Zane's Redemption

“Oh, hey, Quinn.”

“I won!” Eddie’s enthusiastic shout came from behind her.

“Hey, Nina. Is Thomas in?”

She opened the door all the way and motioned him to enter. “He and Amaury are downstairs in the garage.”

Quinn entered the large open plan living area with the set of computers nestled in one corner and a large flat-screen TV mounted on one wall. Eddie, Nina’s brother stood in front of it, a white plastic object in his hands.

“What are you guys doing?” Quinn asked, pointing at the screen, which showed some sort of green field.

“Wii Tennis,” Eddie answered and grinned. “And I’m kicking my big sister’s butt!”

Quinn smirked. Well, who wouldn’t want to kick that cute butt, or rather, slap it? Another thing he’d never get to do if he didn’t want to find himself at the end of a stake.

“It’s only the second set; we said three out of five,” Nina reminded her brother and snatched the Wii controller from him.

Starting a new set, she moved into position and swung her right arm as if she were holding a tennis racket. Pinging sounds came from the TV. Her boobs bounced as her arm came full circle, and Quinn had to tear his eyes away from the lovely sight. He definitely had a thing for hot women, particularly those who belonged to other men. At least that way, he knew for sure that none of them would snare him in her net and force him to settle down. Getting married was furthest from his mind—who’d ever heard of a married playboy? And that’s what he was, a playboy. Hefner was an inexperienced schoolboy compared to him.

Quinn grinned to himself and headed down the stairs that led into the garage. As he approached, he could already hear Thomas’ and Amaury’s voices.

Knocking briefly at the door at the bottom of the stairs, he entered.

“Hey, guys.”

Thomas and Amaury both looked at him and greeted him with enthusiasm.

“About time we get to see you,” Amaury said and clasped Quinn’s hand.

“Hey, Quinn.” Thomas waved a hand in greeting then wiped it on his grease smeared pants.

Quinn cast a quick glance at the motorcycle next to him, noticing that half the engine seemed to be missing. “Working on another bike?”

“Just a few minor repairs.”

Quinn raised a doubting eyebrow. “If you say so.” If taking an engine apart and putting it back together was minor, then how hard could it be for this technical genius to pry a computer chip from that mangled cell phone Quinn still had in his pocket?

“So, about Zane,” Amaury started and gave him a long look.

“Yeah, not a good situation,” Quinn felt compelled to say.

Thomas took a step closer. “Kind of strange that you didn’t notice what was going on inside him, particularly since you’ve known him the longest.”

Quinn shrugged, not willing to give away his secrets. “You know how unreadable he is. Hey, what’s done is done. Any sightings of his Hummer?”

Amaury shook his head. “Nothing so far. He’s vanished.”

Thomas interrupted. “I have an automated software program running right now to get into Zane’s personal accounts. I tell you, that guy’s paranoid. Everything is encrypted to the hilt. But I’ll get in sooner or later.”

“What do you hope to find?” Quinn asked.

“He must have had an idea where to take Portia. He wouldn’t just go to a hotel; that’s too dangerous once it’s daytime. I’m guessing he has a place somewhere.”

“Not that Zane ever mentioned any of that to us,” Amaury added and gave Quinn a penetrating look. “Maybe he’s said something to you. Has he contacted you?”

“Listen, Amaury, and you too, Thomas, just because I’m his oldest and closest friend doesn’t mean he tells me shit. I’m the first one to admit that Zane is on the edge, but I don’t like it when you guys insinuate that I should have known, or that I know something I’m not telling. I’m as loyal to Scanguards as the two of you.” Offense was better than defense; he hoped this would take the heat off him.

Amaury raised his hands in capitulation. “Hey, no offense. We’re just all a little agitated.”

Thomas nodded in agreement. “I blame myself. I should have said something earlier, but I figured a warning would be sufficient.”

“Said what earlier?” Quinn wanted to know, his hackles rising.

“That I noticed something going on between him and his charge. But by the time I told Samson, it was already too late.”