Michelle eyed Tyler and said, smiling, “Sean has lots of friends of a friend. He’s very popular at parties.”
Sean continued, “Your dad’s co-worker was a woman named Mary Hesse. You ever hear him mention her?”
Tyler shook his head. “Like I said, he didn’t really talk about work.”
Sean slowly nodded. “Right. Well, I’m going to see her tonight. She might be able to tell us something.”
“I can go too,” said Michelle.
“No, you have to stay here with Tyler.”
“Why don’t we all go?” suggested Tyler.
“No,” Sean said firmly. “I have no idea if Hesse will even give me five minutes. She sounded very reluctant over the phone. If we all show up, it might freak her out.”
Michelle said, “Okay, that makes sense. I’ll play bodyguard. You play detective.”
Tyler said nothing, but he didn’t look too happy.
A bit later Michelle walked Sean out to his car.
“I’m really sorry about Dana, Sean, but it wasn’t your fault.”
“Of course it was, but I don’t want to get into that again.” He fumbled with his keys. Michelle put a calming hand over his shaky one.
“You have to just let it go for now, Sean. If you keep up this way you’ll be no good to yourself or anyone else.”
“I know,” he said resignedly. “It’s just hard to shut it off.”
“Secret Service. Tunnel vision. Block everything else out. Like you said, these are dangerous waters. Bring your A-game all around. Right?”
He nodded curtly. “A-game, right. Thanks, Michelle, for a gentle kick in the pants.”
“Any time. I can also do the hard kick in the pants if necessary.”
“And don’t I know it.” He got into the car. “I’ll call you when I’m on my way back.”
“Okay.”
He gazed at his house. “A-game all around,” he said. “Including you. You’ve got the precious cargo.”
CHAPTER
29
AFTER SEAN DROVE OFF MICHELLE did a perimeter patrol then walked back to the house. She locked all the doors and made sure her pistol had a round in the chamber. She looked down at the kitchen table where Tyler sat with his schoolbooks piled everywhere.
“Lots of homework?” she asked.
“Always lots of homework,” he said dully. However, he made no move to open a book or pick up a pencil.
“Shouldn’t you be getting to it?”
“I suppose.” He paused, gritting his teeth. “Where do you think my dad is right now?”
“Maybe on a plane back here from the Middle East.”
Tyler listlessly thumbed through some pages in his math textbook.