Lester put her elbows on the desk, laced her fingers. “Then you’re fucked, Agent Keller. You’re absolutely fucked.”

CHAPTER 47

EVAN PINE

BEFORE

“Come on, get in on this, Magpie,” Evan said. He held the phone in front of him for an airport selfie. Evan didn’t know if it was the bright sunshine, the smell of salt in the air, or being on their first family vacation in years, but he felt great. Revitalized.

“Daaad,” Maggie said, shaking her head.

Liv joined in, pressing her face against Evan’s. She waved Maggie over.

Maggie was turning red. A group of teenage boys was nearby. They weren’t watching, but their presence seemed to be enough to mortify his daughter.

Tommy said, “Can I be in the picture?”

Evan scooped him up. “Of course. But where are your cool shades?” Evan had bought them at an airport kiosk.

Tommy pulled the plastic sunglasses from his pocket and put them on.

“We’re going to keep it up until you join,” Evan said to Maggie.

Evan and Liv started doing exaggerated poses—sucking in their cheeks, squinting sexy eyes, making peace signs with their fingers.

“Fine,” Maggie said, marching over. She moved her face into the shot. “Take it!”

“Say cheese.”

“Seriously, Dad.”

Evan and Liv laughed, and he took the shot. Maggie quickly distanced herself from them, but Evan swore he saw the faintest trace of a smile on her lips.

Examining the photo, he felt a warmth in his chest followed by a beat of sadness that the rest of the family, his boys, weren’t there.

None of that, he told himself. He wanted to keep up the mood, the vibe. He was still buzzed from the warm beer on the plane and the kiss Liv had given him when the kids had dozed off. One that had sent an inferno through him. If she had invited him to the plane’s bathroom, he would’ve risked it and joined the Mile High Club.

So, no dwelling on Danny or Matt. Or that he had no job. Or that they couldn’t afford the trip. Or that he’d come chasing another likely dead-end lead. Stop.

Liv looked at the photo. “Ooh, I’m going to post that one later.”

She had given up on social media months ago, turned inward, and Evan felt another wave of something that suggested things were different. For Evan, it had come with a handful of pills regurgitated into the sink. What had caused the change in Liv? Evan had another thought: Who. Fucking. Cares. He reached for his wife’s hand and she took it quickly, lacing her fingers through his.

“Are we going to the beach, Daddy?” Tommy asked.

“You bet we are. But we might need to go to the toy store first.”