Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80957 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80957 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
"Okay," I whispered. “No unnecessary chances.”
“Good.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small flash drive. “Now, with that in mind, I need you to try and get this plugged into your father’s desktop computer.”
“Okay, but where am I supposed to plug it in?”
“On the hard drive tower. There should be a couple of places to slip it in. Just choose one and go.”
“What if it’s the wrong one?”
“It won’t be.”
I nodded, and he leaned in and pressed a kiss to my forehead, lingering there for a moment before pulling back. "We better get going.”
“What about Ford?”
“Ghost is bringing Whit and Toby by. Figured he’d enjoy hanging out with them.”
“That was very thoughtful of you.”
“What can I say?” A sexy smirk crossed his handsome face. “I’m a thoughtful guy.”
“Yeah, and kind of handsome, too.”
“Kind of?”
His brows furrowed like he was wounded, and I couldn’t help but laugh. “Okay, okay. You’re hot. Smoking hot. Like set the ground on fire kind of hot.”
“That’s what I’m talking about.”
“You’re crazy.”
“Crazy about you.” He leaned in and kissed me once more. “You ready to hit it?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
I grabbed my purse, and after we said our goodbyes to Ford and Duggar, Holt followed me outside. When we got out to my car, he opened my door and said, “I’ll be right behind ya.”
“Okay.”
“Just play it cool, and everything should go as planned. I have guys at the station and at his office. We’ll be watching you every step of the way.”
“I’ve got it. Go to the office and come straight back here. You can stop worrying.”
“It’s my job to worry.” He gave me a wink, then said, “Now, get in and buckle up.”
I did as he said, and in a blink, we were headed to the police station.
When I got there, I looked all around, but I saw no sign of Holt or any of his brothers. I had no idea where he was, but I knew he was there, watching every move I made. I could feel the weight of Holt’s stare on my skin. It was a silent promise that he wouldn’t let anything happen to me.
And even though I couldn’t see them, I knew his brothers were out there too. They were lurking in the background, ready to step in if things didn’t go as planned. It should’ve made me more nervous, but somehow, knowing they were close made it easier to keep walking.
I thought back to my father, and I couldn’t help but wonder if I ever knew him at all. Clearly, he wasn’t the stand-up, righteous man I’d always thought he was. Instead, he was involved in shady deals that ended up getting him killed. And not only that, he’d put his entire family in harm’s way. It made me so angry with him—almost blindingly so.
It was that anger that gave me the courage to walk straight up to the front counter and announce, “I’m Tallie Warren. I would like to speak with Detective Joyner.”
“Can you tell me what this is in reference to?”
“He’s investigating my father’s murder.”
“Oh, yeah. That’s right.” The officer picked up the phone and dialed Joyner’s extension. As soon as he picked up, the officer told him, “You have a Tallie Warren here to see you.”
There was a brief pause, and then, he said, “Sure thing. I’ll send her on back.”
He motioned me through the side entrance, then led me down the hall to Detective Joyner’s office. When I walked in, he was sitting at his desk, flipping through files, and he didn’t seem pleased to be interrupted. “Good morning, Ms. Warren. I’ve been meaning to reach out and give you an update on things, but unfortunately, there have been none to give.”
“I didn’t figure there had, but that’s not why I’ve come. I mean, it is, but I need your help with something else.”
“Oh? And what’s that?”
“I need to get into Dad’s office.” A suspicious look crossed his face, so I quickly added, “I need to get my son registered for school, and I can’t do that without his birth certificate and shot records. They’re in Dad’s safe or possibly his desk. I’m not sure where, but I know they’re there.”
“I’m afraid that’s not possible.” He gave me a look that was meant to be understanding but came off as patronizing. “Your father’s office is part of an active crime scene, and everything in it is considered evidence.”
“I understand that, but these are important documents that I can’t just replace overnight.” Knowing what I’d said was true, he grimaced, so I gave him a little push. “I’m only asking for a few minutes.”
“I’m sorry, but it’s just not possible.”
“Come on, Detective.” The words tumbled out sharper than I intended, but I couldn’t stop them. “This investigation has been going on for a while now, and you have nothing. You’re no closer to finding out who killed my father than you were when he was first murdered. I haven’t pushed or complained. I know you are doing what you can, but we both know my son’s documents have nothing to do with my father or what happened to him.”