Page 117 of Call it Reckless

“By the time I got close enough to know about the practice fights, they closed down shop and disappeared. I don’t know how they found out, but maybe there’s a snitch somewhere.” He looked at Reid. “It might even be from within your department.”

Reid scowled. For Reid’s sake, I hoped Griff was wrong. I knew nothing would hurt Reid more than for someone he trusted to betray him—again. He was already feeling low about Nick.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Reid answered tersely. “What will you do now?” Reid asked.

He shrugged, unaffected by Reid’s tone. “Griff Herzog still needs to maintain his identity, but I’m not sure where. I’ll have to see if he can continue in this role. It might be harder since he’s been arrested, and his name is potentially on a lot of personal radars.” He paused and chuckled, shaking his head.

“Where will you go?”

Griff looked at me. “You know I can’t answer that.”

“Right.” I felt foolish for even asking, but I liked Griff. I wanted to know that he’d be okay.

As if he knew what I was thinking, he grinned. “Don’t worry. I’ll be fine. I’ve survived worse.” He patted his leg, making me shake my head and scowl at him.

He nuzzled his nose against his pup, who had fallen asleep in his arms. “I wish I could keep him.” He glanced up at Reid. “I thought you and Zach Abbott were going to bust me when I brought him in to the vet’s office.”

Reid frowned. “Wheredidhe come from?”

“He was a pup at Jack’s place. I was there to arrange to buy a fighter. I saw this little guy. He was a runt, so I knew they wouldn’t give him a chance at being anything other than bait. I’m supposed to be hardnosed about those things. It’s important to my cover. I’ve had to do things I’m not proud of, but whenever I can, I try to save the dogs. Jack was happy to make some money off him.”

Reid’s fists clenched. “I can’t believe there are people in our community who could take part of such a despicable act.”

“It’s amazing what people will do for money,” Griff replied. “But if it makes you feel any better, most of the fights up in the mountain were investors who traveled here from all over the region, no one local. Obviously, I don’t know everyone, so you might have a few outliers. It’ll still be good to keep your eye out.” His face grew worried. “But I’ll add this. Dogfighting is usually just the tip of the iceberg. Often there are some real hardcore criminals you don’t want to tangle with. I don’t know why anyone set sights on this area, other than the cover of the mountains.”

Reid nodded and Griff turned his attention back to me. He held out the pup. “I can’t keep him. I’m gone too many hours sometimes, but I also don’t want anyone getting any wrong ideas about his purpose.” His expression grew a little sheepish. “I thought maybe Paige would like him. Something to keep her company.”

I cuddled the pup in my arms. “I’m sure she will.”

“He’s a lucky dog, then.” He stared at the pup with a sad smile before he masked it behind a blank expression.

“Well, then,” he said, standing up. “You know what you have to do, Boss.”

“I wish I didn’t,” I told him, sincerely meaning it. “I sort of wish you were Chad instead.”

“Don’t worry about Chad. I got to know him a bit. He hasn’t had the best home life, so he’s always waiting for the ball to drop. If you can put up with him, he’ll begin to trust you, and you’ll see less attitude,” Griff said, then he nodded at me.

I hated this. “Griff, you’re fired.”

He nodded and collected his jacket as he looked around the garage a little wistfully. “This really was a great place to work. Great people.” His eyes lingered on the salon for an extra minute. Then he gave us a mock salute and walked to his truck. Within minutes, his taillights disappeared down the road.

“This kind of sucks,” I muttered to Reid, who’d come to stand behind me as I watched Griff leave.

“There are still some unanswered questions. But in the meantime, we saved some dogs, and word is out now that Sterling Mill isn’t the place to entertain illegal activities.”

I turned in his arms. “True. But it is a great place to come home to.”

CHAPTERTHIRTY-NINE

Bristol

2 weeks later

“And so, what I learned in my interview with Miss Bristol Allen was more than just about what it takes to make cars work. I learned what it takes to make our community work. And that is, if we work together, we can make things happen. And I learned that I can do anything I want as long as I work hard at it. Thank you.”

Lexi finished reading her report and looked over to where I was sitting with Reid and the other parents.

I returned her grin and gave her a thumbs up. “I think she has a career in politics,” I whispered proudly to Reid.

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