The atmosphere was tense, to say the least.


    Yates, stuck between the two men, felt the awkwardness settle on his shoulders like a heavy coat.


    Thankfully, the arrival of the waiter with their food offered a brief reprieve, breaking the ufortable silence.


    "Let''s eat," Yates suggested, trying to sound upbeat.


    Neither of the other men moved even a muscle.


    They hadn''te here for the meal, and it was obvious.


    Yates nced at Timothy, then at Vince. He had no idea what had transpired the night before, so he assumed Vince was at fault-coveting Timothy''s wife,


    perhaps. Hoping to smooth things over, Yates shot Vince a discreet look, urging him to say something, to take the first step.


    They were friends, after all. In Yates''s mind, no matter how big the problem, it could be talked down, brushed aside, and life would move on.


    But Vince didn''t even acknowledge him.


    Instead, it was Timothy who spoke first. "Where is she?"


    Yates stared at Timothy, startled.


    What on earth had happened?


    Vince''s tone was biting. "Aren''t you supposed to be resourceful? What''s the matter-can''t find her?"


    Vince had arranged for Jessica to stay at a hotel owned by The Zimmerman Group, but left no record of her check-in. There was no way Timothy could track her down easily.


    Yates tried to intervene, "Vince, let''s not make this any worse."


    But Timothy cut him off. "It''s all right. I was the one who made the mistake." Yates was dumbfounded.


    This was clearly Vince hiding Timothy''s wife, yet Timothy wasn''t even angry. He was actually admitting fault?


    Timothy continued, "If I don''t find her and exin things, this will only get messier. Please, just tell me where she is."


    Even if Vince had stabbed him in the back, Timothy didn''t seem to care.


    After all, he genuinely believed he was in the wrong.


    If Vince had taken Jessica away, Timothy wouldn''t be angry. Because Vince was protecting her.


    What happenedst night wasn''t what Timothy had intended.


    He''d gone to make peace with her-how had things spiraled so far out of control? Maybe it had just been too long. Maybe he''d wanted


    her too much...


    Vince sneered, "Drop the act. Do you honestly think she''ll ever forgive you? Wake


    up, man. My advice? Get a divorce-fast."


    "Vince!" Yates snapped, "Would you just listen for once?"


    Timothy raised a hand, signaling Yates to stop.


    His gaze locked on Vince. "I''m not getting a divorce."


    "You think it''s up to you anymore? Stop dreaming."


    Vince, whose face usually carried a hint of a smile, was stone-cold today.


    Timothy, knowing he was at fault, kept his tone calm. "Give me her address. I''ll do everything I can to help you find your sister."


    That was the only leverage Timothy had to offer, the only thing he thought might sway Vince.


    Vince''s missing sister was a serious, urgent matter. But so was Jessica.


    Timothy had ess to all kinds of advanced technology-if hemitted his resources, he''d find her a lot faster than Vince could.


    But he refused to use Jessica as a bargaining chip.


    Vince said nothing.


    Yates tried again. "Vince,e on. Jessica is Timothy''s wife. Hiding her-what good does that do?


    Whatever''s going on between them, it''s not our business. Just tell


    Timothy where she is, okay?"


    Just then, Timothy''s phone rang.


    It was Mabel calling.


    "Sir, you need toe back right away. People from the social services and the women''s shelter are here. They say if you don''t return soon, they''ll call the police