Page 23 of Inevitable Secrets

Derrick took a little pleasure as Taylor shot Henry a dirty look. “Such as?”

“Well he doesn’t believe that Tappen was the Gala night shooter, and neither do I,” Henry said. “I also don’t think the shooting spree he went on today was evidence of rational behavior.”

Taylor gave Henry the stink eye. “But we saw the security footage. We saw him taken down,” she reminded him.

Henry nodded, “I know we did. He may have physically done that but I agree with your gut, Taylor, that something is off. I have profiled people for years. I have been around Tappen just like you. This is something else.”

Derrick looked at Taylor. “Maybe he isn’t a total douche canoe.”

“Perhaps,” Taylor said doubtfully.

“He also worked the scene at Cedric Preston’s death and felt that Cedric’s death wasn’t a simple overdose.”

Derrick’s mouth dropped open and he turned to his wife. Taylor had taken on a look of panic at the mention of Cedric’s name. “Why does he think that?” Taylor whispered.

“He couldn’t get into details. He was trying to get out of here before the chief did,” Henry explained. “But he mentioned that he had looked into the other Preston cases. He felt like this was not just a run of bad luck but someone working to take out the Prestons.”

Derrick watched Taylor pale and struggled himself up and over to her, even though his whole chest hurt. “It’s okay, Tay,” he said taking her in his arms.

“What are we going to do?” Taylor asked, looking hysterically up at Derrick. “The freaking police feel like this is a closed case,” Taylor said shrilly. Derrick pulled her down and sat her on the bed.

“Taylor, Derrick,” Henry said calmly, “I’d like the opportunity to look into this case. The police, as you said, are no help to you now. It’s too high profile, they just want it dead and buried. I can investigate and look at things that the police can’t look into due to legal issues.

“How?” Taylor asked.

Henry was silent for a beat. “Let’s just say I have my ways,” he answered carefully. “But I would need you to not question how I get my information. Some of my methods may err on the side of less than ethical.”

“Illegal?” Derrick asked.

Henry gave a slight shrug in response.

Taylor was taking it all in with a furrowed brow. “Maybe I can talk to Charlie and Todd and see—”

“No,” Henry cut in sharply. He crouched down in front of her. “Taylor, if this is truly someone trying to take you down chances are they have inside information. This needs to be kept between the three of us. When you involve too many people, things get missed. If things get missed it leaves opportunity for someone to try and get at you again.”

Taylor was quiet for a moment. “And you would find this out?” she asked hopefully. “You think you can find out if someone is trying to come after me? Who hurt Derrick?”

“I am confident I can,” Henry said with a nod. “But I won’t do it without your permission.”

Taylor looked at Derrick, and she thought about how much she wanted to keep him safe. The police were not taking her seriously, so it seemed like being a law-abiding citizen was out. “Okay, Henry,” she agreed, “find whatever you can.”

Henry nodded. “Okay, a couple of things I want to make you aware of.”

“More?” Taylor whined.

“Safety wise I need to keep you all here. The penthouse had an attempted access while you were hospitalized, Derrick. I can not monitor all entry points like I can here. The security team will stay here in the old staff area.”

“Old staff area?” Taylor asked in disgust, turning to her husband. “There are staff quarters here?” she asked him.

Derrick shrugged, “I guess so.”

“There are,” Henry confirmed. “We will be staying onsite.”

“This place is way too big,” Taylor muttered. “Yes. Okay, Henry.”

“And no one leaves without security.”

“Yes, absolutely,” Taylor agreed.

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