“I’m not discounting the possibility—” she said.

“Always wise,” I murmured.

“—but, unless I’m missing an angle, I can’t see the advantage for him. He hired Hope to infiltrate the gang. Granted, he’s also hoping to woo her to the dark side, but he’s a practical man, and he’ll want value from the job, so there’s no sense sending her in if he plans to squash any whiff of rebellion three days after she starts.”

“Agreed.”

“Has she spoken to your dad since?”

“She was supposed to check in this morning, but Karl turned off her alarm and made the call himself. Probably wise. He’s better equipped to gauge my father’s reaction.”

She nodded. “When it comes to bullshit detecting, Karl’s a natural.”

“He told my father that Hope had been on a job with the gang the night before and was still sleeping and, according to Karl, my father gave no indication that this was a surprise or that he was expecting anything else. He told Karl she could call later if she wished, or wait until tomorrow’s check-in.”

“Any chance these guys took off?”

I tore a piece of my muffin. “Hope says they were happy with the gang, even after being beaten and robbed. And Karl concurs. They weren’t going anywhere from what he could see.”

“So what are their theories?”

“Hope suspects rogue elements in the Cabal.”

“Like what happened to her.”

“Precisely. Karl is looking at an inside job, specifically the gang leader. He wants me to investigate him.”

“The leader has a beef with the Cortezes so he takes out his own guys and blames the Cabal? Devious. Not surprised Karl came up with that one. What does Hope think?”

“He hasn’t mentioned it to her. He’s also not telling her about the blood, which, admittedly, I don’t understand. Hope’s hardly the sort to fly into histrionics at the supposition that these young men met with violence.”

“She’s involved with one of them.”

I frowned.

“Hope’s involved with one of the guys. Probably this Jaz.” She set down her coffee cup. “Karl doesn’t want to tell her about the blood, meaning she’s more attached to them—or one of them—than a casual acquaintance would imply. Karl doesn’t know them, but he’s certain they didn’t up and leave town. And, from the way Karl spoke of them, he has some issues with this Jaz. Why would Karl have a problem with a young man whose disappearance has Hope so worried? One word. Sex.” She picked up her coffee and sipped, considering. “Or, at least, sexual jealousy. There was a relationship or the threat of one.”

“I missed that completely.”

“I could be wrong. But if I’m not, then we have to consider another suspect.”

“Karl.”

LUCAS 4

LUCAS

4