Page 43 of Breaking Point

Always on my mind.

What would Daddy say if he knew you hid me away?

The typed script is carved on thick, creme stationary. I could try to track the penmanship, but tracing the ink or thepaper is going to be damn near impossible even if I did know how to do it myself.

The note that was left last night however…

Secrets kill.

It was a warning.

It all points to Harvey, and it means he still hasn’t been honest with me.

I stare out of my car as I drive. The letters burn a hole in the pocket of my khakis. They have since I left Olivia’s apartment last night and went home to research things a bit more. I know what I need to do. Every bone in my body is telling me the same damn thing:

Get out while you still can.

Because it's two times now that Harvey Hughes has lied to me. Two chances, and that’s more than I’ve ever given anyone else. I should tell Taylor what I’m thinking.

As I grip the steering wheel, pulling into the parking garage of Olivia’s apartment, I’m left with another bout of indecision.

What’s keeping me here?

I key out of the car, the gun at my hip a steady weight as I take the stairs to ground level. The market is just waking up, the commotion like the calm before a storm. I know the routine well. I remember opening shifts as a bartender that felt the same. I knew that job like the back of my hand. I’d have a place there if I needed it, but it would be a huge step backward. I steel myself against the thought.

The stairs to Olivia’s apartment feel taller today. I take them slowly, and when I finally key into the apartment, I try not to think about the image of her, wearing a dress of cerulean blue stained with blood.

Taylor stands in the kitchen, lifting his chin in greeting. My eyes track to the bucket of soapy water in the hallway to my left. A scrub pad lays abandoned on the ground, the sound of water running in the bathroom.

“She’s been cleaning all morning. Hasn’t slept,” Taylor says around a swig of water. When he sees a tray of coffee in my hands, he gives a sheepish grin. “You really don’t want to owe me that favor, do you?”

“Not if I can help it.” I deposit the coffee on the counter, rolling my neck to ease the tension.

“What’d you get from Harvey?”

“Not enough.”

“Did he have any clue about the note?”

Just the mention of it makes anger burn in my chest. He isn’t planning on telling Olivia about it, and while I wouldn’t normally get in the middle of family drama, she deserves to know the truth.

“He says he doesn’t know who it’s from. Or what it means.”

“Is he going to tell Olivia?”

“He should.” There’s no hiding the edge to my voice.

“But he won’t,” Taylor finishes, and I grip the counter so hard my knuckles go white. “Got it.”

There’s clanging in the bathroom and the distinct sound of a bucket of water splashing over. “She has a gig at ten, doesn’t she?”

“Yep,” he says, dropping the keys into my hand and taking his coffee. “Like I said, she hasn’t slept.”

It’s seven now.This job will be the death of me, I think with a sigh.

“I’ll see you tonight. I think it’s better if we both cover the events this weekend. I can cover one of your night shifts this week to cover the hours.”

He nods. “Sure. Monday? More time with the wife.”

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