Page 58 of Avenging Angel

Looking through my scope, I see Eva’s eyes dart to Uri, then back at Ken. “Trust me when I tell you that it’s more than a ‘voice’ in my head.”

Ken waves away the comment. “Imaginary friend or not, the risk is too great.”

“The Southern Knights can be trusted. You’ve seen her yourself. Sadie is alive. I sent you to the diner to confirm it. She just doesn’t know who the real enemy is.”

Ken huffs. “And you think that the Southern Knights can take down Dominion? That’s not what I signed up for, Eva.”

There’s a moment when Ken chokes up and pinches the bridge of his nose to prevent tears from falling. “I just want to find her. It’s been five years, and the clock is running out before Brit disappears forever. My daughter is my priority.”

Chapter twenty-three

Daisy

“What’s your story, Daisy?” Bennett asks as we stake out the Bloom residence on the outskirts of Colorado Springs.

Without thinking about it, I fiddle with the pendant around my neck. “There’s no story. We were hired to look into the abductions, and we shared what we knew with you. You haven’t been as forthcoming.”

Bennett sits quietly for a moment, and I enjoy the blessed silence. It doesn’t last long, though. “I don’t believe that’s true. You haven’t shared everything, like why you are so invested in this case or who hired the Southern Knights in the first place. I could have someone hack into your system and find out for myself, but I’d rather you tell me.”

“Let’s just say this one’s personal because I lost someone very dear to me.”

“Who?”

While I disagree with my team about sharing my tragic past, I did promise to dangle a carrot. If they’re right, then it might even be enough to coax Bennett into opening up and trusting me.

“Sadie Alekseev.”

Bennett chews on that for a moment. “I’m sorry for the loss of your friend. At least it makes more sense now as to why you seem so driven.”

He raises the binoculars to his eyes and studies the home through the lenses. It’s a pale blue, two-story clapboard home with a small front porch that houses a small table between two rocking chairs. The lawn is manicured and decorated with garden gnomes that look like they’re having far more fun than I’m having.

“You know, I too have lost a best friend before. Everyone is quick with the platitudes, condolences, and apologies for something they had no control over. What’s worse is when they tell you the wound will heal in time,” he says. “Or that death is a part of life. I suppose all of that is true, but when someone you care about is suddenly taken from you, it changes a person.”

“The wound does heal. What they don’t tell you is that it leaves a scar.” I look over at Bennett, who lowers his binoculars but keeps his eyes trained forward. “For some, it gives purpose and meaning to life, while others break under the grief. Take Brad, for example.”

With a sigh, Bennett faces me. “Speaking of Brad, what did he say to you that has led you on this wild goose chase?”

I don’t see any reason to keep this to myself, so I tell the truth. “He said that Emily’s brother blames him for her death.”

“Do you mean the nonexistent brother he told you about to get away from the area? I’ll admit that it was a good plan because it worked.”

“We believe that Emily’s brother does exist.” I explain about the fires and the cyberattack; how we speculate that the brother has erased any physical or digital trace of himself. “The one thing that can’t be erased is memories. I’ll bet my entire life savings, which isn’t much, that the Blooms have photographic evidence hanging on their walls. The problem is that they don’t appear to be home.”

Bennett reaches into his suit jacket and removes a lock-picking kit. “That’s a problem easily solved.”

“I’m not going to break into their house!”

He laughs at my righteous indignation. “I’ll do it, then. It’ll be a quick in and out that will give you enough time to find what you’re looking for, and no one will ever know we were there.”

Before I can argue further, Bennett opens the door and starts walking down the sidewalk.

We’re less than 100 feet from the house when my phone rings, the name “Tech Stud” flashing across the screen. I roll my eyes as I answer the call. “Jerry, you have to stop hacking people’s phones and changing your display name.”

“Nah, there’s too much fun to be had. My wife calls me a ‘stud’ all the time. So if the shoe fits….”

I follow along behind Bennett, though I stop at the base of the stairs while he picks the lock. “I’m currently in the middle of a B&E. Please tell me you got something on the Blooms’ son.”

“Not yet, but I’m still working on it. Although I do have something on Kenneth Johnson.”