Page 34 of PenPal Hero

“Yes. That.” Foster’s snort turned into a chuckle as he pointed at his partner. “We were thinking more along the lines of a pay raise.”

“I accept.” Holt could only hope they weren’t kidding. “In the meantime, what am I supposed to do about Jett Briggs?” He should’ve known the amount of business the guy was sending his way was too good to be true. Jett was apparently up to his eyeballs in the car thefts.

And I’ve been helping him hide them in plain sight by changing paint colors, accessorizing them out the wazoo, and misquoting their VINs on the paperwork.

“Keep doing exactly what you’ve been doing.” Foster pointed at him with both forefingers like they were twin pistols. “You’ll continue to serve as our eyes and ears on the front lines until the authorities are ready to make their move.”

“You mean arrest him?” Holt gripped the sides of the truck bed harder.

“Yep.”

“Any assurance you can give me that I’m not gonna end up in jail alongside these scoundrels?” Holt needed to hear the bottom line.

“Honestly?” Foster didn’t look too worried about it. “Your best defense is submitting to further medical evaluations. As long as the results line up with Jude Westfield’s findings, I’d say you’re off the hook.” He turned to leave and stopped, pivoting back in Holt’s direction. “Oh, and K&G has excellent legal representation, should it ever come to that. We ascribe to the age-old motto of nemo resideo. It’s Latin for no one left behind,” he explained. “From the moment you agreed to come work for us, we’ve had your back. That won’t ever change.”

Holt stared after the two men as they left the building. “Well, I’ll be,” he muttered to himself. “Nemo resideo,” he repeated.

No one left behind.

He certainly liked the sound of that.

CHAPTER 7: ALL TRIPPED UP

Thirty minutes earlier

“These look delicious!” Bonnie palmed a kiwi in the produce aisle of the grocery store and tossed it to Alice.

Alice caught it and mimed making a basket with it.

“A kiwi style layup. Now I’ve seen it all,” Bonnie chuckled. “I was thinking of grabbing a few of these to put in a fruit salad.”

“Oo, good idea.” Alice pulled a clear plastic bag off the nearest dispenser and started shoving kiwis into it.

Bonnie moved to a refrigerated display case and selected the freshest looking clear plastic containers of strawberries and blueberries. She returned to the cart with her hands full. “The fruit salad will be one of my contributions to the BBQ this evening.” She was tickled to pieces that Alice and Zayden had invited her and Holt to join them for dinner. She was looking forward to getting to know Alice’s fiancé better. The four of them had never hung out together as a group. Bonnie hoped it was the first of many such visits.

“One of your contributions?” Alice looked surprised. “Trust me. A fruit salad is more than enough.”

“Are you sure?” Bonnie wanted to pull her weight. “Holt has been putting in such long hours lately. I’m not sure he’s going to have time to bring anything.”

“I’m sure.” Alice smiled. “Y’all can pay us back by inviting us over in return.”

Bonnie snickered at the picture that popped into her head. “If we all suck in our breath, we might fit side by side like sardines in the kitchenette of my place.”

“Zayden’s waterfront cottages are pretty cozy, aren’t they?” Alice’s voice was edged with smugness, probably since the whole waterfront property project had been her idea.

“I love it there.” If Bonnie had searched the whole town over, she couldn’t have found a more perfect spot to call home. “It’s so peaceful and…” She shook her head as she replayed her new favorite morning ritual inside her head. “I start off every morning with a cup of coffee on the front porch, just so I can watch the turtles diving off that old tree stump sticking out of the water.” She was grateful that Zayden had been willing to rent her one of his tiny houses, especially since she was pretty sure he’d given her the friend discount. He would’ve made more money from a complete stranger.

“I’m happy that you’re happy.” The edges of Alice’s eyes crinkled warmly. “You deserve to be happy, Bon Bon. Just don’t, um…shut your family out forever, okay?” Her smile slipped. “They’re good people, even your annoying brothers.”

“I know.” Bonnie pushed the cart toward the bread aisle. “I just needed some space to lick my wounds.” Having her own air to breathe was downright therapeutic. Her festering anger and frustration were drying up. She was healing.

“It’s been nearly three weeks,” Alice reminded softly, falling into step beside her. “You should at least call your mom.”

Bonnie wrinkled her nose. “Who says I haven’t?”

“I do, since you tell me everything,” Alice pointed out.

“Guess that’s what I get for having a boss who feels more like a sister,” Bonnie sighed.

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