Johan's Joy (Heroes for Hire #22) - Dale Mayer Page 0,50
been you.”
She hugged him back at that point because she really hadn’t considered that. “It’s hard to imagine that he’s been shot,” she said. “I was just talking to him.”
“And we don’t know what triggered this,” he said, “but you have to stay safe.”
“I’m planning on it,” she said. To keep herself busy and to avoid the awkward moment of separating, she immediately walked into the kitchen and put on coffee. She could hear the others discussing their day, but there wasn’t anything solid, as far as she could tell.
“What now?” she asked when she turned back to face him.
“Dinner,” he said promptly. “We didn’t have any lunch.”
“Ah,” she said nodding. “Are we going out then?”
“Or we can bring in,” he said. “Either way, your choice.”
“Despite my healthy appetite, apparently I don’t eat anywhere near the amount that you guys do,” she said, “so hardly my choice.”
“Good point,” Kai said. She looked at the others. “Are we doing any nighttime activities?”
“Possibly,” Tyson said, “but it’ll be hours yet before the police are done.”
“Oh, wow,” Joy said. “Maybe I missed something in the conversation. What are you talking about?”
“We’re talking about doing a thorough search of Barlow’s office and his house,” Johan said.
“Are you allowed to?”
“Technically, no,” he said, “which is why we have to wait for the police to finish first.”
“And, of course, they’ll have taken any forensic evidence they can find.”
“True enough,” Tyson chimed in. “He does have security in his home though,” he said. “I’ve had that on since I hacked into it this morning, and, so far, nobody’s been there.”
“Not even the cops?” Johan asked.
“Not yet, no.”
“Does he live alone?”
“Yes,” Tyson said, “or at least he’s been living alone in recent history. The property is in his name only too. Doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a girlfriend who comes and goes though.”
“Or a boyfriend,” Kai said. “He broke up with Phyllis for a reason, but we never did hear why, did we?”
“No,” Joy said. “I was wondering about doing some research into the news to see if there was anything back then.”
“Chances are he hushed it up pretty quickly,” Tyson said. “I did do a general search but haven’t come up with anything.”
“Maybe we need to talk to Phyllis again,” Johan said.
“Have you talked to her yet?”
He looked at her, smiled, and nodded. “Just with you there. And when I said we, I meant you.”
She wrinkled up her nose at him. “I’m not sure she’ll want to talk to me after this.”
“Do you think she was still holding a torch for your boss?”
“Like I said, a love-hate relationship. I’m sure there were times when she missed him terribly. But I think there were also times when she hated his guts.”
“And that can lead to all kinds of behavior.”
“True, but I doubt that she killed him.”
“Maybe not. It’s hard to say at this point in time.”
“So, dinner?” Joy looked at the clock. “It’s five o’clock.”
“You want to get out of here for a bit?” Johan asked her.
“I wouldn’t mind, yes,” she said. “But obviously it needs to be good food and lots of it, if we’re going out for nighttime activities,” she said. “And we need to not be too late with dinner.”
“No ‘we’ about it,” he said. “You’re staying here. And we won’t go until after midnight anyway.”
She glared at him. “Why can’t I go?”
“Because,” he said, “it’s not what you do.”
“Maybe it’s what I want to do,” she challenged. But really she had no intention of going into Barlow’s office or his house in the middle of the night, and the last thing she wanted to do was get caught doing such a thing.
He gave her a big but sweet smile. “Frustration can manifest itself in many ways,” he said. “And you’ll have to find another way to release it because you’re not coming with us.” And his word was final.
Her shoulders sagged. She glared at him, her gaze sweeping the three men, who completely ignored her, and Kai just sent her a commiserating look. “Are you going too?”
Kai shook her head. “No, I’m staying here with you.”
Joy nodded. “And Tyson?”
“I’m staying here,” Tyson said.
“Is that because you’re off duty or because you’re on duty looking after me?”
He looked up with a gentle smile. “Because I want to spend time with Kai.”
And Joy’s heart melted a little more. “Okay, you’re forgiven.”
He grinned. “Thanks for the pass.”
Johan glared at her. “So I’m not forgiven when I’m looking into the case that you brought to everybody’s attention?”