Page 66 of Bones

“I plan on it. You don’t have to worry about that.”

“I’m gonna hold you to that.” She lifted her cup and smiled as she started out of the kitchen. “Have a good one, Bones.”

“You too, Lace.”

As soon as she was gone, I grabbed Cotton’s cup of coffee and mine, then started back to the office. When I walked back in, I found Cotton and Big staring intently at Big’s laptop screen. As I started over to them, I heard Prez grumble, “This doesn’t make any sense.”

“He’s gotta have another account that we aren’t seeing.”

“You’d think, but where?”

“It’s gotta be an offshore account,” I told them as I made my way over to Big’s desk. “It’d make sense seeing that most of his clients are overseas.”

“But it doesn’t explain how he’s paying his folks here.”

“He could be using the same offshore account.” I walked over to my desk and turned on my computer as I continued, “But we won’t know for sure until we find those accounts.”

I pulled up the files I’d gathered from Interpol and started searching for Carl Davenport’s tax id, thinking it might help us locate those offshore accounts. I knew it was a long shot. He’d already taken the measures to change his name and even took on a new identity. It only made sense that he would get a fake social security number and everything in between, but I hoped there might be some connection between the two.

I was busy searching for something that might help us locate his offshore accounts when I heard Big announce, “The kid is on the move.”

“Where’s he headed?”

“Not sure.” Big was silent for a moment, then added, “Looks like he’s headed north.”

“I’ll message Stitch. Keep an eye on him, and let me know when you have a better idea of where he’s going.”

I was too wrapped up in finding Bruton’s accounts to think much about Ben and his shenanigans. Besides, I knew it was only a matter of time before Stitch and Wrath had him in their clutches, and then, it would be over for the douchebag.

I kept hammering away, and it wasn’t long before I found a possible lead. After some cross-referencing, I knew I’d found something. I became solely focused on what I was working on, ignoring Big and Cotton talking behind me until I heard Big say, “Looks like he’s headed to the university.”

“What?”

“I might be wrong, but it’s looking like he’s headed for campus.” Big turned to face me as he asked, “That’s where he met up with Elsie, right?”

“Yeah, they have some classes together.”

“Then, we need to get in touch with Torch and give him a heads up.”

“On it.”

Cotton took out his phone and dialed Torch’s number. As luck would have it, he didn’t answer. He tried again, but nothing. “I’m sending him a message. You call Elsie and give her a heads up.”

I nodded, then grabbed my phone from my pocket. I dialed her number, but it went straight to voice mail. I tried two more times, but she never picked up. I was becoming anxious when Cotton told us, “I got him. They are at the student union, and all is good. There’s been no sign of Ben.”

“Tell them to bring Elsie home.” I could feel myself becoming unhinged and tried my best to remain calm as I told him, “The last thing we need is this guy fucking with her.”

“That’s not gonna happen.” Cotton was staring down at his phone as he told me, “Stitch and Wrath are close on his trail.”

“I don’t want her anywhere near this guy, Prez.”

“Then, tell her to get her ass home.”

I nodded, then sent her a message.

Me:

Come home.

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