Page 68 of Home Town Knight

“Does Sykes think Rossiter took the coin you’re looking for?”

“From what he said, it’s possible. I have to follow procedure, contact Rossiter’s captain about this. I need you to keep it quiet for now.” I would have to be very strategic about this, and I didn’t want Rossiter to know I suspected him yet.

Of course, Sykes could say something to him. But I hadn’t mentioned the coin’s significance. Rossiter would probably think I was just angry about evidence going missing, not necessarily that I knew the coin was linked to Stillwater.

I had no idea if Rossiter knew about Stillwater either. But I had to assume the worst.

After I got off the phone with Keira, I went to my SUV and fired up the computer system. I opened the cell location data she’d sent on. It was all the more crucial to find out where Tucker had been that day before he was murdered.

But as I looked at the report, a feeling of dread sank down into my bones.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Genevieve

River showedme inside his apartment. “Welcome. Can I get you something to drink?”

Apart from an elaborate computer setup, it was a simple apartment. Almost spartan. Nothing on the walls, barely any furniture. There were curtains for privacy, a shoe rack by the front door. But not much else. Either he’d just moved in a week ago, or River was the type of guy who didn’t want to reveal too much about himself through his decor choices. My money was on the second.

I slipped off my shoes. “Why don’t we start with you explaining that creepy background check?”

“Diving right into it, are we?” He plopped into a recliner, lacing his hands together at his stomach. His tousled dark hair fell over his forehead. He’d taken off his glasses, which sat nearby on a side table.

“Owen told me you’re a hacker. And that you worked for the government before. First as a Navy SEAL, then something even more clandestine.”

He smiled, clearly not bothered. “The sheriff’s been revealing my secrets?”

“Only fair, since you were digging up all of mine. Imight’ve been annoyed when I first read your report, but now I’m mostly curious about your methods.”

“You’re the type of woman who’s always curious.”

I shook my head, smiling despite myself. “And you’re the type of cocky alpha who throws a woman over his shoulder and locks her in a supply closet instead of explaining himself. Don’t think I forgot about that.”

His grin broadened, head tilting mischievously. “Wait a second, are we flirting? I thought you and Tex had a thing.”

“We do have a thing. And I thought nobody except Owen’s friend Dean called him Tex.”

He shrugged. “True. But I know about his call sign. I know all sorts of things. I thought you’d figured out that much about me.”

“I know you’re a handful.”

“See? You do know me.”

I barked a laugh. River was as mysterious as he was frustrating. Yet it was impossible not to like him. It was obvious that any flirtation in his tone wasn’t serious. If anything, I would bet that River constantly bantered to keep other people guessing. Like a boxer’s fancy footwork and feints.

“You never give a straight answer to anything, do you?”

“Unless it’s about work, not really.” He stood up and went to the table with his computer and huge double monitors. “Speaking of work, Owen sent me what you’d shared with him. I was just going over it when you arrived.”

“Wait, I’m not done with my questions. When you were digging into my background, how far did you go? If you compromised my confidential sources, I’d like to know. I think I deserve that.”

“I didn’t mention any sources in the report I gave Owen. I’m guessing you saw that already.”

“Sure, but you and I both know that only a fraction of research winds up in the finished product.”

His gaze sharpened on me, seeming to gain a new level of respect. “This is true.”

He went over to a speaker system and turned it on, queuing up music on his phone. Some kind of indie rock. Then he brought an extra chair to his desk and placed it right beside his, beckoning me over with his fingers. When I got closer, he murmured, “I regularly sweep for listening devices, but I take additional precautions whenever discussing something sensitive. I’m also careful with anything I dig up in my research. If details leak about one of your sources, I guarantee it won’t come from me, and you’ll just have to trust me on that.” He sat down and fired up the computer. “I also have advice about your cybersecurity, if you want.”

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