“So I heard,” Nate said. He sounded distant and subdued, as if he didn’t want to raise his voice. “I’d hoped I’d be back by today, but it didn’t work out.”
“Liv said you’re getting close.”
Joe knew not to mention specific names or quiz Nate on strategy or his location on the cell call. There was no way to know who might be listening in. Nate was certainly on the radar of the feds and Joe was a known associate.
“I am. It could be any time now.”
“Does he know you’re on to him?”
“Probably.”
“Will that screw things up?” Joe asked.
“It might, but I don’t have a choice but to move on him fast and hard. I can’t let him get away.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
Nate paused, which surprised Joe. Then: “No. It’s important that you’re there keeping an eye on Liv and Kestrel.”
Meaning, Joe knew, If I lose him somehow, he might double back and come after my family again.
“Are you doing all right?” Joe asked.
“Mentally or physically?”
“Either one.”
“I’ve done hours of windshield time and I’ve taken a few hits,” Nate said.
Joe wanted more details but knew not to ask for them. “Are you completely on your own?”
“Not completely. I’ve got a few friends. One in particular.”
“Do you trust him?”
“I do.”
“When can we expect to see you?”
“Soon, I hope.” There was another pause, as if Nate was contemplating saying, Or never.
“You can always come back,” Joe said. “You don’t have to finish this.”
“Wrong. I have to finish this.”
Nate said it in such a definitive way that Joe knew it was pointless to try to talk him out of it.
“Well, we miss you,” Joe said. “Kestrel is a firecracker, just like her mom.”
Liv reacted to that with a grin.
“I miss her,” Nate said. “Being away from her and Liv is harder than I imagined. Now I know what you’ve been dealing with all of these years.”
“But it’s not so bad, is it?” Joe asked, smiling. “It’s certainly better than sitting naked in a tree watching the river flow by.” Which was one of Nate’s pastimes when he was single and off the grid. That, and submerging himself in the reeds near the bank of the river with a breathing tube to “experience what a fish feels like.”
Nate didn’t respond. Joe imagined his friend covering the mike on his phone and talking to someone.
“I’ve got to go,” Nate said in a whisper.
“I understand,” Joe said, although he understood nothing. “Be safe.”
“You’ve been a good friend,” Nate said as he terminated the call.
Joe felt the hairs on his neck prick up.
“What?” Liv asked Joe as he handed the phone back to her.
“He said I was a good friend,” Joe said.
“You are.”
“I just wish he hadn’t said it in that way. Did he tell you where he was?”
“Not specifically,” Liv said. “Somewhere in Washington State. He was ‘in the heart of the beast.’ Which I took to mean Seattle.”
Joe nodded. He said, “If it were anyone else, I’d be really worried.”
“You’re telling me,” Liv said. “I’ve had a knot in my stomach for days. Today was the first time I feel like I’ve cut loose for at least a few hours.”
“Go back and have some more wine. It’s okay.”
“I hope so,” she said.
He hoped so, too.
* * *
—
It was the second quarter and Dallas was down by nine and Joe was awakened by Marybeth shaking his shoulder.
“I’m worried about Lola,” she said.
Joe sat up and rubbed his eyes. “I forgot about her,” he said.
“I thought she’d come by for dessert at least. I’ve been waiting for her to call for a ride before I slice the pies.”
“Did you call her?”
“Twice. She doesn’t have a cell and her phone just rings and rings. She doesn’t have it set up for messages.”
“I hope she didn’t fall down and break her hip or something,” Joe said. “Maybe she had a little too much peppermint schnapps.”
Marybeth said, “I suppose she could have driven into town for a holiday meal at the senior center. But to ease my mind, I think you should go check on her.”