Great job, Nate. Way to control your temper.

Even without Harv’s advice, he knew what he needed. He needed time with his giant schnauzers, Grant and Sherman. Besides, his La Jolla home was empty now. On his insistence—and dime—his live-in housekeeper had taken a much-needed vacation to Maui. Angelica would’ve left plenty of food for them, but they’d miss human companionship.

He grabbed his car keys from the kitchen counter and avoided looking at the scattered pieces of plastic and computer chips littering his floor.

At that moment, his phone rang. Holly. He considered letting it go to voicemail.

“Hi, Holly.”

“You okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“You back home?”

“Yes.”

He sensed unease on the other end.

“Want to talk?”

“My TV remote lost an argument.”

“I’ve got tons of vacation time accumulated.”

“I can’t ask you to do that.”

“You aren’t asking.”

“I’m okay, really.”

“I’m still coming down there.”

“I’ll come get you.”

“You’re in no shape to fly anywhere. You’re exhausted. I can hear it in your voice. I booked a flight earlier this afternoon. I figured Salt Lake might be kinda rough. I’ll be arriving at Lindbergh tomorrow morning, just after eight. She gave him the info.

“Thanks, Holly.”

“Try to get some sleep.”

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

He spotted Holly right away. Dressed in designer jeans and a blue silk shirt, she looked beautiful.

Holly waved and quickened her pace down the concourse.

What can she possibly she see in me?

Outside the security barrier they hugged. The female TSA guard smiled. Nathan wondered if she ever got tired of seeing such reunions.

She took his arm. “You look exhausted.”

“I’m okay.”

“Did you get any sleep last night?”

“Not much. I can’t get Montez out of my head. I keep thinking about Nichole Dalton and her daughters. Like a feedback loop, it keeps running again and again. I can’t turn it off.”

“I feel it too. When we get to your house, you’re getting eight hours of uninterrupted sleep.”

“Yeah, that’s sounds about right.”

“Do you have something you can take? Over-the-counter?”

“I’ll be okay.”

Holly insisted on paying the parking fee and drove onto North Harbor Drive, heading east toward I-5.

“So what now?” Holly asked.

“Exactly.” Nathan sighed. “What now? My next move is to call my father, as much as I’d prefer not to.”

“I thought you’d patched things up.”

“That’s not it.”

She waited.

“I’m worried Montez will catch wind of our pursuit and disappear forever, especially as more people get involved.”

“Do you really think that’s possible or even likely? Wouldn’t he need someone deeply embedded at a high level of government?”

“Yes, but I wouldn’t put it past him. If he’s got such a source, the Dalton family is dead. He doesn’t leave loose ends.”

“That’s a terrible thought.”