeth.

“Still think I’m not making any sense?”

“Fuck, Cal... I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it,” I say. “Listen, don’t tell Harris about the missing drive until I call back. We don’t know how far up the chain this goes, or how low, for that matter.”

“You think Harris could be in on it?” she asks in a hushed whisper.

“I’m not ruling anyone out. Just keep your ear to the ground.”

I end the call, my mind running in circles and tripping over itself. I need a cup of coffee. I need to lie down. I need to figure out what the hell our next step is.

“Cal,” Holly says, “if you were filming, then that means you have footage of Kenzie at the party. Proof that we were both there that night.”

“Right now, all I have is confirmation that someone in the department is trying to sabotage this investigation.” Which means whatever step I take next can’t involve anyone from the department.

It’ll have to involve people I can trust. Folks who won’t bat an eye at a little vigilante justice.

I swipe through my contacts until I find the number I’m looking for.

“One thing’s for damn sure,” I tell Holly. “We’re not sleeping here tonight. It’s not safe.”

“Where will we sleep then?”

I hit the little green call button, press the phone to my ear, and wait.

Jonah picks up after the third ring.

“Hey, brother,” he says in his deep baritone. “What’s up?”

“I need a favor, man,” I tell him. “And I wouldn’t be asking if it wasn’t important.”

“Anything you need, just ask.”

“You still got that guestroom?”

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