Page 67 of Rules

I nodded my head.

"That's bullshit. Boy you weren't kidding, you really are a chickenshit." Tim shakes his head.

"Hey now, I'm still your father."

"Why, dad? Why do you always put what others think first? You put them before mom." Tim taps his chest with the palm of his hand. "Before me. Why dad? People are ALWAYS in other people's business. Are you going to prevent yourself from being happy JUST because you are concerned about what other people think?" He throws his arms out. "Come on dad! You've been this way for too long. Now you are going to let this fossilized way of thinking ruin what could be an amazing thing for you?"

Rubbing my hands on my face, I stretch back and think about what he's saying.

"I don't know, Tim. I just don't know."

"Well," Tim looks down and kicks a rock off the side of the step. "What I'm going to tell you might piss you off, but I'm going to say it anyway, then I'm going back to Dianna. By you being your usual cantankerous old dried up dusty self, you probably ruined a great relationship. All because you would rather be alone than have some old bitty gossips talk about you.Spoiler alert Dad, they're always talking about something. Like, you don't think they aren't talking about why you guys can't stop the break-ins? News flash they are." Tim paced back and forth. "You've always worried about what some random person thought of you." He stopped in front of me, eyeing my face. "Get a clue, Dad, they don't give a shit who they're talking about, they talk about everyone. You aren't that important that they sit in front of their windows watching to see what the great Tobias Trenton is up to today. Those people who you worry about are home with their loved ones and you, you Dad, are alone. WHY? Because you are so worried about what they think you should do. HONESTLY Dad, why not give them something that makes you happy to talk about for a change."

"I don't know. The city council..." I start.

"You know what? This conversation's done. I'm over it. Bye Dad." Tim turns, opens the door, enters, and slams it shut.

Standing there, I'm a little taken aback. Tim hasn't ever stood up to me like that. Looking at the sidewalk, I walk back over to my car, get in, and drive home.

Damn, today sucks.

I'm barely through my front door when my phone rings. Law's name flashes on the screen.

"Law," I answer, dropping my grocery bags on the counter. "Please tell me you have good news about Michael."

"Well, hello to you too, sunshine," Law says, amusement in his voice. "Nice to hear your cheerful disposition hasn't changed."

"Just tell me what you've got," I say, not in the mood for his banter.

"We're here. Got the office all set up on Main Street."

I stop unpacking groceries. "What? Why the hell didn't you call me when you arrived?"

"Why should I have?"

"You're in my jurisdiction," I snap, irritation flaring. "Protocol dictates—"

"Protocol? Since when do you care about protocol with me?" Law laughs. "Look, Mouse and Keyboard needed time to establish their system. We've already checked out Michael's warehouse and both his properties in town."

"You what?" My voice rises. "How long have you been here?"

There's a slight pause. "We've been here for a day or two. Charlie Whitaker and his buddy flew out to get us. Evelyn thought she would feel safer the sooner we were here."

"Sure." Is all I can politely bring myself to say.

"Tobias? What's up with you?"

"Nothing. What did you find at the properties?"

"Nothing that points to his current location. Your forensics team did a good job, by the way."

I'm seething. Law has been investigating in my town for over twenty-four hours without even bothering to let me know. Does he have to let me know? No, no he doesn't but it still irritates me.

"I'm sorry I didn't catch up before now. I would have thought Brooklyn would have told you we were here. We ran into her when I was showing the team the office."

"Deputy Rogers knew you were here?"

Brooklyn knew and didn't tell me? What else is my team keeping from me?

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