Page 72 of Invincible
Tyler took another sip of her beer.Dex had grilled them some superb steaks earlier that they had enjoyed on the deck, but even an hour after sunset, it was still blistering.Knox felt Dex tap his shoulder with another beer.The FBI man did have a talent for having the coldest beer Knox had ever drunk.It was a plus in his book.
He had also fulfilled a dream of Tyler’s, which Knox hardily approved of.After Dex transferred to work out of the Houston office, he had bought a house in the Kemah area, complete with its own boathouse and a shop.The back deck looked out at the water where they could relax in the evening, watching the ships moving through the channel.
Tyler had already added another welder to her business and was looking at taking on a second.To say business was good was an understatement.
Dex, being a shrewd negotiator, had only agreed to let her move in once she had accepted his proposal of marriage.He had convinced her to go with him to California to meet his family, making her into a die-hard surfer while there.
Knox would have to fly back down here for a wedding this fall.Personally, he couldn’t wait until he had a load of redheaded nieces and nephews to add to his list to spoil.
“So what have you heard from Greer lately?”he asked, trying to downplay how much he really wanted to know what she was doing.It had been a year since he had left her his number in case she ever needed his help, but he hadn’t heard a word from her.His eyes narrowed when he saw Tyler and Dex exchange a look.
“What?”he growled, worry already lancing through him.
“That was something we wanted to talk to you about, but we were trying to wait until you had rested from your ride,” Dex said.
Knox sat up straighter, no longer feeling the heat of the day anymore.
“Not long after Tyler moved in, Greer packed up and moved back to New Orleans.She talked to Tyler almost every day after she got there, so we knew she was doing okay.At least until a couple of days ago, when Tyler’s calls started going to voice mail.We thought you could check in on her before heading to California just to make sure she’s okay.”
“I can go, if you have other plans.Dex is swamped at work, but—” Tyler began.
“Not a problem.Do you know where she’s living?”Knox cut in, waving her off.When Dex gave Tyler another knowing side-eye, Knox growled.“What are you not telling me?”
“Dex found where she’s staying.Her name showed up on a lease in the Bywater District.It’s not too far from where she works.”Tyler looked over at Dex again.
Knox was trying to wait them out, but he was starting to lose his temper.
“Help me out here.I don’t know New Orleans.What’s wrong with the Bywater District?”he asked.
“It’s pretty sketchy, but that’s not the only thing,” Tyler added.
“What else?”Knox asked through gritted teeth.
“She’s working at a strip club in the French Quarter called Lafitte’s.”Knox noticed Dex flinch at Tyler’s words as if dreading Knox’s next question.They both knew the type of damage Knox could do if he became pissed.
“Waitressing?”
“Stripping,” Dex answered.
Knox stood up to pace around the deck.It wasn’t huge so three strides down had him at the end.Turning around, he stomped to the other end, stopping when he reached the rail.Realizing this was a ridiculous exercise in futility that only made him angrier, Knox stopped in front of Dex.Looking at his watch, he knew it would be impossible to reach Greer this evening.
“Why would she do that?I thought she wanted something better when she moved here.Why would she go back?”he asked.
“I don’t know,” Tyler said.“It didn’t make much sense.She told me when we first met that she could never return to New Orleans.That it wasn’t safe for her there.I’m starting to worry that she’s gotten into something over her head.I don’t understand why she wouldn’t just tell me if she was in trouble.”
“Can you try again in the morning to reach her?I’ll leave tomorrow to see what I can learn.She didn’t say anything about why she suddenly needed to move back?”Tyler and Dex shook their heads.
Leaning back against the railing, the ocean behind him already forgotten, he tried to remember what she had told him about her hometown last year.He should have insisted on more information, but she hadn’t wanted to talk about it so he hadn’t pressed her.
“All I know is she said her younger brother needed her help, so she had to go home for a while.I tried to find out more, but she just shut me down like it was no big deal,” Tyler answered, the stress plain in her voice.
Without a word, Dex pulled her out of her chair onto his lap, wrapping his arms around her.
“It sounded like she was fine from her phone calls so I didn’t think anything about it.But when Dex ran a search on her yesterday, I really became worried.He suggested we run it past you before going through official channels.I don’t want to get her in trouble if it’s nothing.”
Knox nodded.Walking to the end of the deck, he stared out at the water for a minute before turning around.
“Dex, I need you to pull me everything you can about the LeBlanc family in New Orleans.”
