“No, doofus,” Ten chuckled. “He’s doing a meet and greet tomorrow afternoon in the ballroom beside the one we’ll be in for PsychicFest. You need to buy tickets to get in. According to the website, you can get them at the front desk.”
“I’ll go do that now,” Ronan said, getting out of his seat. “Do we want three tickets for the detectives or five so that you and Cope can come too.”
“To be honest, I think it’s best if the three of you go,” Cope said. “Cannonball made it clear that he doesn’t believe the shit we’re peddling about what’s going to happen to him. Cannonball might be more apt to listen to you guys, especially since you’re cops and put your lives on the line every day when you go to work, just like him.”
Ronan nodded. “Good plan. I’ll go get the tickets and Ten can grab Ezzie from your room. I’m exhausted and can’t wait to go to sleep.”
Cope felt the same way. It had been one hell of a long day and while he might be ready for his appearances at PsychicFest, he had a feeling all that would be on people’s minds was his prognostication about Cannonball.
8
Jude
Jude had slept like the dead. When he and Cope got back to their room the night before, both of their kids were asleep, Wolf in their bed, and Lizbet in her portable crib. He’d set Wolf in the second bed and slid under the covers ten minutes after Tennyson scooped up Ezra. Surprisingly, neither of the kids had woken up during the night, which was something they usually did when they were somewhere new. Everyone had been bright eyed and bushy tailed when they woke up around seven.
“I want pancakes,” Wolf said, once he was dressed and had brushed his teeth.
“Cake!” Lizbet said, seconding her brother’s statement.
“Me too!” Jude said. He slipped into his shoes and chased Lizbet around the room so he could put her shoes on too. With only one foot done, Jude’s phone buzzed in his pocket. “It’s Ronan. He says they’re ready to eat too. I’ll text Fitz and let him know we’re-” A knock on the door stopped Jude in his tracks. “Is it Cannonball?”
Cope shook his head. “No, it’s Fitz and Aurora.”
Jude had hoped that a night of sleeping on Cope and Everly’s prediction would have brought the stuntman to his senses, but apparently not.
Ten minutes later they were standing in line for the breakfast buffet. Jude could smell maple syrup and sausages. He hadn’t eaten a lot last night after the scene with Cannonball and was starving now. When it was his turn, Jude grabbed two plates, one for himself and one for the kids to share. Cope had Lizbet’s bowl in his bag. They’d learned the hard way not to give the baby real plates, when she’d thrown one at Ronan’s head when they’d been staying in Florida.
Locating an empty table for a large family, Jude set down the plates and went in search of a high chair for Lizbet. When he found one, he brought it back and got the baby into it. “Okay little love, time for pancakes!”
“Meeee!” Lizbet said, reaching for a pancake before Jude could cut it up for her.
“Look, there’s Cannonball and Heidi,” Cope said, getting Wolf settled. “Neither of them look like they got much sleep.”
“Even without your prediction, I doubt they would have slept much.” Jude couldn’t imagine the helplessness Heidi must feel over her husband’s decision to try this foolish stunt. As he watched the young family try to find a seat, CJ looked up and spotted them.
“Woofie!” the little boy shouted and took off running toward his new friend.
“Hey, CJ. Are you getting pancakes too?” Wolf asked, with his mouth stuffed full of them.
“Yup! My Daddy says pancakes are the breakfast of champions.”
An exhausted-looking Heidi approached the table carrying two plates. She turned back to the buffet line, presumably looking for her husband. “ Good morning. I’d like to talk later. I’ll text Jude. Come on, CJ, let’s eat.”
“Later, gator!” CJ offered a wave and followed his mother to a nearby table.
“I hate to say it, but she looks terrible,” Ronan announced when mother and son had walked away.
“Yeah, she does. I really hope she does get in touch with me.” Jude had seen the terrified look in Heidi’s eyes and had no doubt, she wanted to do everything she could to save her husband, but would he listen to her? Jude very much doubted it.
“When we go to the meet and greet, do you have a plan for how to speak with him?” Ronan asked.
“Maybe we start with what Fitz said last night about what happened to Cannonball’s mother after Rooster died. If appealing to his sense of family and to his family don’t work, then I say we go in guns blazing with a guilt trip. Maybe finding out that his wife is going to be left to cover the fines and bills associated with the trip over the falls and that his insurance won’t pay out, will knock some sense into the man.”
“I hate to be a wet blanket,” Fitz began, “but what if that doesn’t work either? We need a backup plan.”
Jude agreed completely. “Do you have one?”
“Sort of,” Fitz said, looking unsure of himself.
