29. Mason
29
MASON
I was tired. Like, tired to the bone.
The last week was wearing on me. Logan stayed with me while we got Zeke to the hospital, and he was right. He lied better than me. I never would’ve considered telling them that Zeke got that knife wound from a long-winded story that centered around golfing and trying to cut an avocado on hole nine, but the nurse barely blinked. Of course, once he said he was Zeke’s lawyer, everything became official. No one questioned why a lawyer would be at his client’s hospital bedside. The police station made sense. A hospital, not so much. But regardless, Logan had everyone running around at his command within seconds.
It was impressive.
A minute ago, the doctor let us know that Zeke had a minor reaction, but they were already pumping him full of antibiotics. He was going to be okay. He was passed out and would be for the rest of the night
At that point, we left. Logan fell in step beside me on the way out. “I need a ride.”
He’d driven Zeke’s truck here. “You left his keys with him?”
He nodded, stuffing his hands in his jacket pockets. “Along with his phone and wallet.”
I didn’t remember that we’d grabbed his wallet and gave my brother the side-eye. He cared for the guy. Legit cared. Why hadn’t he mentioned that to me? A few people recognized me as we were leaving. We’d gotten attention from some of the nurses, and one of the doctors, but only one person recognized me from the NFL. But as we entered the waiting room to leave, some guys were there and scrambled. A couple of them approached for autographs.
It was then that I saw ESPN was on the television. The commentators were talking about the Orcas’s chances for the Lombardi and I saw my name scrolling across the bottom. We were still somewhat new into the season. It was my first year of being retired. My name and face would be up there for a while.
When we left, I checked Maddy’s phone tracker and saw she was still at the address Sam had given me. I sighed on the inside because what was this going to be? Another fight? Different sort of fight? I never truly knew.
Logan didn’t question me until I turned down a street that was not in our neighborhood. “What the—where are we going?” He became more alert.
I pulled up to the gate at the entrance to the subdivision, rolling my window down. I ignored Logan and when the gate guard asked for my code, I told him, “My daughter’s at one of the houses. I need to go in and get her.”
Logan cursed under his breath.
The guard didn’t seem inclined to let us through until he got a good look at my face. “Hey! You’re Mason Kade.” After that, his inner fan came out and this fan couldn’t be more helpful. We were not only allowed access, but he gave us directions and offered to escort us to the home.
I gave him a wave as we pulled through. “We’re good from here. Thank you. Appreciate it.”
“Is this new?” Logan asked. “Maddy’s just ignoring that she’s grounded?”
I grunted, that tired feeling spreading through me again. “Fuck if I know.”
I felt my brother studying me. “What are you going to do? You don’t seem too pissed right now.”
Coming to the next street, I made the turn and it was easy to locate the house, even without the address. It was situated at the end of a cul-de-sac, and it was twice the size of all the other houses. Two giant columns framed the front entrance, along with a circle drive currently littered with vehicles. All fancy cars too. Logan whistled under his breath. “Remember when Sam used to drive that old Corolla?”
I grunted, remembering it fondly as I parked. “Good times.”
He got out and strolled next to me. “Simple times.” We passed a Ferrari. “Jesus. No teenager should be driving a vehicle like that.”
“You wouldn’t have said that when you were a teenager.” But I didn’t disagree. “I think I’m too tired to be pissed right now. That’ll probably change once we get inside, depending on what kind of reception Maddy gives us.”
“I hear you.”
We got to the door, and I could hear the music inside. It was muted, but I expected it to blast us once this door opened.
Logan glanced my way. “What are you thinking?”
“What kind of trouble could I get in if we just walk in?”
Logan’s grin was wolfish. “Well, I mean, a reasonable argument could be made that we were concerned for the welfare of your daughter, who’s underage.” He reached out, barely tapping the door. His grin turned wicked. “Look at that. We knocked and no one answered.”
“So you’re saying there’s a good chance we won’t get in trouble.”
He held my gaze, a spark now lit. “Chances are good. I mean, you showed up with your lawyer.”
I scoffed but opened the door with no problem. “Comes in handy, your law degree.”
He snorted, following me inside.
I half expected to hear an alarm pierce the air, but I was wrong about that, and I was also wrong about the music. It remained muted, coming from somewhere below. Logan whistled as we walked through the kitchen. “Drink, anyone?” he remarked, perusing the very large supply of alcohol. He picked up a few bottles and whistled again before putting them back. “It’s a school night—or school morning—and Mr. Moreaux’s parents are very much not in attendance. What would the PTA say about this? Hell, what would our board say about this?” He was being sarcastic, but he had a point.
I motioned to him. “Step back.” I raised my phone, taking a few snaps.
“What are you doing?”
I took a video, starting on the booze and circled around, turning it off right before I got to my brother. I pocketed my phone. “Evidence.”
