49. Chapter 49
After Lindsey’s forehead hit the wall, she held her breath and waited for his answer.
“Are you really surprised?” Graham whispered.
“Seriously?” Helen hissed.
“It’s Jase. It was only a matter of time before illegitimate children started showing up.”
“Shut up,” Lindsey said.
Jase hadn’t answered, or if he did, she missed it.
The chimes of “Heartbreak Hotel” rang out from the foyer. It wasn’t a sound they were accustomed to hearing, and Lindsey traded a confused look with Helen.
“Novelty doorbell,” Graham explained. “No one’s been here in weeks and now it’s Grand Central Station.”
He left to answer the front door and Helen squeezed Lindsey’s hand.
“My God, you really are in love with her, aren’t you?” Chloe was saying.
Lindsey braced herself for Jase’s response. Whatever he said was drowned out by shouting in the foyer.
“Hold on a second, who are you?” Graham hollered.
“Don’t mess with me. I know she’s here,” another man said. “Her car’s out front.”
Lindsey and Helen hurried down the front hall. It took a few moments for Lindsey to realize how she knew the man Graham was blocking in the doorway.
“Charlie?” she asked.
“Lindsey?”
The owner of Chums, the bar in Monterey where Lindsey met Chloe for the first time, pushed past Graham and hugged her as if they were old friends.
“How the heck are you?” Charlie asked. “I didn’t think we’d ever cross paths again.”
“Same,” Lindsey said.
“You know this guy?” Graham asked, rubbing his chest in his compulsory way.
“Charlie is Jase’s friend from California.”
“My brother doesn’t have friends.”
“Brother?” Charlie put an arm around Lindsey’s shoulders and sized up Graham. “I don’t see the resemblance.”
“There isn’t one,” Lindsey said. “What are you doing in Ohio?”
“Chasing an anomaly. I must be out of my mind.”
“You’re here for Chloe?”
He nodded. “Where is she?”
Lindsey pointed to the kitchen.
“Good luck, Chuck,” Graham snorted, and they followed Charlie into the battle zone.