The Sweetest Summer(134)
“With what?”
Duncan put his elbows on Clancy’s desk and lowered his voice. “Dude, they got cable at all major airports, and I didn’t get here by rowboat.”
Clancy frowned at him.
“It took me a minute, but I eventually put it together. Man, I’ll tell you what: she looks better as a brunette. The kid’s a cutie, too, despite the Ronald McDonald hair. How about you tell me the part of this I’m missing?”
Clancy said nothing.
“I’m damn sure missing something, right? Because my brother the fucking Eagle Scout is harboring a fugitive.”
“The only thing you’re missing is the big picture.”
“Then hook me up.”
At that moment, Clancy decided it wasn’t enough that the door was closed—he needed to lock it, too. Once he did, he stayed standing and dropped his voice to just above a whisper.
“I’m working on it.”
“Anything I can do to help?”
Clancy crossed his arms over his chest and smiled at Duncan. His brother could be an ass, but he could count on him when it really mattered. “She hasn’t done anything wrong—well, technically, she did take the kid across state lines in violation of a custody ruling, but the congressman is not on the up-and-up.”
“That’s a shocker.”
“I got Mickey Flaherty on it.”
Duncan squinted at him. “Whoa. I thought for sure he’d retired from all the Secret Squirrel shit.”
“He’s only thirty-two.”
“Oh, I’m well aware of that. In his line of work, any-time you’re still alive is the right time to retire.”
“I don’t even know exactly what he does.”
“Better that way. So how’s he helping you?”
Clancy paced the office. “He’s working with an IT friend of Evie’s. The three of us are in constant contact. We’re covering all the bases—the congressman’s finances, sex life, physical and mental health, personal enemies. Apparently, Mickey’s almost got Wahlman’s chief of staff ready to turn on him. He’s working on the guy’s wife, too.”
“Mickey’s always had skills with the ladies.”
They were quiet for a moment.
“Look, Duncan, the woman at my house—”
“Evelyn from Maine.”
Clancy nodded.
“You know, there’s something else vaguely familiar about her. I’ve seen her before the news stories. I can’t put my finger on it.”
“She was a tourist here eighteen years ago. The summer I was fourteen. I wouldn’t think you’d remember her, though.”
Duncan blinked a few times in surprise. “Well, whaddya know?” Then he stood and grabbed his duffel. He gave Clancy a big, hard hug. “You look good, bro. If there’s anything you need, I got your back.”
“Thanks.”
“Does the fam know what’s going on with your girl?”
“They figured it out. Both Rowan and Mom called me this morning to talk about Evie. They really like her and have sworn to secrecy, but they’re worried about me catching hell for helping her.”