Wicked and True (Wicked & Devoted 4)

“And the September mission to Mexico went off perfectly because—”

“I left my computer locked up at the office. When I got the call about my dad from Kathleen, I ran out too quickly to even think of bringing it home, so it sat on my desk.”

“I remember. Fast-forward over a month later, to the end of October. Cash was still with you. He could have forwarded the plans to Valeria’s St. Louis house to the cartel via your Gmail. That was done in the middle of the night, too.”

Tessa nodded. “He was on my sofa, playing video games, until you helped me kick him to the curb in mid-November.”

“I remember. Prick.”

She wasn’t going to argue with Zy’s assessment, but that didn’t make him any better in her book. “What happened next?”

He paused, seeming to sort through his mental timeline. “The location of Valeria’s Orlando safe house was discovered and ransacked five days ago.”

“That was before…” Tessa forced herself to finish that sentence. Getting to the bottom of this would only help her baby. “Before Hallie was taken. I didn’t tell anyone anything about Valeria’s safe house. I didn’t even know where Walker had moved her.”

“Then that’s a hole in our theory because Aspen wasn’t in the office and Cash wasn’t at your place. The tracking software was gone, and there should have been no way for Tierra Caliente to ambush Valeria’s new location.”

That worried Tessa. “We’ve got to be missing something. I can’t just give Hallie’s abductor a theory. He wants proof. If he doesn’t get it, you know what will happen.”

“Yeah,” Zy said grimly as he reached for her hand to squeeze it. “Try not to panic. We’ll figure this out. And maybe we’re going about this wrong. I have an idea…” He whipped out his phone, tapped on the screen furiously, clearly sending someone a text.

“What? Are you thinking someone else can help us?”

Just then, Trees opened the front door, reading his cell. “No, buddy. I won’t be much longer at all.” Then he turned to her, holding out a familiar overnight bag. “Madison said this should get you by for a day or so.”

Tessa rose, gripping the blanket and taking the sack by the handles. “Thank you. And please thank her for me.”

As much as she’d wanted to dislike the woman Zy had once nailed, Tessa couldn’t be petty. Madison was actually sweet.

“She said she was happy to do it.”

“I’ll go change.” She headed to the bathroom.

“I’ll catch Trees up on our theory,” Zy called to her retreating back.

With a bob of her head, she shut the door behind her, then tore into the bag. A bra and a pair of underwear. Jeans, a sweatshirt, socks, tennis shoes, and pajamas—all the basics. Plus her hairbrush, a lip gloss, her favorite mascara, her moisturizer, and her birth control pills. Tessa didn’t give a whit that Madison had obviously prowled through her vanity and closet. She had some much-needed items, which she put to good use.

Afterward, she emerged to find Zy and Trees sitting together, heads bent in low conversation. Zy talked. Trees nodded, then offered something seemingly contrarian, judging from Zy’s scowl. After some more back-and-forth, they reached a decision that suited them both.

“What do you think, Trees?”

He glanced her way. “Um…you look fine.”

She rolled her eyes. “That’s nice, but no. Of our theory.”

“I think you’re right. And we came up with a plan that should work. You two will execute it perfectly.”

“For the record, I object.” Zy looked distinctly displeased. “Tessa shouldn’t be mixed up in this.”

“If this plan gets me any closer to Hallie, that’s exactly where I need to be.” Tessa hadn’t imagined Zy would allow someone without his kind of experience near the danger, but she’d do her best to help the operation. “I’m glad you relented.”

“Only because I’ve got to stay here.” Trees pulled at the back of his neck. “I’m going to grab some shut-eye. It’s damn near five a.m. You two should do the same. ’Night.”

Trees disappeared into the master bedroom, leaving her alone with Zy. “Tell me the plan. I’d like some input. She’s my daughter, and I don’t want to risk her—”

“I would never risk Hallie, but we need more information. Let’s start with Cash.”

Her eyes widened. “But if he’s in on this—”

“I have ways of making him talk…and making sure he can’t talk to anyone else before we rescue Hallie.” He grabbed her shoulders. “Whatever you think about me, at least believe I’m capable of that.”

Tessa didn’t argue. “I don’t doubt you. What’s next?”

“Sleep.”

When she opened her mouth to protest that they didn’t have time, Zy countered her softly. “Just a couple of hours, baby. I doubt Cash is awake at this hour. And if this goes down as fast as I think it’s going to, we’ll need some z’s to stay alert and on our feet.”