Concealed Hearts (Hometown Jasper #4) - Nicky James Page 0,53

you find the Grant kid?”

“Negative. I did find an address, but when I went to his house, he wasn’t there. His mom said he took off this morning and was really upset. She doesn’t know where he went, and she’s worried.”

“Shit. Felix is gone too.”

“How much you wanna bet they’re together?”

“I know they are. To be honest, at least I know this Grant kid has someone standing up for him. I don’t condone the fighting, but Felix is a force to be reckoned with.”

“Yeah.” John’s tone changed to something more morose. “Careful with that line of thinking, Chief. He’s only seventeen. Brick walls still crumble if you hit them hard enough. He could be a loose cannon right now.”

I didn’t want to think that way. I preferred seeing Felix as a sturdy support for this Grant kid, but John was right. How many blows would it take before Felix came apart?

“Where are you at?”

“Heading back to the station. Gonna work with Julie and see where this video originated. I have a feeling I already know.”

“Take her with you if you’re making house calls.”

“I will. Are you heading back to see the missus?”

I bit my tongue, hating the constant lying, but I didn’t know how to correct him when it was obvious I was engaged with someone. “No. Not yet. Going to drive around and try to find two missing teenagers.”

“All right. Keep me posted.”

“I will.”

My lack of sleep was catching up with me. The coffee John had bought earlier was cold in my cup holder. I needed another if I was going to cruise around town looking for two young boys who likely didn’t want to be found.

I pulled up out front of the bakery and headed inside, steeling myself for a chat with Belinda.

There was a long line, so I hung back and pulled out my phone, sending a text to Tomi, letting him know I was going to be longer than I expected.

Just as it was my turn and Belinda greeted me with a huge smile, my phone pinged. I assumed it was a response from Tomi, but I didn’t want to be rude and check it, so I shoved it into my pocket.

“Good morning, Lynny-loo.”

She’d told me once I was the only person to call her by that shortened form of her name. I’d wanted to retract it the day it slipped out, but she’d seemed so thrilled at the time, I hadn’t wanted to hurt her feelings. It stuck. All these years later, it looked like I’d given this sweet woman who doted on me a pet name when that was never my intent.

“You look tired, Windsor. You’re working too hard. Not sleeping enough.”

The truth was, I was working the same but had too many late nights due to Tomi’s presence and a seriously repressed sexual appetite. I had a lot of years to make up for.

“That’s why I’m here. Nothing will keep you in business more than a tired bunch of cops.”

Her smile made her high cheekbones rise and her eyes light up. “Then let me take care of you. Do you need a treat today? On the house.”

“A fritter would be great. I was on call all night, and John pulled me back in before I saw an hour’s sleep.”

“Sugar and caffeine are what you need. I’ll take care of you.”

I moved aside while she fixed my order, allowing the next person in line to move up to the counter where they could peruse the display case with all the sugary treats.

“Morning, Chief.”

I glanced behind me where Josiah, the owner and head journalist for Jasper Times, stood. The hot summer weather had encouraged him to shed his usual blazer. The sleeves of his button-up were rolled a few times, exposing his forearms, and he wore his black-framed glasses—a fashion statement and non-necessity.

“Morning, Josiah. How’re things?”

“They’re…” He shrugged. “You know. I saw there was some … at the high school this morning. What’s going on?”

I narrowed my eyes. “You know better than to come to me for your stories.”

Josiah held up his hands. “Not digging. Just curious. Stuff like that…” He scowled, a rare fire burning in his eyes. “I hate it.”

“It was disgusting, and we’re working on it. Don’t stick your nose where it doesn’t belong. These kids don’t need to be encouraged by you plastering their work in your paper.”

I never knew what to think of Josiah. He was one of those outspoken men who had no fucks to give and proudly flaunted