Page 179 of The Reluctant Hero

He’s muttering to himself now. My hands drop to see him with his phone looking at notes.

“You didn’t question him?” Gabe asks as he follows along.

“Not home,” Jake shrugs. “I was focused on physical threats first. Marcos’ apartment is directly above Manny’s. I’mcertain the noise made him leave. As a young man squatting in an empty apartment, I’m sure he has his reasons for not wanting to be caught.”

“Maybe he was hopin’ to blackmail her,” Ace tosses out without much conviction.

Jake shakes his head. “He had free run of her apartment for at least a month. She gave him a key, likely for his own protection. Bought food for him and sodas that she never drank. They were friends, and he betrayed that. I’m sure money is the motive but from a different side. Who would hand him the evidence of Blake’s infidelities and the names?”

“One of the women in the pictures?” Cade points out the obvious.

“Possible,” Jake makes a note. “Marcos took the photos when he trashed her things. My imp’s only belongings, destroyed without hope of repair.”

His voice cracks with rage, making Cade stiffen up in his seat.

“What did he have to say?” He keeps Jake going as if it could help stem the rage.

I haven’t seen what happened there but from Shade’s mocking description and Jake’s reaction, it’s bad. Bad enough that the unfeeling psychotic in front of us is ready to kill someone just thinking about it. I can see Ace’s hands clenching into fists as he amps back up, too.

“Fullerton told him to go in, remove the evidence of the theft, and the photos. He handed her everything and received a thousand dollars for his troubles.”

“Nothing else?” Gabe asks tensely.

“No. The techs all got transfers from Blake’s personal account to convince you Amanda was guilty. He’s an amateur, and Fullerton is backing him up. And no, it wasn’t avirusinstead of Blake,” he spares us a sneering look. “The IT teamdidn’t turn on us for money alone. There’s something deeper there. I’m sure your father has a bit to do with that, Gabe. Another reason for their delivery to him.”

“Were they alive for the trip?” Gabe asks viciously. He may not like getting his hands dirty, but he’s not shy about vengeance any more than the rest of us.

“No,” Jake sighs. “That driver may need a raise. I told him not to open the bags. He didn’t listen.”

“Who is the friend you’re looking for?” Cade asks curiously. “You never had a partner before me. Or a team.”

“That doesn’t mean I haven’t made friends, Cadey. Don’t be jealous.” He dismisses.

“Manny will know where she was Sunday,” Ace interrupts, lost in his own thoughts.

“We have to find him first,” Cade sighs.

“I might have made a mistake in my priorities, but it will be done,” Jake taps a finger on the side of his phone.

“So she takes a mysterious trip, gets put in jail, and as soon as she gets out, she goes to Blake?” Cade leans back in frustration. “Why?”

“Did she know he set her up, or was it for the divorce?” Ace looks at Jake as if he has the answers.

“She said she spoke with him. He needs to be added back to your list, Jake.” Gabe’s cold demand is met with a raised brow from the blond psycho.

“I think not,” he sounds amused. He glances around as if he’s waiting for the rest of us to get a joke. When we stare back at him without a reaction, his brows drop in confusion.

“I’m sorry. Am I the only one of us who’s seen our little imp for who she is?”

I look at Ace in confusion. He returns the look, and we both turn to Gabe. He looks just as lost as we are.

“No,” Cade says flatly, drawing our attention. He seems to be the only one following Jake’s logic, and he doesn’t like it.

“Oh, yes, Cadey,” Jake laughs softly. “Did you not see how pleased she was when she admitted she spoke with him? And the very serious weapon she had with her?”

“I know she’s got anger issues, Jake, but that doesn’t always lead to violence,” Cade protests with a glare.

“I’m surrounded by fools,” Jake mutters in disbelief. “Can each of you remove your love-addled glasses for a moment and take in the obvious predator she is?”

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