Page 49 of All the Missing Pieces

I focused on that instead of him. I’d take the book’s judgment over Trey’s any day. But it was just as accusing. And it had every right to be. A different sort of prejudice lived inside me, but it was prejudice all the same.

Finally Trey spoke. “Why do I get the feeling it wasn’t a polite inquiry?”

I forced my focus to my friend, taking in the disappointment on his face. “I thought it was her. She’s the only newcomer I know of who’s got an interest in Em’s case.”

Trey just shook his head. “You don’t think her looking into this could stir things up for whoever took Emmie? Jesus, Colt. I know you’re a better cop than that.”

My hackles rose, irritation digging in. “I looked into Ridley. Detective in Iowa told me she bends the rules.”

“Bending the rules is a hell of a lot different than breaking and entering and assault,” Trey snapped.

He had a damn point. And I knew it wasn’t Ridley, but that didn’t change the fact that it could’ve been.

“What happened?” A voice cut into the tense silence between Trey and me.

I glanced over at Ezra, who was nursing a beer, and sighed. “Break-in at the precinct. Dawson was injured.”

Ezra’s eyes went wide, and his red cheeks paled slightly. “He gonna be okay?”

“He’s fine. Just has to stay overnight as a concussion precaution.”

Ezra gripped his beer bottle tighter. “You think it was that reporter? She doesn’t look like she could pack a punch, but looks can be deceiving.”

Yes, they could. And that was the thing I hated most about the aftermath of Em’s kidnapping, how it changed the way we both looked at everyone around us.

“It wasn’t her,” Trey clipped from behind the bar.

Ezra’s brows lifted. “You sure about that?”

“I am,” I cut in. “She’s got an alibi.”

Ezra let out a huff of air. “I watchCriminal Minds; alibis can be faked.”

“Jesus,” Trey muttered.

And I didn’t blame him. The last thing we needed was Ezra turning vigilante on us.

“This is airtight, Ez. So just hold off before you make a citizen’s arrest,” I told him.

He scowled down at his beer. “You two aren’t the only ones who care about Em. Last thing I want is her getting hurt because this woman is digging where she doesn’t have any right to.”

“Emmie wants her here,” Trey snapped.

My eyes flared as I shifted to take in Trey.

He shoved off the back of the bar. “She supports what Ridley’s doing. Wants her to find the truth. So maybe both of you should ask her what she wants before assuming.”

And with that, Trey stalked down the bar to check on the other patrons.

“Shit,” Ezra muttered.

Shit was right. Emerson hadn’t said a word to me about wanting Ridley here. But I also hadn’t asked her how she felt about it. I’d simply avoided the subject altogether, thinking that was the best route to take.

Shoving my stool back, I stood and pulled out my wallet. I tossed a ten-dollar bill on the bar. It didn’t cover me being an asshole, but it was better than nothing.

I clapped Ezra on the shoulder. “Thanks for caring about my sister.”

He glanced up at me, his ruddy complexion back to normal. “Of course. We take care of our own, right?”

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