Colby Brass. Debra Webb

      “Do you have reason to believe he planned to, as you say, get himself together?” Trinity hoped the man had perhaps gone into hiding with his child and meant no harm to her. Finding a scumbag like him wouldn’t be that difficult. So far, he hadn’t proven that smart. “To do the right thing?”

      Clemmons heaved a weary sigh. “No. He’s said that before. He probably took the money and got more drugs. That’s what he usually does.” She divided her attention between Trinity and Von. “That’s why I know he wouldn’t have taken Lily with him. He don’t care about much but he does want her to have a better life. He’s always said she deserves better than he or Wanda could give her.”

      “The fact of the matter is,” Trinity said somberly, “he did take Lily, after leaving Wanda for dead. It doesn’t sound like he has Lily’s best interests at heart just now.”

      “We have to find him,” Von added. “Before he allows any harm to come to the child … before the police find him. If you care about your brother you need to help us. You know what they do to people who hurt children.”

      Silence screamed in the room for two beats. Trinity hoped Von’s strategy worked. A plea from woman to woman—one that included hope for the brother.

      “Charlie Jones,” Clemmons said with a confirming nod. “I don’t know where he is. But Charlie knows Kobi better than anyone. He’ll know how to find him.”

      “How do we find Charlie?” Trinity asked. “We have to hurry. There’s no time for tracking him down. Not if you can give us that information.”

      Clemmons hurried over to the end table next to her sofa. She scribbled something on a pad of paper, then ripped the page free and brought it to Trinity. “This is his address. I don’t know his phone number. But you’ll find him here. If anyone knows where Kobi is, it’s Charlie.”

      While Von thanked Ms. Clemmons, Trinity made his way into the corridor and put through a call to Simon Ruhl. By the time they reached the stairwell, Trinity had relayed the name and address to Simon for intelligence gathering. Any info available from any and all sources could prove useful in their approach.

      Trinity dropped his cell phone into his jacket pocket. “Simon will call us if he finds anything.” Since the address was only fifteen or so minutes away the preliminary info might be minimal, but they couldn’t wait around for additional details.

      Von put her hand out to push through the door of the building’s front exit. “If we’re—”

      She abruptly whirled around. Shoved Trinity against the wall. And kissed him.

      His fingers tightened in her coat with the intention of pushing her away … but they relaxed instantly as the reality that Von was kissing him sank into his brain. His eyes closed as the feel of her hot mouth moving over his trumped all other senses.

      Vaguely he was aware that the door opened and people entered the building. He heard the shuffling of boots, the hushed exchange of male voices. Trinity wanted to open his eyes and assess the new arrivals but her tongue slid along his and all other thought vanished.

      Her arms went around his neck and he promptly forgot the past five years … the hurt … the arguments … the loneliness he’d felt so many, many nights along with anyone or anything else he should have been thinking about just now.

      “Get a room,” a male voice grunted.

      Male laughter faded along with the heavy footfalls tromping up the stairs.

      Von suddenly drew away. “Let’s go.”

      Trinity blinked. Grappled with the concept of what had just happened.

      Von pushed out the door.

      He swiped his still burning mouth with the back of his hand. “What the hell?” With a bewildered glance up the stairs, he shuffled out the door to catch up with her.

      “You mind explaining what that was about?” he demanded when he caught up with her hurried stride.

      She jerked her head toward the street and the dark sedan illegally parked in a red zone. “Cops.”

      Trinity stopped. He stared at the sedan then back at the apartment building.

      “Come on,” Von called back. “We’re wasting time.”

      Since Trinity had arrived in the neighborhood with Jim Colby, he didn’t have much choice but to go wherever he went from here with Von.

      He climbed into the passenger seat of her SUV.

      His lips still tingled from the unexpected kiss.

      It hadn’t meant anything, he reminded that truly stupid part of himself that wanted to be psyched about the fact that she had kissed him for any reason.

      Von would do whatever it took to get the job done.

      Even kissing a guy she disliked … her ex-husband.

      Trinity’s cell phone vibrated. He pulled it from his pocket to check the screen. A text from Simon.

      Proceed with extreme caution.

      Target is dangerous.

      More details to come.

      Trinity confirmed that he had received the information. He slid his phone back into his jacket pocket and checked the weapon at his waist.

      “Got your weapon?” he asked the driver.

      Von sent him a sidelong glance. “Have you ever known me to be without it?”

      An avalanche of memories twisted his gut.

      At that moment Trinity wasn’t so sure Charlie Jones was going to be the most dangerous aspect of this investigation.

      He swallowed back the doubt.

      Whatever he had to face … the top priority was finding that little girl and bringing her safely back to her mother.