15. Kitchen Drama

Pale, early dawn crept across the small, organized stacks of Lacey’s things that Sevan made the night before. He looked over them dully, mind exhausted.

Clothes. A light sleeping bag. Some change—coins that amounted to a few dollars. A little bit of food, pull-top cans, a flashlight, punched bus tickets…

Some random papers and brochures. A motel keycard that Lacey seemed to have been using as a bookmark in an LA travel guide.

Sevan pushed himself up onto one elbow and leaned over. He lifted the keycard off the floor and flipped it over a few times. There was no name on it. No words at all. Just a teardrop-shaped logo on a green background on the front and presumably the chip technology to unlock a room door on the inside.

Sevan propped himself up on his elbows and took a picture of the card with his phone. He opened a visual search and typed in— “What motel is this logo for?”

The search results generated within seconds: “I couldn’t find what motel this logo is for, but this logo is similar to that of West Coast Oil Company and Perla Scents. Would you like me to dive deeper into one of these?”

Sevan let out a sigh and deflated on the mattress. His chin sank into the blanket, and he shut his eyes.

Lacey probably had an episode and left all her things behind unintentionally. She was probably still having that episode, somewhere out on the streets of LA. Or maybe she had gone with that man the tent boy mentioned. But maybe…Maybe when she found herself again and went back to that boy’s tent for her things…he would tell her someone had come looking for her, and that person matched her brother’s description.

She knows my phone number, Sevan remembered with a sick feeling in his chest. She wanted to be missing. She could get in touch at any time.

Sevan slowly got out of bed. He brushed his fingers through his hair, changed clothes, checked his phone.

There was a text from Rick.

Rick: Trying to let you do your thing I know you must be busy. Call when you can. :)

A guttural sigh escaped Sevan’s chest. He put his phone in his pocket, took the BMW keyring off the bedside table, and opened the door.

Sevan’s heartrate went from zero to a hundred. He might’ve physically jumped. All he knew was the sensation of his own hands clenching his chest as he stared, frozen, at the giant feline stretched comfortably out across the floor in front of his door.

“Jeez, fuck ,” Sevan breathed. He stepped carefully over the Maine Coon, then started for the living room.

There were voices around the corner—low, quiet. And as Sevan slowed his steps, he realized he could hear hushed sobs.

Meika? The thought made Sevan’s distressed heart begin to speed again. He slipped the BMW key fob and key card into his pocket and took a careful step closer.

No. It wasn’t.

“I just…I just don’t know what to do.” More quiet sobs. It was Nina.

Sevan heard Meika’s voice next. Quiet, gentle: “You need to dump him.”

“No…I don’t…I just…” Another weak sob. “I don’t know, I’m not ready.”

“He’s showing you who he is,” Meika responded softly. “You can’t keep taking this shit from him. You deserve way better.”

Sevan stepped quietly around the corner. They were both sitting at the island counter, lit dimly by the gray dawn coming in through the windows. Nina’s face was in her hands.

“B-But if he would just—” Nina’s voice broke, and she shut her jaw on another hushed sob.

“Dump his ass. Seriously.” Meika pulled a tissue from a box nearby and passed it to Nina. He took the crumpled wet one from her hand. “He just won’t. You know he won’t. If he wanted to, he would. If he wanted to, he would have. ” His hand lowered to Nina’s forearm, and he gently squeezed it. “You deserve so much better than his crusty ass.”

She was nodding, pressing the fresh tissue to her face.

Sevan slipped out his phone and quietly unlocked the screen. If this private number wanted thorough, thorough it would be. Especially since whoever was behind that number didn’t seem to be willing to tell Sevan what he or she was actually after.

Sevan silently snapped a photo of the silhouettes at the kitchen island. He added a swift caption “Meikhyel comforting housekeeper. Sounds like relationship troubles. 6:30 AM.” Send.

“You don’t need him,” Meika said softly. “You’ll have one less problem without him. And a lot less laundry.”

Nina smiled weakly at the countertop.

“Kick that man child out of your house. I’ll send Farren to help you and make sure you’re safe while you sweep him and his bullshit out the door.”

Nina dabbed the tissue across her eyes. She sniffed. “Lara didn’t like that you sent him to come to my doctor’s appointment. I think he got in trouble.”

