Page 37 of Hardy

“He’s determined.You’vegot all the information he needs,” Lacey said.

“When are we supposed tosee that Sally kid?”Whizz asked, trying to make sense ofeverything that was going on in his world.

“We’re seeing her onFriday.”

It was now Wednesday.

“I’m going to hold offuntil next week.”The longer he put it off, the angrier Gashbecame.Whizz wanted to give him the information.Going to hisfiling cabinet, he opened up the security lock and pulled outCharlotte’s file.It had been nearly seven years ago since Gash wasfirst sent to prison.He looked at the picture of Charlotte beforeshe went into a psych ward, and then the picture when she came out.She wasn’t the same person.The person that was now staring back athim, taken from her driving license, couldn’t handle Gash, not anangry one.

Lacey climbed off the bed,making her way toward him.“What are you thinking,Whizz?Talkto me.”

“I can’t condemn thiswoman.Gashis off the rails, and she can’t handle him.He’s like a fuckingfreight train, and she’s a puppy.”

She took the file from him, and started toread it out.“She’s twenty-eight years old, and seven years ago shewas admitted after trying to kill herself.”Lacey went silent asshe read on but didn’t read aloud.“She was pregnant?”

“It’s what her filesays.”

“I wonder who the fatheris,” Lacey said.

“I don’t know.She’s neverspoken about it, according to her psych notes,” Whizzsaid.

Lacey closed the file.“Have I evertold you how scary you are with everything you can findout?”

“It’s the internet, babe.Everyone does the internet, and it’s the best way to get what Iwant.”He opened his arms, and Lacey walked right intothem.

Chapter Six

“How was your ride?”Roseasked Hardy as he walked into their home.She was surprised to seeSteven following behind him.

“Strange,” he said, comingto her side.

She paused as he wrapped his arm aroundher waist, pressing a kiss to her lips.He used to do that actionso many times.She’d missed it.Rose missed how natural he was withher in the way he touched her.She’d put a stop to that, and it wasa stop she deeply regretted.

“How was your day?”heasked.

“Great.I shopped alittle.”

“Did you buyanything?”

“Not much.”She’d not really hadthe heart to buy anything after her talk with Sandy.It was stillhard for her to admit that she was wrong, especially when it cameto Hardy.Biting her lip, she pulled away from him, going to thefridge.“I’m making dinner.Are you staying to eat?”

“Yes.”

Hardy took a seat at the table, andSteven also took a seat.

Fighter came to the door.“Can I headout?”

“Yes,” Hardy said.“I’vegot it from here.”

She grabbed everything out of thefridge to make meatballs while Steven and Hardy talked.

“What do you think thatapartment was all about?”Steven asked.

“I don’t know.Gash is aticking bomb, and any moment he’s going to blow.I don’t want to bearound for when that happens.”

“What’s going on?”Roseasked.

Hardy was the one who spoke up first.“Gash went out for a ride.You were shopping, and I figured I’d tagalong.Steven came, too.He took us a couple of hours out of FortWills to another town on the outskirts of the city.”

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