Hide & Seek - Nicole Edwards Page 0,16
watched the computer screen. A bar appeared, but the computer remained locked.
“I’m downloading all the information from the computer,” JJ informed him.
“Is this legal?” he asked.
“Immunity and means, Tavoularis,” she said easily. “That’s the only answer you need. Leave it up until it shows one hundred percent, then you’re good to go. When you can, plug it into your laptop. There’s a program on there that’ll shoot the data my way. Anything else?”
“Not right now, no.”
“Later.”
The call disconnected and Reese stared around the room, taking it all in. He briefly wondered if one of Tanner’s parents might come in to see what they were doing, then shrugged off the thought. It was clear they had more important things to tend to than looking for their son.
And sure, it was possible Tanner was with a girl or even with a friend hanging out. Maybe he didn’t want to come back. Reese certainly wouldn’t blame him. But until they knew for sure, someone had to be out looking for this kid, and the more eyes, the better as far as he was concerned.
The computer finished downloading, so he ejected the drive and reconnected it to Brantley’s key ring before passing it back.
“Looks like maybe the kid’s hopeful,” Brantley said, nodding to the contents inside one of the dresser drawers. “Box of condoms. Few missin’.” Brantley looked up at him, closing the drawer. “At least he’s safe.”
Not because he’d learned right or wrong from the parents.
Brantley exhaled, hands on his hips as he stared around once more. “I think we’re good here.”
Yeah. The sooner they could get the hell out of there, the better.
The Wrights weren’t any more interested to know they were leaving than they’d been when they arrived, so they slipped out without incident.
“Hold up a minute,” Reese said when Brantley started for the SUV they’d parked at the curb.
He walked around the side of the house, through the chain-link metal gate, into the backyard. He knew from the placement of the windows the Wrights would’ve both been able to see him if they’d been inclined to look. He didn’t give them a second thought as he walked over to the dog.
He moved slowly, talking softly. “Hey, there, buddy.”
The closer he got, the more the dog shrank in on itself, cowering away from his touch.
Reese crouched down. “It’s okay. I promise, I won’t hurt you. Not now. Not ever.”
When the dog’s nose started to twitch, he held out his hand, let the dog sniff. He managed to get in a couple of pats, noticed the little guy’s tail beginning to wag.
Oh, wait. Not a little guy like Mrs. Wright had said. This one was a girl.
His opinion of the mother dropped another notch although he hadn’t thought it was possible.
“Whaddya say we get you outta here? Maybe get you a burger.”
As though the dog could understand him, she took a step closer, allowed Reese to unhook the chain from the collar.
“Up you go,” he said, lifting the dog into his arms to keep her from having to exert too much energy.
Poor thing was definitely underweight. Reese could feel her ribs protruding, her hip bones.
He tucked the dog in close to his side, rubbed her head to reassure her as he made his way back to the front yard. When he arrived at the rented Tahoe, he saw the back passenger door was open and Brantley was holding a bottle of water. “I had a feelin’ you were gonna do that.”
Thankfully, he didn’t sound upset.
They made a few attempts to get the dog to drink, but she seemed more interested in getting into the SUV, her legs trembling so much she could hardly stand.
“So do we want burgers or chicken?” Brantley asked as they pulled away from the house.
“Burgers.”
“You pick out a name for him yet?”
Reese’s eyes snapped over to Brantley. “You wanna keep it?”
“That’s not the plan?” Brantley countered with a grin.
Okay, maybe it was. It hadn’t been. Not until he’d picked up the dog. Now he was invested.
“Hey, I’m game if you are.”
There was that strange warmth in his chest once more. The one that constantly reminded him that he loved this man. More so with everything he learned about him.
***
Sebastian Buchanan watched JJ out of the corner of his eye while he continued to henpeck the keyboard in an attempt to draft the email he wanted to send to Gallegos as a follow-up to their phone conversation.
He knew JJ was watching him, could practically feel her anxiety.
Looked as though