“Well…okay.” Meika shrugged. “Then I’ll come, too. Enthusiastically, in fact. I will give that fucker a piece of my mind.”

Nina looked up at him. A smile cracked across her face, reddened with tears as it was. “He’s taller than you, Meika.” She laughed a little and pressed the tissue to her face again.

“What? Oh, fuck that. ” Meika slapped his hand on the countertop, then abruptly raised his left arm and flexed his bicep. “I’m still gonna show his tall ass.”

They both laughed, Nina’s sounding like half a sob.

And then Nina looked up and saw Sevan. Her face sobered, and she wiped her face again.

“Well—” Meika began, but he seemed to sense Nina’s shift, and he fell silent. He turned, and his eyes found Sevan.

Sevan did his best to act as though he was only just walking in on the conversation. Nina quickly excused herself and passed him on her way to the hallway. Headed for the bathroom, probably.

Or maybe her cat.

Sevan stepped around the island, awkward tension prickling his skin. He already knew there wasn’t any food in the fridge or cabinets, so he got himself a glass of water.

“Morning,” Meika greeted. His elbows were on the countertop, fingers toying with the ring on his right middle finger. No trace of the distress from the night before showed on him.

Sevan took a sip of his water. “How are you doing?”

Meika’s dark eyes flicked up at him. His perfect brows twitched. “Good. How are you?”

Sevan glanced at the living room, then toward the hallway. The glass shifted in his fingers. Slowly, he slipped a hand into his pocket and retrieved the keyring. He set the car fob and keycard on the counter in front of Meika. “I didn’t use your car,” he said.

Meika’s eyes lifted a second time. His hand moved, touched the edge of the key fob, then closed the entire keyring under his hand. “Why not?” His voice dropped in volume.

“I didn’t want it to get scratched. Or wrecked.” Sevan took another sip of water. “Or dirty. Stolen.”

“It’s insured.” Meika had a look on his face like he couldn’t comprehend what Sevan was saying.

“I wasn’t sure I knew how to drive it,” Sevan finished.

A long silence followed.

Sevan set his glass on the countertop. “I need to know how you know Lacey. And when you saw her. If you saw her. Where.”

Meika’s lips parted. His eyes had become decidedly glued to his hands again. “Um.” Quiet, barely audible. Sevan saw him swallow. “Um, I—I don’t…I don’t know her…”

Sevan watched him for a few seconds. “Okay.” He shifted. “How do you know of her?”

And then the front door opened. A gust of hallway air flooded the condo, and Lara Dovan entered.

She wasn’t expected. That much was evident in the way Meika’s back went instantly straight, and his arms dropped off the counter.

“Is Farren awake?” Lara flipped on the living room light and cast a glance down the hallway. She was removing a sleek pair of what was possibly driving gloves.

She has a key? The realization shot through Sevan’s mind in the span of half a second. Does RedViolet just have full access, full control—of everything?

“N-No, he’s—” Meika began. He made a gesture toward the hallway, and Lara started down it without further comment.

“Meika—” Sevan began.

But Meika bolted out of his chair after Lara.

Lara was rapping on Farren’s door. And similar to the way he had answered Meika in the middle of the night, Farren emerged—disheveled and blinking at the light. “Lara?” He looked instantly more awake.

“Oh, good, Nina is here also,” Lara announced, noting the housekeeper in the bathroom doorway. “Avis’s parents let me know that they would like to see him today. I assume at their place, but Nina, please make sure this place is presentable in case they choose to drop by.”

Farren scraped a hand through his short dark hair. “They didn’t tell you what time?”

“Not yet, but they’re aware of the recording session this afternoon as well as the rehearsal this morning. They will certainly work around those.”

Sevan glanced at Meika. He looked completely…resigned.

He’s twenty-five, isn’t he? Sevan wondered again. The internet said he’s twenty-five.

“They would like to meet Mr. Montego.”

And for six seconds after Lara said the words, Sevan still hadn’t processed them.

His brow flinched. He took a small step forward. “Wh…”

“Why?” Meika beat him to it. And this time, when Sevan glanced at him, his face had gone sheet white.

“I have no idea, darling,” Lara responded easily. “I will be in touch. You have the dance studio scheduled this morning, 7 to 11:30. Leave very soon.” She showed herself out of the condo, and the door clicked shut behind her.