Total pages in book: 177
Estimated words: 163209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 816(@200wpm)___ 653(@250wpm)___ 544(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 163209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 816(@200wpm)___ 653(@250wpm)___ 544(@300wpm)
Jeremy put a warning hand out toward him and interjected with a firm, “Is that Jean?”
“Neil,” Kevin said, and went back to chewing out his teammate. Whatever Neil had to say on the matter did nothing to improve Kevin’s mood. It was a blessedly short call, but Kevin looked fit to throw his phone after he hung up. Luckily he remembered whose car he was in before he followed through. He subsided somewhat grumpily, holding his phone in a white-knuckled grip.
Jeremy considered giving him time to calm down, but he couldn’t help asking, “How did you not know?”
“Neil didn’t tell us where he was going, but we assumed we knew based on who he was supposed to be meeting. He never said Jean was involved.” Over his shoulder Kevin said, “He refuses to explain himself over the phone.”
“Typical,” Andrew said, unconcerned.
Jeremy cast about for a way to ease the tension. “It worked out for the best,” he offered. “That was the same weekend Grayson Johnson passed away. Before they ruled it a suicide, the police wanted to hang Jean out to dry as the most obvious suspect. Neil’s visit is the only reason he had an alibi they couldn’t refuse.”
Kevin was not at all reassured, judging by the way he buried his face in one hand.
Andrew pushed the back of Kevin’s seat. “Raven backliner. Who was he to Neil?”
“No one, as far as I know,” Kevin said. “He had... history with Jean.”
That hesitation made Jeremy ill, and he couldn’t stop a quiet, “Did you know?”
“Not here,” Kevin warned him. Not with Andrew in their backseat, he meant, and it was answer enough.
Jeremy let the last few miles slide away in miserable silence and was glad to pull up behind Laila’s car. They left the carryon in the back, since Jeremy would take them by their hotel later, but Andrew dug a pack of cigarettes out of it before getting out of the car. He gave it a shake and held it up toward Kevin.
“Is there a corner store nearby?” Kevin asked Jeremy. “He had to toss his lighter at security.”
“Oh, I’ve got one you can borrow,” Jeremy said, and slipped past Kevin to reopen the passenger door. Kevin arched a brow at him when Jeremy dug a pack of clove cigarettes out of the glove compartment, but Jeremy only smiled disarmingly. “I’ve picked up more people at bars by having a lighter handy than I have by being charming. Just walk it off before you come in?” he asked, shaking the lighter free and passing it into Andrew’s waiting hand. “Laila is really sensitive to the smell.”
Rather than answer, Andrew glanced at Kevin. Kevin nodded and motioned to Jeremy, so Andrew set off down the street.
“Something I said?” Jeremy asked when Andrew was out of earshot.
“It’s California, not you,” Kevin said. “Too many memories, especially this soon after Aaron’s trial. He’ll be in a foul mood all weekend.”
Jeremy locked his car and led Kevin up the stairs. Kevin followed his lead when Jeremy toed out of his shoes. Cat and Laila were waiting for them in the living room, tangled together on the couch, and Cat pumped her fist in enthusiastic greeting.
“Hail, Queen. Was starting to think you’d never visit us.”
Jeremy only half-listened to their easy chatter. He caught Laila’s eye, and she gave a quick tip of her fingers. Jeremy leaned back, looking down the hall toward the kitchen. Jean had to have heard the door; even if he missed it, Cat’s greeting was too loud to be missed. But he failed to appear, and Jeremy wondered if he should slip away from Kevin to check on him. Would it be rude?
Cat saw his distraction. “There’s coffee, if you need a pick-me-up for the jet lag.”
“Thank you,” Kevin said, and Jeremy had no choice but to lead him to Jean.
Jean was leaning against the sink to drink his coffee, and Jeremy didn’t think it a stretch he’d gone there to put a whole room between himself and his unwanted guest. His mug stilled halfway to his mouth when they walked in, and his gaze went right past Jeremy to Kevin. Jeremy searched his face, looking for any hint of violence or anger, but Jean’s expression was curiously blank. He didn’t move as Kevin crossed the room toward him.
Kevin took his mug from unresisting fingers and set it aside. “You look better. California agrees with you.”
Jean curled his lip. “You could sound less proud of yourself.”
“Why?” Kevin asked. Jean reclaimed his mug instead of answering. Kevin let it slide in favor of giving him a onceover. “Your hair’s grown back enough the cameras shouldn’t pick it up, but you could have at least trimmed it to the same length.” He was uncowed by the deadly look Jean sent him and insisted, “We won’t have time to fix it in the morning, and I doubt anyone is open this late.”