Page 40 of The Secrets She Keeps

He found her fascinating. No denying that.

Fascinating—but maddening. How many other men had thought that same thing where she was concerned?

“What’s going on that you had to call me down here? I am exhausted. I want to actually try to get to sleep after I call Mig and check in. Grab a few hours between now and the midnight wake-up-mommy call that is inevitable.”

Miguel. Daniel didn’t know what to think about the relationship between Heather and their head of Homicide. He hadn’t figured the two of them out yet. “Why are you checking in withhim?”

“Um, because he’s currently sleeping in my guest room. He’s guarding Hope now.”

“I see.” They had bigger problems. “Murdoch called.”

“What did my favorite nephew-by-marriage have to say? I like him better than Markie, you know.”

Did the woman have snark for everything she said?

Daniel pulled in a breath. And just told her. “Someone stole the evidence we collected from Sol Kimball’s records. And the reports we have about what Wilson did to you.”

“Okay. Well, I am sure there are other copies out there. I have copies of all twelve reports I filed, McKellen. I am not stupid. I figured something would so-conveniently happen to the evidence. It has happened before. Quite a few times, actually.”

“I need copies of it.”

“I’ll have copies of it for you—when I am back in Finley Creek. What else? You are hiding something from me.” Shemoved to block him. Daniel froze. He could smell the shampoo the woman used.

Hell, she did something to a man. Effortlessly.

“Word has gotten out. About what Wilson did to you, specifically. I tried to stop it, to keep it quiet.”

He would never forget how she paled right in front of him.

“No surprise, really. It was just a matter of time. It wouldn’t surprise me if Stillman and his goons aren’t behind leaking it themselves. It is something they’d get off on. Having that control, that power. Knowing I can’t control it.”

But Daniel saw the pain on her face. “I’m sorry.”

“The whole world knowing that Steve Wilson stalked me, beat me, and raped me—well, I can deal with that. Those were the results of his choices,not mine.But someday, my little girls are going to ask about theirfather,McKellen. And that truth will hurt them. That’s what matters the most. What breaks me every time I remember. That, and the look on my baby sister’s face that night when he had hertrapped beneath him, hurting her because ofmybad decision. And we both know he hurt her again out there on Reservoir Road because ofme.I will never forget that.”

AnotherI’m sorryjust didn’t seem like it would ever be enough. “So, tell me: What do you want to do about it now?”

27

Powell was lookingfor Cara and the girls. She was a woman on a mission now.

Mac and Alex were off with Brandt—her twin had stubbornly insisted he was going to go back to his new place for a while, even though it was obvious he was in pain.

He was the stubbornest Barratt in creation, Brandt Barratt. She just hadn’t been able to train that out of him completely yet. No matter how hard she’d tried. She probably never would.

Maybe Meyra Talley could, though. Powell was seriously holding out hope there. But Powell had another mission today while her hot Viking barbarian was out there with Heather and Daniel fighting dragons. Cara had said some things the night before that had concerned Powell when Powell was helping her bathe the girls—Ember had been so wiggly and slippery, Powell had been terrified—while Heather met with Daniel.

Powell wanted answers. About what Cara said and about what was going on with Hope. If nothing else, Powell was going to speak with Heather. See if she could represent Hope right now. Or put Hope in touch with some attorneys who owed Powell a favor or two. Or even speak with her own mother.Her mother had experience in fighting for workers’ comp cases. She’d know how to help Hope.

Powell had to do something.

What was going on with Hope wasn’tright.

Powell had called Haldyn and informed her of what Cara had said about Hope’s compensation for what had happened. Powell was almost certain Haldyn was about to go through the roof. She just hoped the rest of the Finley Creek TSP wasprepared.

Haldyn in a temper was kind of frightening sometimes.

Haldyn was going to do some digging of her own—or get her new pet Jarrod on it. Those two were beyond adorable now. All they did was make cooing sounds at each other. Or oogly eyes.

---