Page 90 of Tide and Seek
“Right,” I murmured, taking in his bloodshot eyes and trembling hands.
He chewed on his fingernail.“I mean, maybe I could help you look for him, if you want?”
Shocked at the offer, I didn’t know what to say.
Luke laughed shakily.“I got nothing else going on at the moment, and I could use some fresh air.”
“You’d be willing to help me look for him?”
He lifted one bony shoulder.“It might take my mind off of… other things.”
“Well, that would be kind of you.”I glanced toward the ocean.“I checked the beach, but to be honest, I didn’t check all the way down both ways because I was freaking out a little.”
“I can do that for you.”
I felt a ridiculous surge of gratitude that he was willing to help me.Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought Luke would be the one to come through for me in my hour of need.“I don’t know what to say.Thank you, Luke.”
Grimacing, he said, “Sure, Doc.”He cleared his throat.“And uh… thanks for trying to help me the other night.I don’t know everything I said.Knowing me, a lot of dumb shit.But regardless of whatever came out of my mouth, I appreciate that you cared.”
“Well…” I grimaced.“I’ve known you a long time.Of course I care.”The words came out stiffly, but at least I said them.
He nodded.“I’ll just go grab a hoodie.”He disappeared inside and then returned, shrugging into a black Soundgarden sweatshirt.He locked the door behind him and we walked to the lane.“You don’t suppose he just went for a drive, right?”
“He wouldn’t do that without telling me, and besides, I had the car.”
He nodded.“Right, plus you said he left his phone.Which seems weird.”He turned toward the beach.“Well, I’ll text you if I see him.”
“Before you go, has Harris been by recently?”
He shrugged.“He drove past patrolling about an hour ago.”He perked up.“Hey, you have cameras in your house.Can’t you ask the security company if they saw anything?”
“Unfortunately, the cameras aren’t on if the alarm isn’t armed.I don’t like the idea of people watching me in my own home,” I mumbled.“Royce wouldn’t have armed it when he was home either.He was paranoid about setting it off by accident.”
“Damn.”He grimaced, the sea breeze blowing his tangled blond hair around his tanned face.“I mean, I get it, but that’s too bad.”
“Yes.”
“Okay, well, I’m going to go look on the beach now.Wish me luck.”Luke flashed me a hang-loose sign and meandered down to the sand.
I started walking again, and just as I reached my front yard, I heard the sound of the security gate opening.I glanced over and saw Ethan pulling into the colony in his work van.When he saw me, a look of apprehension washed over his face.I got the distinct impression he wanted to pretend like he hadn’t seen me, but he didn’t quite have the nerve.Instead, he braked and rolled down his window.
“Hello, Mr.Thornton.”He smiled, putting his rumbling van into park.“I’m… uh… just here to drop off some ant spray for Luke.”
I stopped walking.“The ants still aren’t under control?What kind of ants are these?Zombie ants?”
Ethan’s smile was strained.“This season has been the absolute worst.”
“Right.”I really wasn’t that interested in how bad the ants had been this season.I just needed to find Royce.“Were you here earlier by any chance?”
“No.”He sounded wary.“Why?”
“I can’t find Royce anywhere.”
Ethan’s face tensed and there was a flash of what almost looked like guilt.“Sorry, like I said, I just got here.Can’t help you there.”
“It’s not like Royce to just not tell me where he’s going.”I studied his face as he listened.There was definitely something strange in his expression, but maybe he just wasn’t a very empathetic guy?Maybe his customers dumped their problems on him all the time and he was tired of hearing it?C.J.had mentioned his wife having surgery recently, perhaps he had enough of his own issues to deal with.“Sorry to burden you with my problems.”
His cheek twitched.“No worries.Sorry I can’t be more help.”He put the car in drive as if he intended to continue on to Luke’s house.
