Page 161 of Haze of Obedience
"They were coming for passports. I don't know them. Another friend in my network sent them to me."
"So you help low life criminals for a living? And you didn't think to warn us they were coming?"
"Watch your tone, son. I didn't know when they were arriving just like I didn't know when you were. My job is to create passports for those who are referred to me by people I trust. Now, I'm as big of a fan of Zoe Diego as you are—"
"Don't you dare try to sugar coat this or compare your admiration for her to mine."
He rises. "Son, you can stay angry, or you can work together with me to get her back. Those are your options, so choose. I'll be in the other room when you make your decision." He storms out of the room.
I rub the palms of my hands in my eyes and growl.
Where is she?
What are they doing to her?
I rise, and the pain continues to throb, but I suffer through it and join Clayton in the other room.
"Where do you think they took her?"
"I don't know. Why was she missing?"
"None of your business."
He sighs. "I'm here to help you however I can, but you're going to need to take that chip off your shoulder."
There's a knock on the door.
"Expecting company?" I snarl. "And where is my bag with my gun?"
He shakes his head and points to the kitchen table. I remove my gun from the bag, and he opens the door.
Tinker walks in.
"What are you doing here?"
"Heard you got shot? They took Zoe? I thought you might need some help. But do you want to set that gun down?"
I release a big breath and put the safety back on.
"Glad you're here. He just woke up, and he's decided I'm the enemy."
I scowl at Clayton. "You didn't go after Zoe. Now we don't know where she's at."
"You would have died."
"She's more important," I growl.
"Calm down, both of you," Tinker barks. He points at Clayton. "He saved my life. And it sounds like he just saved yours, so knock it off."
I clench my jaw and cross my arms.
Tinker lowers his voice. "Did she surface yet?"
"No," Clayton responds.
"They won't keep her hidden forever. We need to be patient and wait."
For three more weeks, we wait. Every moment she doesn't surface makes me feel like I'm going crazy. Then she finally pops up at a press conference. When I see her, my heart almost stops. She looks beautiful as always, but the statement she makes is forced.
