Page 103 of Echoes of You

A muscle in his cheek ticked. “You’ll get what’s coming to you.”

“I certainly hope it’s donuts.” I didn’t give Dan a chance to say another word. I simply side-stepped him and headed into the station.

I waved at our newest officer behind the desk. She nodded at me. “Chief Hartley wants you to meet him in his office.”

Great. Lawson had psychic radar when it came to me getting into trouble. He probably knew I was two seconds away from decking that jerk.

“Thanks, Smith.” I wove through the sea of desks as I traded hellos with other officers and staff.

Lawson’s door was closed, and I gave two quick knocks. He beckoned me in a second later. As I stepped inside, my brows rose. “No one looped me in on this meeting of the Hardy boys.”

All three of my brothers filled the small office space. Roan sat on the couch, the seat most removed from everyone else, Lawson was behind his desk, and Holt occupied one of the chairs. I crossed to the other seat and lowered myself into it.

Lawson leaned back. “I didn’t call them in. They came on their own.”

Holt scowled at our eldest brother. “And Law hasn’t been very forthcoming with information on Maddie’s case.”

“You’re not law enforcement,” he defended.

Roan cleared his throat. “Excuse me?”

Lawson sent him an exasperated look. “Is this a poaching case?”

Roan shrugged. “You never know how cases could be connected. Never hurts to have another set of eyes.”

Holt leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees. “This would be a hell of a lot easier if you just brought me on as a consultant. I already work for county emergency services. My background check is on file.”

Lawson groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. “You guys are trying to send me into an early grave.”

Law might’ve been frustrated, and I understood why. He played by the rules. It helped him feel like his world would stay safe and orderly. But to me, my brothers butting in where they definitely shouldn’t was nothing but an act of love.

I looked over at Holt and Roan. “Thanks. Both of you.”

Roan just nodded, looking a little uncomfortable. Holt slapped me on the shoulder. “I’ve got your back. And if brother dearest over there brings me aboard, I’ll share with the group what I’ve found.”

Lawson’s eyes narrowed on Holt. “Are you bribing me?”

Holt shifted, reclining in his chair. “Call it what you want, butteammatesshare information.”

Lawson grumbled something under his breath but opened a drawer and rifled through the contents. A second later, he pulled out a sheet of paper, handing it to Holt. “Sign this.”

Holt scanned the page. “You already had this contract drawn up.”

“I had a feeling you’d continue being a nosy bastard now that you’re back. Congratulations, you’re being paid exactly one dollar for every case you consult on.”

I choked on a laugh, and even Roan’s lips twitched. “You’re brutal,” I muttered.

Holt scrawled his signature across the paper. “Whatever. I just want to be in the loop when I need to be.”

I turned to face him. “What’d you find out?”

The humor fled from Holt’s face. “All the numbers that have been texting Maddie are associated with burner cells purchased at three different convenience stores outside Atlanta.”

Tension wound around me like a boa constrictor. “Bastard.”

“That’s not all.” Holt scrolled through something on his phone. “Adam Westchester has a high-end private investigation firm on retainer.”

A muscle beneath Lawson’s eye twitched. “And what the hell does the CEO of a charity need a P.I. firm for?”

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