Uneven Exchange Read Free Page B

interrupted.
    “I just want to be next to Mando and his beautiful brown skin,” Conner replied.
    “Reeves, get in here.” Armando dragged Conner into the room. “Sorry again, boss.”
    “Yeah, SAC. Sorry.” Conner grabbed one of Kevin’s two side chairs, spun it around, and sat with one leg straddled on each side. He used the chair back as a chin support.
    Armando remained standing as he peered at the stack of papers piled on Kevin’s desk. “What have you found out?”
    “Only her life story.” Kevin pushed some papers on the top of the pile aside, searching for one in particular: a recent credit card application, complete with a photograph. He also had a copy of Alexandra’s driver’s license but preferred the clarity of the credit card photo. Holding it up, he said, “Here’s your girl.”
    Armando took the application and held it out for Conner to see. He read aloud, “Applicant’s name, Alexandra Cole Callet. Address, 734 Bay Bridge Drive, Coronado, California.” He glanced at Kevin and asked, “This address confirmed?”
    Kevin nodded as Armando continued reading the telephone number, Social Security number, and work information aloud.
    Leaning his chair closer to Kevin’s desk, while balancing it on the front two legs, Conner began rummaging through the pile of additional information. There were copies of her birth certificate, insurance forms, credit reports, loan applications, tax returns, phone bills, college transcripts, real estate deeds, and more.
    “I take back everything I said about you,” Conner confessed. He adjusted his cap and scratched at his tobacco-brown hair. “Well, not everything. You do look like crap, but you have been busy. I’m impressed.” He looked to his partner. “We’re impressed,” he corrected. “Aren’t we, Mando?”
    “Yeah, boss. You’ve done a good job.”
    Kevin reclined in his executive-style chair and crossed his thick forearms. “Thanks, guys. I appreciate the praise, but most of the credit goes to Riggo. He burned up the computer all night.”
    As if suddenly aware of Scott’s absence, Armando asked, “By the way, where is Riggs?”
    “Yeah, where is that ASAC?” Conner asked, now using the acronym for assistant special agent in charge.
    “I sent him home to get some rest.” Kevin stood to stretch before adding, “And that is what we all should do. I’ve been confined to this office for the past eighteen hours, and stale coffee and dried-out donuts are no longer going to cut it for me.”
    “Yum,” Conner said. “That sounds better than plane food.”
    “You can say that again,” Armando added. “I’m starving!”
    “No time for breakfast, huh?”
    “Breakfast? We didn’t stop for anything,” Conner explained. “We took the six o’clock from Cancun to Houston, hopped on the red-eye from Houston to San Diego, then drove straight here.”
    “Well, I’m glad to see you obeyed orders. Now, obey some more and get out of here.”
    “No way, boss,” Armando said. “If we leave you here alone, you are going to get sidetracked all over again. It’s exactly like you said. You need to go home too.”
    “You’re right. I do.”
    “Did you talk to Casey last night?” Armando pried.
    Kevin exhaled loudly. “No, unfortunately I did not. And yes, she called,” he said, anticipating Armando’s next question before it was asked. “I just didn’t take the time to call her back. Crap! Why do I always do this? I don’t know, with the mood she’s probably in, maybe it’s not safe to go home.”
    Armando lifted the telephone receiver and held it out for Kevin. “Find out before you get there. Call her now.”
    Tempted to heed Armando’s advice, Kevin reached for the instrument, then hesitated. “No, I better face Casey in person.” His short laugh was nervous. “At least she won’t be able to hang up on me.”
    “Instead, she’ll be able to throw things at you,” Conner volunteered.
    “Gee, thanks, Conner. Fortunately,