Proof of Life (The Potentate of Atlanta #4) - Hailey Edwards Page 0,55
continued to elude her, if the caffeinated twitch in her eyelid was any indication, but the yawns kept coming.
“I’m sorry, Hadley.” Ares clasped hands with her. “So sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you.” Hadley hugged her. “I’m glad you came.”
Midas noticed her wife hadn’t joined her, but he could understand why. Liz must have stayed home with the baby to prevent him from melting down in public when Hadley was already stressed to the max. Too bad the timing hadn’t worked in his favor. Now he would have to put Ares on the spot about Amber.
“One of Liz’s patients was here earlier.” He infused apology into his voice. “Liz missed their appointment and isn’t returning her phone calls.” He hesitated. “How is Liz? The pregnancy is going well?”
“There have been recent complications, nothing too serious, but Liz took some time off work.” Ares kept bouncing her gaze from face to face, scanning the room as if counting heads. “With Baby Alex giving us a nightmare introduction to Parenting 101, she must have forgotten to cancel.” She returned her focus to his chin, as high as she dared look. “She never answers work calls when she’s on vacation. They all go to her answering service. I’ll let her know the calls aren’t being forwarded so she can put in a tech support ticket.”
The phone in Midas’s pocket vibrated, and he checked the display. “I need to take this.”
“I’m going to find the coffee.” She shooed him on. “Then I’m going to start a caffeine IV.”
“We got problems,” Ford said into his ear. “We’re missing a lot more than a single flashbang.”
After catching Hadley’s eye, he paced to a quiet corner of the room. “What do you mean?”
“The vault is short. I’m sending over the list so far. See if anything jumps out at you.” An old country tune played in the background, and horns blared. “There’s no telling who’s been skimming unless we get lucky and spot them on the security camera.”
The vault held surplus from the armory, which meant it got inventoried monthly versus nightly.
“Anyone with access to the vault has access to the surveillance room too.”
“That’s what I was thinking too.” Ford sighed. “Hey, is Ares there yet?”
“Yeah.” He rubbed his jaw. “She looks ready to fall over. Need me to hold her until you get here?”
“Nah.” He paused. “I probably ought to keep my nose in my own business.”
As much as the pack loved gossip, Ford was more restrained than most. “What’s wrong?”
“I walked out with her, and Hank asked when Liz was coming home.” He sounded uncomfortable sharing what was meant to be a private conversation. “Last I heard, Liz was home with the baby, but Hank made it sound like Liz had been gone for a while. Any idea what’s going on there?”
A warning prickle slid down his spine. “What did she tell him?”
“She acted like she didn’t hear. Breezed right past him. I figure he hit a sore spot, and she didn’t want to answer in front of an audience.” The noisy truck engine fell silent. “I didn’t get to follow up with her. She got in a Swyft, and I headed to the garage.”
“You’re here now?”
“Just parked.”
“See you inside.”
Eyes sweeping the room, Hadley sidled up to him. “What’s wrong?”
“Ares is lying.” He put away his phone. “We need to keep an eye on her.”
Pain flashed in her eyes, alongside determination, as he filled her in. “Do you think…?”
“I can’t tell.” He stared after Ares. “She reads the same as always to me, except…”
Hadley turned her face up to his, waiting. “Trust your instincts.”
“If Hank is right, and Liz hasn’t been home for some time, then she can’t be babysitting now.”
Abbott cautioned the test was accurate four times out of five. That Ares might prove to be the exception left a sour taste in his mouth. He couldn’t picture her betraying the pack, the true Ares wouldn’t, but the coven were masters of unimaginable horrors.
A grim certainty darkened her eyes. “We need to check her apartment before she gets back.”
Midas had been about to suggest the same, but there was a problem. “You’ll be missed.”
“As much as I hate being left behind, I agree.” She let wariness show. “Update me when you can.”
“Keep her busy.” He bent and kissed her, soft and quick. “Call or text me if she leaves.”
“I will.” She clung to him a moment longer. “Be extra careful.”