Cole hesitated, because this had been eating at him since he spoke with Jared.

“Joe doesn’t know. I haven’t told him.”

“Oh, man, this is so hard.”

“I’d like to have more than Jared’s word before I lay this on him.”

Neither of them said anything for a very long time.

“I miss you, Luce.”

“I know, baby. I miss you, too. What are you going to do?”

“Talk to you. I guess that’s why I called.”

She sighed. A long, slow breath into the phone that he wanted to feel on his skin.

“Do you believe this boy?”

“Yeah. I can’t prove it. I have nothing but his word for it, but after what Brown said, I believe him. I believe he was telling the truth.”

“Tell him.”

Cole nodded to himself, but found nothing to say.

“The longer you wait, the worse it will be. Do you understand that?”

“Yeah.”

“Joe’s built to save people. That’s how he sees himself, and that’s who he is. He’s trying to save her, so whatever he feels for her, it will get deeper.”

“I know.”

“I know you know. That’s you, too. That’s why you two found each other, and why you’re joined at the hip. It’s why you do what you do.”

Cole rubbed his left eye. His throat felt thick.

“Is that why I lost you?”

“You didn’t lose me, baby. Here we are. If he wants to save her, fine, but he deserves to know who he’s saving.”

“Being a friend is hard.”

“If it was easy, anyone could do it.”

“I love smart women.”

“Smart women love you.”

“I’d better go.”

“Call me later.”

Cole put down the phone. It was still early, but he had plenty to do, and Lucy had given him a good idea. He scanned the list of food purveyors and suppliers Smith had dealt with. All were people in the food and restaurant business who probably swapped stories about cooks, cooking, and the good and bad restaurants where they worked. It was possible Smith mentioned a New Orleans restaurant where he had worked, or maybe a chef he had worked with, and one of the people on the list might remember. Having a place to start would make Lucy’s job easier.

Cole opened a fresh bottle of water, pulled the phone close, and got back to work.

Chapter 26

26

Elvis Cole

Cole was still at his office later that day when Pike phoned, saying he was coming over to fill Cole in about the bodies. Cole suggested they meet at his house, saying he would make dinner while they talked, and they could have a few beers. Cole did not mention Dru or Wilson, or the sick feeling he had from the ugly news he was about to share with his friend.