day before her disappearance. “She took Frankenfurter to the vet here. There’s a telephone number.”
Blake saved it in his cell phone. “I’ll call the clinic as soon as they open in the morning and find out whether Hannah kept the appointment.”
“Maybe Frankenfurter had to stay there overnight. That would explain why he isn’t anywhere to be found.”
“Maybe.” But the doubt in Blake’s voice was audible.
Apart from a few reminders to pay bills, there weren’t many entries for the week in question. The weeks before showed a dentist appointment, a note to fire the dog walker, several movie dates, presumably with Ronny, a hair appointment, and a visit to check out a gym.
“Nothing out of the ordinary,” Blake said, sounding disappointed. “Let’s take it with us, just in case.”
Lilo slipped the book into her purse just as Blake’s phone rang.
He answered it immediately. “What have you got?”
He listened for a few seconds, then said, “Text me his address. And his photo, too. Thanks, Finn!” He pressed the end button. “There was only one man named Ronald who got rides from Hannah.” His cell phone pinged, indicating the arrival of a text message. Blake pointed to the display. “And now we have his address and what he looks like.”
Lilo tapped on the photo to enlarge it. “That’s not the man who broke in.” She shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. Maybe he sent a friend. Or maybe the two events aren’t connected after all. Let’s not waste any time. Let’s go to his house. Now,” she demanded, already heading for the door.
Blake caught up with her. “We’re not going without backup. We don’t know what we’re dealing with. He might not be alone.”
“Good idea. Let’s call the police.” She pulled Donnelly’s card from her pocket. He’d handed it to her, telling her to call his direct line if anything else came up.
“No. If the police show up, he’ll run. Besides, they have no probable cause to act. We’ll check it out ourselves first.” He dialed a number on his phone. “I’ll get somebody from the company to help us.”
“But if he’s dangerous, the police are much better equipped to—”
Blake lifted his hand to stop her. “Hey, Wes, I need your help. Can you meet me out in the Excelsior?” He paused for a moment. “Yes, now. I’ll text you the address. And, Wes, we don’t wanna wake anybody up and alert them to our arrival. Bring your bag of tricks, just in case.” He disconnected the call.
“What bag of tricks?” Lilo asked, curious.
“The usual equipment any bodyguard has. Plus, a few extras. In case the guy gives us any trouble.”
“You mean stuff to tie him up with? Or are you talking about something to… make him tell us where Hannah is?”
He took her elbow and ushered her out of the apartment. “We’re not the CIA.”
“Could’ve fooled me, considering all the resources you have at your disposal,” she shot back.
She’d never encountered a law enforcement agency or private security firm that worked as seamlessly and efficiently as the company that employed Blake. And she’d researched the field thoroughly for her mystery series. So why, if Scanguards was so good at what they did, had she never heard of them?
~ ~ ~
Wesley, Scanguards’ resident witch, was already waiting for them, when Blake pulled up in his Aston Martin. Wes had parked his black BMW a block away from Ronny’s house. The license plate, WTW—Wesley, The Witch—was hard to miss.
Blake parked behind Wes and killed the engine.
“I would tell you to stay in the car, but I’m guessing you’d ignore me.” He glanced at Lilo whose hand was already on the door handle.
She stopped in mid-motion, and met his eyes. From somewhere, light reflected in them, and for a moment he was mesmerized by her cornflower-blue irises. They should signify innocence, but in Lilo they accentuated her mysteriousness. She’d told him a lot by her actions, her willingness
Blake saved it in his cell phone. “I’ll call the clinic as soon as they open in the morning and find out whether Hannah kept the appointment.”
“Maybe Frankenfurter had to stay there overnight. That would explain why he isn’t anywhere to be found.”
“Maybe.” But the doubt in Blake’s voice was audible.
Apart from a few reminders to pay bills, there weren’t many entries for the week in question. The weeks before showed a dentist appointment, a note to fire the dog walker, several movie dates, presumably with Ronny, a hair appointment, and a visit to check out a gym.
“Nothing out of the ordinary,” Blake said, sounding disappointed. “Let’s take it with us, just in case.”
Lilo slipped the book into her purse just as Blake’s phone rang.
He answered it immediately. “What have you got?”
He listened for a few seconds, then said, “Text me his address. And his photo, too. Thanks, Finn!” He pressed the end button. “There was only one man named Ronald who got rides from Hannah.” His cell phone pinged, indicating the arrival of a text message. Blake pointed to the display. “And now we have his address and what he looks like.”
Lilo tapped on the photo to enlarge it. “That’s not the man who broke in.” She shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. Maybe he sent a friend. Or maybe the two events aren’t connected after all. Let’s not waste any time. Let’s go to his house. Now,” she demanded, already heading for the door.
Blake caught up with her. “We’re not going without backup. We don’t know what we’re dealing with. He might not be alone.”
“Good idea. Let’s call the police.” She pulled Donnelly’s card from her pocket. He’d handed it to her, telling her to call his direct line if anything else came up.
“No. If the police show up, he’ll run. Besides, they have no probable cause to act. We’ll check it out ourselves first.” He dialed a number on his phone. “I’ll get somebody from the company to help us.”
“But if he’s dangerous, the police are much better equipped to—”
Blake lifted his hand to stop her. “Hey, Wes, I need your help. Can you meet me out in the Excelsior?” He paused for a moment. “Yes, now. I’ll text you the address. And, Wes, we don’t wanna wake anybody up and alert them to our arrival. Bring your bag of tricks, just in case.” He disconnected the call.
“What bag of tricks?” Lilo asked, curious.
“The usual equipment any bodyguard has. Plus, a few extras. In case the guy gives us any trouble.”
“You mean stuff to tie him up with? Or are you talking about something to… make him tell us where Hannah is?”
He took her elbow and ushered her out of the apartment. “We’re not the CIA.”
“Could’ve fooled me, considering all the resources you have at your disposal,” she shot back.
She’d never encountered a law enforcement agency or private security firm that worked as seamlessly and efficiently as the company that employed Blake. And she’d researched the field thoroughly for her mystery series. So why, if Scanguards was so good at what they did, had she never heard of them?
~ ~ ~
Wesley, Scanguards’ resident witch, was already waiting for them, when Blake pulled up in his Aston Martin. Wes had parked his black BMW a block away from Ronny’s house. The license plate, WTW—Wesley, The Witch—was hard to miss.
Blake parked behind Wes and killed the engine.
“I would tell you to stay in the car, but I’m guessing you’d ignore me.” He glanced at Lilo whose hand was already on the door handle.
She stopped in mid-motion, and met his eyes. From somewhere, light reflected in them, and for a moment he was mesmerized by her cornflower-blue irises. They should signify innocence, but in Lilo they accentuated her mysteriousness. She’d told him a lot by her actions, her willingness
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