Chapter 44

Mitch frowned. “You should have gotten rid of them. They’re too distinctive.”

“Which is why I wear long-sleeved shirts and grew this,” John told him, stroking his beard. It didn’t totally hide the tat on his neck, but it did a decent job of covering it without making him look like he’d spent the last year in the mountains prospecting.

“I guess that works. At least until summer.”

“Then I suffer,” John replied. “It’s worth it though,” he added, putting his arm around Kip’s shoulders.

“Ah, young love.” Mitch rolled his eyes, told them he’d see them at six, and left.

“That was a surprise,” Kip said. “A good one, for once.”

“Yeah.” John rolled his sleeves down. “I have a meeting with Mr. Smith to tell him about his daughter. Wish me luck.”

“Better you than me.”

Mr. Smith had come to them a week previously, asking them to search for his missing daughter. John had taken on the job—and when he found her he’d learned she’d left home to be with her girlfriend.