“Gotta keep those grades up to stay on the team.” I dare him to challenge me. “Don’t worry. We’ll go to the game room. No one will bother you.”
“No worries. I’ll probably head back into the city later anyway. I’ve got an early meeting.”
Of course he does.
A moment later he’s gone, headed up to his room while I go to mine to shower and get ready. I’ve just put on clean clothes when the doorbell rings, and I run down the stairs.
To my surprise, Dad is already at the door.
Ozzy, Finn, and Kenley stand on the other side, the guys both with backpacks hanging over their shoulders. Kenley is carrying a large shopping bag.
She looks super cute today.
“Gentlemen,” he says, shaking Finn and Ozzy’s hands. He tilts his head at Kenley. “Do I know you?”
“Kenley Keene,” she says, offering her hand. He takes it, then clasps the other on top.
“Kenley, I haven’t seen you in years.” His eyes skim over her. “No wonder my son has a renewed interest in schoolwork.”
Her cheeks turn pink, and she shifts the bag in her hand.
“Yeah, Dad, we’re kind of in a rush, so…”
“Ah,” he says, “right. Well, use whatever you need downstairs.”
“Thanks, Mr. Baxter,” Ozzy says and we make a break for the back staircase. I pull Kenley aside.
“I’m sorry about that.”
She looks up at me with wide, blue eyes. “About what?”
“What my dad said, about my renewed interest…he’s just an ass sometimes.”
“It’s fine, Ezra. I know you’re not interested in me.”
She smiles and turns, heading down the staircase. I
watch her go, wanting to call her back and say, yeah, I am, and maybe it is motivating me a little to not be such a dumbass. But I don’t, because she just made it clear she doesn’t feel the same and we’ve got bigger fish to fry.
And maybe a murderer to catch.
31
Kenley
The Baxters' game room is the kind of thing you see on TV when they showcase celebrity houses. Comfortable leather couches. A pool table and foosball, a small kitchen filled with drinks and snacks, a wall-sized projection screen and wide array of video games.
Unfortunately, we’re not here to hang out and have a good time. We’re here to figure out what happened to Rose, and if her connection to the SugarBabies dating app can lead to finding out more about her disappearance.
Ozzy fires up the devices. Both were dead, and Finn charged them overnight.
“I’d start with the iPod. We facetimed a lot using that when her parents restricted her phone use,” Finn says.
“It’s password protected.”
We have three chances before the iPod will lock us out for the rest of the day.
“Try Finn,” I say.