“Jade, you should come along too,” Talon said. “After all, you’re the one who has the relationship with her.”
Jade shook her head. “I’ve actually been thinking about that. I don’t think I should be there. I’m pretty sure she’ll only reveal the stuff to you alone, and maybe to your brothers. So yes, take Jonah with you. Maybe Ryan, too.”
“Ryan’s too busy,” Talon said. “He’s knee-deep in winemaking and wine-bottling. Busiest time of the year. I wanted him to come over here today and hear about the new evidence, but he couldn’t get away.”
I nodded. “Understandable. Jade, I understand your reluctance to go as well. But Talon, I do think the two of us should go.”
“Will you and Marj be okay at the house with your mom and all?” Talon said.
“Of course.” Jade smiled. “With that mega-security system you have installed, no one can get in. My mother is a handful no matter what. But she’s got a physical therapist and her nurse to deal with her. I can handle it. Marj can handle it.”
“Still, I’m going to have Steve Dugan keep an eye on the place.”
“That’s fine,” Jade said. “When do you guys want to leave?”
“I can go anytime,” Talon said. “Axel is used to me taking off by now. He’s getting a big raise this year, by the way.”
I nodded. “No problem. I can probably get away anytime. I’ve got guys I trust seeing to the day-to-day stuff, and we’ll only be gone a day or two. I just need to have Dolores check my calendar.”
“You want to fly or drive?”
I thought for a moment. It was about a four-hour trip. Maybe a road trip with my brother was just what I needed. “Why don’t we drive? We won’t have to rent a car when we get there.”
“Works for me,” Talon said. “We’ll leave as soon as we can. Check in with Dolores. And oddly, I got a phone call from Melanie’s secretary earlier today. Said she had to cancel my appointments for the next three weeks.”
I jolted. Of course I couldn’t tell Talon anything about what Melanie told me, but the mention of her name stirred me. Where was she? She should’ve come out by now.
“Excuse me for a minute, guys,” I said.
I walked briskly back to my bedroom. “Melanie?” I said softly as I walked in. I checked the sitting area, the bathroom, even the walk-in closet, since I’d caught her in there earlier.
She was nowhere to be found.
I walked back to the kitchen. “Did you see Melanie leave? She’s not here.”
Both Talon and Jade shook their heads.
“That’s stran
ge. Wouldn’t we have noticed if she walked out?”
“Maybe not,” Jade said. “We were kind of all involved in the whole blood and DNA thing.”
“I don’t understand why she would leave,” I said.
“I think she was probably embarrassed,” Talon said. “I mean, we did catch you guys naked. What was going on here, anyway?”
“That’s still none of your business,” I said.
“Hey, it’s no big deal. She’s a great woman. I know you have the hots for her. But…I thought you were seeing her as a therapist.”
“I told you, this isn’t any of your business.”
“Joe, it’s okay to date her. Really. I don’t mind.”
“I wouldn’t care if you did mind, Talon, but we’re not dating.”
“Okay, then I don’t care if you fuck her either.”