Chapter 32
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Nick
“Lenny Harlston?”
Greg nodded. “Yeah, why? Do you know them?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose to release the ever-growing pressure. “No, Greg, that’s the problem.”
“You’ve lost me.” Greg scratched his head. “Lenny took the keys and everything. I’ve known them since we were kids. I think I’d realize if it wasn’t them.”
I tried to change course for a beat. “Do you know a Matt York?”
Greg’s reaction told me everything. “Who?” He had no idea who Matt was.
“What’s the handle you use on social media?”
Greg’s face scrunched up. “I don’t use social media. I deal with computers all day, and the last thing I want to do when I get home is look at another screen.”
Making it easy to open an account under his name, since he’d never be the wiser. “Well, Greg, someone opened many SM accounts under your name.”
Greg blinked. “So you’re here about that?”
I wiped a hand across my face and said a silent prayer that I wouldn’t grab the man and strangle him.
“Greg, listen to me.” I spoke slowly. “Your motorcycle has been used to stalk and attack someone, your name is registered to several SM handles that are being used to harass someone. Your friend Lenny, I think he’s using you to cover his ass. Maybe you tell us where to find this Lenny, and we can clear everything up?”
If someone had come up to me and told me one of my brothers, or JJ, or Mason was doing the things I’d accused Lenny of doing, I wouldn’t believe it. So it was no surprise when Greg reacted.
“That’s insane. Lenny would never do that—someone else is behind this.”
“Jesus fucking Christ!” Gabe shouted. “Your friend is fucking you over, Greg. Don’t you want to know why?”
“If you knew Lenny, you’d understand how insane that is,” Greg argued. “Lenny’s the best person I know.”
“Look.” I slid off the stool and moved beside Greg. “I can find Lenny on my own, but if I have to dig to locate him, it won’t work out very well for you, Greg.”
“You can’t bully me.” Greg glared at me, but there was a waver in his voice. Loyal friend yet also scared. He’d buckle.
“I’m not bullying you, Greg.” I smiled. “I’m making you a promise.” I glanced at Gabe, who appeared to be bored. “How about this? You call Lenny and invite him here.”
“What?” Greg sputtered. “I’m not going to let you ambush Lenny.”
Gabe took three strides, grabbed Greg by the neck, and pushed him up against the cabinet. “I’m not fuckin’ playing here, Greg. I will beat the information out of you if I have to, and I won’t lose a lick of sleep because of it. Now call Lenny and tell him to get his ass here, because if you don’t, I will pistol-whip you into submission.”
Impressive. I folded my arms across my chest. “Might want to do what he says. I’ve seen him do it before…and it’s not pretty.”
“I…” Greg gasped. “Okay, okay.”
Gabe stepped off and Greg took his cell phone out of his pocket. He opted to text, which made more sense—no one called people these days. I read over his shoulder as he told Lenny he had an issue and needed him to come here right away.
“There, that wasn’t so hard.” I beamed, but Greg didn’t seem as enthused.
There was a ding a minute later.
Shit, buddy, I’m not in town this weekend, a last minute thing. I left this afternoon, what’s up?
“Dammit.” I ran my fingers through my hair. That was an unwelcome response.
“Where would Lenny be?” Gabe asked.
“There are a few places Lenny goes. They work with animals and that takes them all around.” He motioned to his cats. “I’ve adopted all of these because of Lenny.”
“Great.” I rolled my eyes and motioned to Gabe. I kept an eye on Greg while I spoke softly to Gabe. “We can’t leave Greg. The minute we do, he’ll call Lenny and tell him everything.”
“What do you suggest?”
“Greg is watched twenty-four-seven until Lenny returns and comes here.”
Gabe nodded. “We can swap out. It’s smart.”
We faced Greg, who noticeably shrunk in on himself. “Text Lenny and tell him to come see you when he’s in town. You’re not feeling well, and you’ll be taking a few days off work.”
“You want me to call out of work?” His eyes widened.
“If you think you’re getting out of our sight for a second, you’re crazy.”
Greg swallowed loudly, and I watched as he told Lenny exactly that.
Okay, bud. I’ll be home Sunday night, how’s Monday morning, that work?
“Tell him yes.”
“I’ll stay here with Greg.” Gabe winked at the man. “We can switch out at midnight. Angel should be free. You stay with Matt. We got this.”
I patted Gabe’s shoulder. “Thanks. Make sure he calls out of work.”
“I don’t work Sundays, so I’d only need to call out Monday.”
I nodded at Greg. “Tomorrow night call out.”
“O…okay.”
“Angel will be here at midnight. I’ll see who else can take over for him.”
“Sounds good.” Gabe didn’t take his eyes off Greg. “We’ll be fine.”
With one last look at Greg, I left the apartment to head home. I had to see Matt, ask him if he knew Lenny Harlston, do a background on him, and tell Angel he was babysitting later. I was sure he was going to love that.
Angel did, in fact, not like that he was on babysitting duty but agreed to drive up there at midnight to relieve Gabe. Gabe was checking in every half hour, letting us know he was fine. Greg appeared to be a perfect hostage. He’d cooked Gabe food and so far wasn’t giving Gabe any problems.
Noel immediately started delving into all the Lennies, Leonards, Harlstons he could find. There were a shocking amount of them in the world. Some were easy to discount.
Matt had no idea who I’d been talking about when I’d mentioned the name, and with them not on the list Matt gave me, I wasn’t shocked.
“When I left the shop, that motorcycle was still there,” Shep said as he sat in the living room with me, Matt, Four, and JJ. “I also asked Lizzy at closing, and she told me it was there.”
“Which makes sense if Lenny is out of town.” JJ reached over for a handful of popcorn.
“Why would he leave the bike there, though?” Matt looked at me. “There were no apartments above any of those buildings.”
“It’s bizarre, but maybe this Lenny guy knew you saw the bike and likes knowing how unsettling it must be for you to see it,” JJ surmised.
“Except he didn’t know I’d be there.” Matt was right about that.
“But…” Shep leaned forward and stared at me. “You, he did know might be there. You work there after all and it’s assumed, if they know you, they know we’re brothers. Likely that you told us.”
“He put the bike there to piss off Nick?” Matt snorted. “Why?”
“When motivated by anger, mistakes are often made.” Four spoke softly. “Like I told you earlier, Nick is the threat. Perhaps this Lenny is shifting to remove Nick first before continuing his pursuit of Matt.”
I pointed to Four. “You also concluded the note was written by a woman.”
Four nodded. “It’s not an exact science, but I still believe that.”
Matt snapped his fingers. “Lenny maybe is a woman. Did Greg say he or him?”
“He said they, but never corrected me when I referred to Lenny as he.” Huh, I hadn’t realized.
Matt shrugged. “Could also be nonbinary.”
JJ nodded. “Oh, this is getting more complex by the minute.”
He wasn’t kidding. I really hoped whoever Lenny Harlston was, they’d show up at Greg’s and we’d get the answers we needed.