As I unlocked my car door, the crunch of gravel stopped me. I glanced at the pebbled parking area, watching Cody’s red truck pull to a stop. I didn’t feel like dealing with him right now, not after last night’s fight. When he pulled up, blocking my car in, he gave me no other choice. He rolled down his window and leaned out.

“Got a minute?” he asked.

“Not really. Mind moving your truck?”

“In a minute. First I wanted to apologize for last night.”

“Apology accepted. Now can you move…please?” I was down to fifty-six minutes.

“Where are you heading off to in such a hurry?” Cody asked.

“If you must know, I need to run a quick errand.” I opened the car door and sat, leaving it hanging open. “When you go inside, can you let Oliver know that I’ll be back in a bit? He should be wrapping up his work call shortly.”

“Actually, I was hoping we could talk, Felicity. Mind if I join you?”

I really did mind. “I’d rather not, Cody.”

“Please? I don’t like how we left things.”

I didn’t like how any of my life left things, but I didn’t get a say in it. But the least I could do was repair things with my brother-in-law. I was well aware of how much Cody was going through, and I couldn’t deprive him of the one thing he needed right now—a friend.

If only it was that simple between us.

“I could really use the distraction today. It’s been…one of those days,” Cody added.

I understood what he meant.

“Fine. But you’re not allowed to say anything about where we’re going. And you definitely can’t tell Ollie.”

“I promise.” He parked his truck and jumped into the passenger seat while I set my navigation for Blythe’s address.

“So where are we headed? Some top-secret government compound?” Cody smiled, but it looked weak, his face sallow.

“No, we’re going to visit one of Vera’s friends.”

“Felicity.” That one word held a heap of disapproval. “Are you sure this is a good idea?”

“I don’t care. It’s the only lead I have, so I’m going to follow it. The police have pretty much given up doing anything to help bring her home, so I’m doing it myself.”

He knew me long enough to understand there was no convincing me otherwise.

I glanced over at him, his cheekbones more distinct than usual and the pockets beneath his eyes moody gray. “Are you okay?”

He shrugged. “Hanging in there like everyone else. And hoping this doesn’t blow up in your face.”

“How can it get any worse than it already is, Cody?”

“I guess it can’t.”

Of course it could, but I couldn’t admit that out loud.