Page 126 of Maddox

“You did invite me. Remember?” Kage finally stood, placing his beer on the table as he slowly headed in our direction. He nodded to Charmaine, but his eyes were studying mine, searching for a different reaction than merely surprise.

“I thought you’d call first.”

He shrugged and glanced at whoever his buddy was. “Hey, Chuck. This is the man I’ve been telling you about. Maddox Grant. Chuck Wallace. He’s the guy I was telling you about. If anyone can crack this code you mentioned, he can. He might not look it, but he’s trustworthy.”

“Fuck you, Kage,” Chuck said. “Sorry. We just made ourselves at home. I hope you don’t mind.”

I scratched my head, cooling my heels. “Nah, that’s fine. Charmaine Douglas, but you won’t breathe a word of her name or that she’s staying here. Not to anyone.”

Kage threw up his hands. “Not a word, buddy. How’ve you been?” He was still searching, concerned at what my reaction would be.

At this point, I had no idea what to say to him. All the old emotions rushed into me, images of past fights keeping me on edge. “Fine. You look good.”

He shrugged and took another step closer, finally holding out his hand. “It’s amazing what the love of a good woman will do for you.” The moment he shifted his gaze toward Charmaine, I chuckled.

“Don’t go playing matchmaker. How long have you been here and how the hell did you get in my house?”

“Your security isn’t that tight, buddy. Besides, you know I always had an affinity for cracking safes. Locks are merely an unwanted formality. Been here about an hour and a half.”

I glanced down at his hand, my palm already sweating. I’d had no idea how I’d feel if and when I saw Kage again. I’d expected rage. Instead, I felt remorse. I shook his hand and he did something that surprised me.

He pulled me into a bear hug, clapping his hand on my back. There was tension between us, but slowly, my muscles started to relax. “It’s good to see you, man. I’m sorry it’s been so long.”

As he pulled back, he gave me one of the same looks he used to. “We both had a lot of emotional baggage to deal with. I’ve been working through mine with some help. I should say with a woman chiding me the entire time. But you’d like Juliette. She’s a pistol.”

“I know the type.” I glanced over my shoulder.

“Don’t talk about me that way while I’m in the room. You know what I’ll say.” Charmaine acted indignant, but I could tell she was teasing.

“The van outside?” I motioned toward the door.

“State of the art equipment. I didn’t know what you had so I brought my own,” Chuck answered.

Nodding, I glanced at Charmaine, finally taking the weapon from her hands. “I don’t know what we’re dealing with, but I do believe there’s a code hidden in a statement I managed to unlock. Just a feeling.”

“What kind of feeling?” Kage asked.

“That whoever created the system is someone we’ve had at least one experience with before. Maybe an old enemy.” Although that wasn’t what I was thinking.

A smile crossed Kage’s face. “That’s interesting. I’ll be eager to see what we’re dealing with.”

“Did you tell Chuck the story?”

“Enough. Don’t worry. He’s not a big talker.”

As if proving a point, Chuck zipped his lips with two fingers.

“You think Alfaro is behind this?” Kage continued.

“He’s definitely involved. Maybe determined to get into the pharmaceutical arena.”

Something lit up in Chuck’s eyes. “Two CEOs of major pharmaceutical companies lost their lives recently in what were called freak accidents.”

“You mean unexplained explosives,” I corrected.

“Two CEOs,” she repeated. “I think we’re right in our assumptions.”

If we were, the shit was about to get real.

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