“What happened to showers and bed and nothing else?” John asked, following her.

“I just have one thing to do, and then I’ll happily go unconscious.” She opened her laptop and blinked the blurriness from her eyes.

He frowned. “What’s so important that it can’t wait until after you sleep?”

“Barney’s invoice.” Despite her exhaustion, saying those words made Molly smile.

John grinned back before plopping down on the chair next to her. Warrant immediately stretched out under the table, laying his head possessively on John’s foot. “You’re right. Making the cheap bastard pay up will be deeply satisfying.”

As she opened the bookkeeping program, her smile faded. “I just hope he keeps his word about not pushing to move up Mom’s hearing.”

Reaching over, John took her hand, his bandaged palm scratchy against hers. “He will. We’ll make sure of it. And we’ll find Jane. Now that Sonny’s locked up again, we’ll be able to concentrate on searching for her.”

“Thank you.” She gave his fingers a gentle return squeeze before extricating her hand so that she could type up Barney’s invoice. Now that the life-threatening part of the night was over, her anxiety was starting to build again. There were so many problems literally banging down their door. “It’s not just Barney who’s a threat. Everyone thinks the necklace is hidden in the house—including the Denver cops.” That reminded her of Bastien. “Do you think Detective Mill is dirty like his partner?”

“I don’t have any proof, but I have a source who’s heard whispers about him.”

Her fingers went still as she looked at John. “What kind of whispers?”

“Gray-area whispers.”

“What does that mean?”

John stared at the dark kitchen window, his gaze pensive. “I don’t know anything concrete yet, but I have a feeling he’s not on the straight and narrow.”

It wouldn’t surprise Molly at all if Mill turned out to be as crooked as Bastien. Before she could ask for more details, her phone buzzed with a text from Felicity.

Well, that lead was a dud. We’re going to crash and then head home. See you in a few days.

Molly replied with a simple Sorry it didn’t work out. Drive carefully. Disappointment that they were just as far from finding their mom as when they’d started swept over her, adding to her exhaustion. John leaned over to read the text and then curled his arm around her shoulders, leaving the comforting weight there until she’d finished emailing Barney his invoice and scans of all Sonny’s paperwork.

As they climbed the stairs, Molly turned to look at John. “This means you’re staying here tonight…well, this morning?”

He waggled his eyebrows in a way that made her laugh, despite her exhaustion. “Of course. Your bedroom is part mine, remember? I can’t neglect it.”

“You can’t neglect my room? That’s what you can’t neglect?” She loved how his teasing always made her feel lighter.

“Well…and Warrant. I also can’t neglect my sweet puppy dog.” His voice got syrupy-sweet as Warrant slipped past them into her bedroom.