“—the f**k are you into?” Eric was ranting. “I come home from a week in Cancun to find a bunch of messages on my answering machine from you that abruptly stop three days ago. After my flight landed at LAX, I called in to the precinct to check in. Some of my buddies tell me your car exploded. I came home to find my house has been ransacked. Not robbed, but torn apart. What do your panicked messages, which they listened to, by the way, have to do with this?”
Del sent him an alarmed glance. Tyler knew that she was thinking the same thing he was: What if whoever broke into Eric’s had stolen her flash drive?
She clutched the phone, looking angry and nervous. “I didn’t do anything to your house while you were gone. I’ve been away. I had to leave town after the car bomb.”
“When did this start? The guys at the precinct said you were gone by the time they arrived on the scene to find your car was damn near ash. They have no idea who’s behind this. From your voice mails, I’m guessing you do. What’s going on? Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“We’re no longer married. I’m not your problem anymore. I just called you for one small favor.”
“To hell with that, Del. If someone is trying to kill you, tell me. We may not be married anymore, but damn it . . . I want to do something. Is the ass**le who’s trying to kill you the same one who broke into my house?”
“It’s complicated.”
He huffed. “Since I solve crimes for a living, I think I can figure it out.”
Del looked at Tyler, her expression a silent question. He shook his head. No telling who was onto her connection with Eric. Better not to talk more specifically until they were face-to-face. If Carlson had anything to do with Eric’s place being trashed, the culprits could have just as easily planted listening or surveillance equipment.
“It’s not safe for me to talk right now.”
Eric hesitated. “I understand. The kid okay?”
Tyler gritted his teeth. He should probably shut up, but . . . “My son’s name is Seth, and you can stop barking at Del.”
Eric didn’t say anything for a long moment. “Tyler? When the hell did you meet up with Del? Are you sniffing at her skirts again?”
Not “Hi, old friend” or “How have you been?” It rubbed Tyler entirely the wrong way. “Don’t be a stupid motherfucker. She needed help. I’m helping her. Are you more concerned about what I might be doing with your ex than the fact that someone’s trying to kill her?”
“Fuck you!”
“Stop it, both of you!” Del insisted. “Eric, Seth is fine. My personal life is no longer your concern, so let’s please keep this civil. I only have one favor to ask of you, and it won’t take too much of your time. Can we come by in a bit? I’ll help you pick up.”
“We? So you and my former best friend are a couple now?”
“No.”
“Yes,” Tyler said at the same time, then glared Del’s way. “Definitely yes. I care about her and I’m going to keep her safe, since you’re too busy running off your mouth. That’s all you need to know.”
“Tyler . . .”
He heard the protest in her voice, and it just pissed him off all over again. But they had to deal with Eric first.
End that, he mouthed to Del, pointing at the phone.
Her mouth tightened. Yeah, she didn’t much like being told what to do. Tyler understood, but there was more than pride at stake here.
“So can we come by later?” She spoke into the phone.
Eric hesitated, and Tyler had no doubt his former friend wanted to refuse. “She can come.”
“Get your head screwed on straight, man. Someone is trying to kill her. I’m not in a hurry to see you, either, but if you care an ounce for her, you shouldn’t want her running around unprotected.”
Tyler could almost hear Eric gnashing his teeth.
“Fine,” he snapped finally. “What time?”
Since they were still out in the middle of the desert, it was going to be a while. “We’ll call you.”
Moments later, they hung up. Del clutched her hands in her lap, looking ready to explode.