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)
No laptop.
No hidden ledgers.
No codes.
Nothing.
I clenched my jaw as I closed the safe. If he was hiding something—and I knew he was—it wasn’t there. I rose to my feet and quickly stepped away from the desk before announcing, “They’re not here.”
Joyner was still looking down at his phone when he muttered, “That’s too bad.”
Holt had made it very clear that I was only supposed to check the office and then head back to his place. I had every intention of doing exactly what he wanted me to, but I was so close. I could feel it, and Detective Joyner was already here. It would only take us a few minutes to check the house, so I gave him a pleading look as I said, “Maybe they’re over at the house.”
“Look, this has already taken longer than…”
“Please. They’re really important, and if they aren’t here, then they have to be at the house.” I replied with a grimace. “It won’t take me long to check. I’ll be in and out in no time.”
He studied me for a long moment before sighing, "I have a feeling I’m gonna regret this.”
“You won’t. I promise.”
I gave him a smile, but inside, my stomach churned.
I knew my chances of finding that code were growing slim. But I wasn’t giving up. Detective Joyner closed the office door and secured the yellow tape before leading me out of the building. I glanced around the parking lot, searching for any sign of Holt, but like before, I saw no sign of him or the brothers. When I got to my car, I pulled out my phone and was about to call him when I decided against it.
I knew what he would say.
He’d tell me to forget it and to go back to his house, and I could’ve done that. But I just couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something I needed to find—something I needed to see with my own eyes. I had no idea what that was, but I had to find out. So, I tossed my phone back into my purse and started the car.
I shook off my unease, and with Detective Joyner following close behind, I pulled out of the parking lot and sped over to my parents’ house. Normally, I wouldn’t have gone so fast, especially with an officer tailing me, but I knew time wasn’t on my side. I needed to get to the house, search the office, and get back to Holt’s before he realized what I’d done.
My phone rang, and when I saw that it was Holt, I declined the call—twice. I also ignored his text. I was already at the house and didn’t plan on being there long. I hopped out of the car, and Detective Joyner and I rushed up to the front steps.
“I’ll be quick.”
“You’ll have to be. I’ve got a meeting in ten.”
He removed the yellow tape that blocked off the front porch, then we continued up to the door. He pulled out the key, unlocked the door, and pushed it open. He stepped aside and let me enter first. He closed the door behind us, then said, “You go ahead. I have to take a call.”
I gave him a nod and watched as he stepped out, already answering his cell. The moment he was gone, I exhaled and turned my attention to the office.
It was still a mess from the break-in. All his files and papers were still sprawled out on the floor.
I started there. I scooped them up and flipped through each one of them before stacking them on the table. It was just listing after listing. Nothing that seemed out of the norm. I moved to the desk and started skimming through the remaining files.
When I didn’t find anything there, I went over to the bookshelf. I was looking through all the different books when I spotted a small brown box. I picked it up and opened it. Inside, I found several letters bound together. There was something familiar about the handwriting that made me give them a closer look.
That’s when I noticed that they were addressed to me.
They were letters from Holt—letters that my father had stolen and hidden from me. I wanted to stop and read each one of them, but I needed to hurry. I looked for a place to hide them, in a pocket or even inside my shirt, but there was no way Detective Joyner wouldn’t see them.
Before I had a chance to think it through, I walked over and opened his office window. I leaned out and dropped the bundle of letters behind the bushes. I rushed back to continue my search at the bookshelf, and it wasn’t long before I spotted a thick ledger tucked away with some old law books. I reached for it and had just flipped it open, and I knew right away it was important.