His eyebrows shot up. “For the board? I was joking. All those guys are the same. They won’t blink at their kids throwing a party or even getting arrested.”
I shrugged as I walked back out to the main hallway and looked around. “You never know. Moreaux is the next-biggest shareholder after us and Nate. What other incriminating shit might we see here?” I cocked an eyebrow at him. We were here to get my daughter, but before we did that…
Logan’s grin turned wolfish once again. He rubbed his hands together. “You’re ruining my hard-on to go back east. All this fun we’re having? I’m never going to want to leave again.”
“Maybe it’s time you moved back.”
He didn’t reply to that, instead pursing his lips and led the way down the hall on the first floor. “Wanna bet the office is down here?”
“No bet. It’s always on the first floor.”
We found it, and while the music raged beneath our feet, we went through Phillip Moreaux’s office. Logan was on the computer, searching around.
“You got in?”
He lifted the mousepad. “Dumbass tapes his password here.”
“Right.” I studied the screen, noting all the files on there.
“You got any more USBs handy?” he asked.
I snorted but handed over the one from earlier. “I bet there’s still space on there.”
He took it. “Search upstairs. Keep your phone handy. I’ll do this and do a search for any security cameras, just in case.”
“The Moreauxs won’t have cameras in here.”
“You don’t think?”
“No way. And if they do, they aren’t on. His kid is throwing a party with that amount of booze out there? Phillip Moreaux won’t want evidence of that shit. Or anything else that might happen in this house. We haven’t even gone downstairs yet.” A dark look passed between us. “Should we go down there first?” Logan asked.
I went out into the hallway. “No. Maddy is fine. If we have to worry about anything, it’s what she might be doing to the other kids. We won’t get this chance again, and you never know when it might come in handy. I’ll be fast upstairs.”
“Fast, but thorough,” he called after me.
I darted up the stairs and started my walk-through. Most of what was up here were guest bedrooms—nothing in there except the usual things. Beds. Towels. Televisions. I checked the primary bedroom, taking my time going through the drawers, the medicine cabinet in the bathroom, the closet. There were a couple safes, but I left them alone because both were locked. This might be the beginning of a new criminal career and I’d advanced fast, but not enough to have the skill to get into a safe.
There was nothing significant about the primary bedroom. No personal items. There wasn’t a lot of clothes either. There was no makeup or jewelry on the dresser or in the bathroom. The parents didn’t stay here.
One of the guest bedrooms was being used and I went through that room too, but there wasn’t much to find. Clothes. Toiletries spread out over the counter. Another laptop on the desk. A few framed pictures.
The kid’s bedroom was last.
The door was open, which meant he was likely downstairs with the rest at the party. At first glance it was obvious that the kid lived here. His room was full of his things. A gaming system was in the corner. Two chairs on the floor. Snacks stashed everywhere. His school homework was tossed to the side. His closet was full of clothes.
There was a good amount of drugs in a hidden drawer. The kid wasn’t too smart. The fake bottom was too high up. Anyone would’ve lifted it to see what was underneath, if they were looking.
I took more pictures and a video to make sure there was no doubt where I was. There were more pills in the bathroom. I gave his backpack a quick toss. The only thing I wanted to search thoroughly was his laptop, but I didn’t move it. It would be password protected, and this kid wasn’t going to keep his password under a mousepad. He was a lot more high-tech than his father. Though, I was a little thankful I’d been the one to find the laptop. Logan might’ve just stolen it.
I snapped pictures of everything.
Logan was coming up the stairs when I finished. “I did another search through the kitchen and pantry,” he said. “There was some odd lingerie in the laundry.”
“What do you mean?”
He shrugged. “Just a feeling. I want to get a quick look at the missus’s closet. See if she’s the type to wear the lingerie I saw down there.”
“They don’t stay here.”
“What do you mean?”
I lifted my chin in the direction of the primary bedroom. “Their room is like a hotel’s. No way are the parents living here. The kid is. A friend maybe too.” I eyed my brother. “You’re thinking this is where Moreaux brings a mistress?”
“The kid uses it for parties. Dad uses it when he’s cheating.”
“Kid’s living here.”
He stopped. “What? You mean the kid’s here without the parent’s? Like full-time.”
I nodded. “I think so. Yeah.”
His mouth went flat. “I don’t like that.”
I didn’t like it either. If Maddy didn’t live with Sam and me? No. I didn’t like that one bit. When we went back to the main floor, I gestured out the patio door. “Did you look out there?”
Logan paused. “No.” He opened the sliding door, stuck his head out. “No one’s out here, but hold on. I’ll do a quick walk-through with my phone.”
It didn’t take him long.
He stepped back inside and we moved to the basement door.
Who knew what we’d come across down there. “Let’s get this done.”
Showtime.