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When she tried to pour it without slowing to take the cap off first, I took it and opened it and put it back in her hand.

She poured it aimlessly and I took it to recap it, curious what she was so worked up about.

“I think it’s obvious, right? If I look back on that surveillance and match it with the hits of the other app, there’s no way that can’t be right.”

I glanced at Paloma, who seemed just as curious about Louisa sweeping in here with the air of excitement.

After a few more minutes of being subjected to her one-sided conversation, she ended the call and spun to face me.

She opened her mouth, no doubt to tell me something she and Wren were discovering.

“How’s that cereal, Brady?” I asked bluntly, as if she needed the reminder not to talk about official business around him.

“Good!” He didn’t look up, watching the show.

“I have something to check out.” Louisa smiled. “Like, now.”

“A lead?” I guessed.

She nodded quickly. “Oh, yeah. A lead.”

“You have to go to work now, Mama?” Brady asked, tuning in at last.

“I do, buddy.” She went toward him.

“But what about going shopping?” he asked.

“Oh, honey. No worries. I’ll take you,” Paloma said. “I’ve been wanting to get a couple of things for myself, anyway.”

I bet she said that last part to further convince him.

“But I need clothes.” Brady scrunched his face.

“I’ll have you know I’ve got experience shopping for little boys’ clothes.” She winked.

“Who?” he asked.

She pointed at me.

“Me,” I said. “And all the other Mr. Volkovs.”

“Is that okay, Mama?” he asked Louisa.

“Oh, that works out perfectly.” She kissed the top of his head. “Because your swim trunks are about to disintegrate with all the chlorine from your swimming like a fish.”

Paloma nodded. “We’ll stock up,” she said. “And I can look for that lotion we were talking about the other day.”

“I can’t thank you enough,” Louisa said, coming to hug her quickly before getting her coffee again.

I snagged her by the waist and hugged her close. “I’ll go too,” I said, surprising myself with the impulsive plan.

Louisa smiled at me, but I knew she was itching to see how Brady reacted to my holding her.

He didn’t care, excited to have both me and Paloma take him out.

“Anything else you need?” I asked her.

“Just this.” She reached up and kissed my cheek. It was chaste, but maybe that was what she intended. A lighthearted display of affection.