Page 38 of Breaking Point

“Things have been going well. No issues. How are things on your side?”

He sighs, the sound almost annoyed. “Fine. I just expected to hear more from you. I’ve barely seen my daughter, and after you both left the party so early…” he trails off.

Annoyance prickles my skin, and I do my best to keep my tone even. “I’ve held up my end of the bargain, Mr. Hughes. Weekly check-ins.”

He huffs. “I know. I just- I thought she would’ve given in by now. You moving in was supposed to help speed things along.”

My bike comes into view, and it’s an effort to walk the rest of the way without reminding him that this was never about changing her mind.

“She’s been fairly clear she doesn’t plan on moving back, Sir.”

“You really don’t think she’ll change her mind?”

I’m reminded of last night. Of her tears. I think of the homeless man outside her apartment, of the phone call I overheard between her and Charlotte last night.

From what little I do understand about her…

“No, Sir.”

Harvey sighs heavily. “What would you do if she were your daughter?”

I tighten my bag to the back of my bike, the strap clicking. “Sir?”

“How would you convince her that I only care about her safety?”

Maybe that’s the point. She’s an adult, and Harvey treats her like she’s a child that needs coddling. Yet he just doesn’t see it.

“I wouldn’t know. But her safety is my number one priority. I assure you.”

“Yeah…” he says. “Sorry for calling so out of the blue. I worry about her.”

“She’ll come around,” I say, even though I have my doubts. “Taylor’s with her now. If you need to contact him, you have his number.”

“Thanks, I- uh,” he shuffles in the background, sniffling loudly. “She’s a smart kid. She’ll come around.”

“Anything else, Mr. Hughes?”

He clears his throat. “I guess not. Thanks, Warden. Talk later.”

For most of the drive back to my apartment, I think about the call. I think about whether Harvey is telling the truth about his reason for hiring us. I consider the ominous threat that seems to lurk over this family like a fog. Whether anything’shappened or not, my gut is telling me there’s somethingmorehere. Maybe that’s what prompts me to pull out my laptop when I get inside.

My apartment is dark despite the myriad of windows making up the outside wall. With the curtains drawn, only a sliver of light pokes out from beneath them. I make out my bed against the far wall, my desk opposite it- the kitchenette and bathroom in the right-hand corner.

It’s a habit to do a thorough search before I flip on the lights and settle at my desk. Everything is just as I left it, and when I connect my laptop to the two desk monitors, I open a browser.

Chase Sutherland is the first person I search. I still have a few contacts from the military. Enough that I can easily do a background check. I request his information and do some browsing of my own.

From what I can tell, he’s just another attorney at Harvey’s firm. Doesn’t seem to have a strong online presence, but he’s posted several updates on his personal social media.

Omenin and Harvey’s firm recently posted about a deal they signed together. I don’t know what to make of the information, but I make a note to look into more when I have time. My phone interrupts me from further sleuthing, and when I see it’s a call from my mom, I answer immediately.

“Everything okay?”

“There it is again. You can’t answer like that. You know how I worry,” she laughs, and I smile at the sound.

“Sorry, Ma. You doing alright?”

“Just checking in. I got your last text about a banquet. Seems like the new job is a nice one.”

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