"Look, someone's coming."
Zach and I spun around, squishing to the edge of the window. A blond guy with a buzz cut jogged down the driveway, a football tucked under his arm.
"That must be his kid, Billy."
"Billy the kid," Elliot snorted as we all watched him.
Zach rolled his eyes at me, then suddenly spun as we noticed the guy take a turn in our direction. I kept my head low, not wanting to be spotted. Alex rubbed his forehead, trying to look casual as Billy passed our car.
"Don't worry, he didn't even look our way," Alex mumbled.
I sat up to see Billy walking up the street. "Do you think we should follow him? It might be a good way to Tenner."
Where the hell that came from, I will never know, but Alex loved the idea and before I could even think of a protest, Zach and I were strolling up the street behind Billy Tenner.
Chapter 18
LUCY
Catching my fidgeting fingers, Zach stilled them in his hand and smiled at me. "Hey, this is way better than just sitting in a car. It's good to be doing something."
"I don't know if this guy can get us in and I don't even know what I mean by in." I grimaced.
"His house maybe?"
"Are you insane?"
Zach quietly chuckled at my horrified expression. "Don't you think it's worth a shot? Who knows what he's got locked away in there. His son could lead us to a gold mine without even knowing it."
"I hate using people this way." I made a face.
Zach squeezed my hand. "You're too sweet sometimes, you know that?"
I shot him a look that said otherwise. He just grinned at me and pulled me down the next street.
We had no idea where Billy was going and he didn't seem in that much of a hurry. School was out, I guess. He was distracted with his phone for most of the long walk, but we finally reached a small diner where he was met by a few other guys dressed in sports gear and looking ready for a serious game of rough and tumble football. They did that funny handshake guys do where they end in this half hug and slap each other on the back. He did the rounds among his friends before they all piled into the diner together.
"Let's linger for a sec before we go in." I pulled Zach back before he could cross the road. "Look at your phone, pretend you're texting someone."
I glanced behind me, feigning boredom as Zach fiddled with his phone. It was kind of nice that he just did it without questioning me. He had no idea what I was up to, neither did I for that matter, but it was cool that Zach trusted me enough to follow my lead.
The phone in Zach's hand buzzed. He checked the screen.
"Still no movement from the house."
I glanced at my watch. "Tenner hasn't left yet?"
Zach shrugged. "Maybe he's not there."
My gut curdled. If he wasn't there, then where was he?
"Alex says it's pointless. They're heading to the FBI. He wants us to get something out of Billy."
I grimaced and looked to the ground, an idea brewing. I didn't like the idea, but it could work. One of Billy's friends had spotted Zach and I standing out here. I saw him glance our way as he entered and they were now cramming into a booth seat by the window.
"Don't put your phone away. Stay busy with it," I muttered before grabbing a lock of my hair and twirling it around my finger.
"What are you doing?" Zach kept his eyes on his phone. "You're not a hair twirler."
I kept my eyes away from him, pretending like I was pissed off that he was taking so long with his hardware. "You're really just gonna have to trust me. I have an idea of how to get Billy."
"You're going for dumb flirt, aren't you?"
I spun back, my eyebrow arching, but then broke into a smile, pinching my nail between my teeth. "Please don't hate me for it, okay. I just think Billy and his friends look the type to go for it. You want to get into his house, right?"
"Yeah," Zach practically whined.
I threw back my head with a laugh, before wrapping my arms around his neck and lavishing him with a passionate kiss that I kind of hoped the guys were watching. Zach's hot tongue seared the inside of my mouth, sparking fantasies from the night before. It was an effort to stay focused on the job.
"Grab my ass," I mumbled against his lips.
"You're kidding me." He squeezed my waist.
"Just do it."
Zach sighed into my mouth, his hands gliding over my body before cupping my butt and giving it a firm squeeze. I was once again grateful for my tight jean shorts. I hadn't even meant to wear them. When we'd got back to Zach's place I'd just grabbed the first non-FBI looking thing I could find. I normally didn’t wear such skimpy clothing, but I'd found them in the lost and found at Monte Vista High and couldn't resist.
Zach's fingers skimmed the flesh beneath the edge of my fraying shorts. Sparks flew down my skin, making me ache for those crispy white sheets.