Page 123 of Axe-identally Married
“What could get ugly?” Pascal Gagnon sauntered in and scooped the baby girl out of Parker’s arm. “You promised no danger,” he growled.
She smiled up at him innocently. “My sweet husband is still traumatized from when your father kidnapped him.”
My heart plummeted. Fuck. When would we be free of my dad and all he’d done? His actions were so far-reaching I struggled to believe a day would come when we wouldn’t have this black cloud hanging over our heads.
“I’m so sorry,” I said, looking from Parker to Pascal and back. “I know it’s not enough.”
“Not your fault,” Pascal said, his tone neutral, as he bounced the baby.
“Still.” I roughed a hand down my face. “We all feel terrible. Hopefully Parker can help us put an end to all of this once and for all. The entire town needs to heal after all my father did.”
Pascal gave me a curt nod, and Parker patted my hand.
“You’ve given me a lot to work with. Go home, dig out, and wait to hear from me. I may need you to go back to the town archives and pull some things.”
Nodding, I stood.
“We’re close,” she said as she pushed her chair back. “This is so much bigger than anyone bargained for, but you’ve been incredibly helpful.”
Terror filled me at her comment. Was my family in danger? Was Willa in danger? The thought left me cold. I wouldn’t let anything happen to her.
“Are we in danger?”
Parker paused before responding, not usually a good sign. “I don’t know. After all that’s happened over the past few years, it’s always possible. So just lay low. Hopefully this is the break we need. I’ll be in touch after I speak to the FBI.”
I nodded and stood to leave.
“Cole,” she warned. “I mean it. Lay low, speak to no one, keep your nose clean, and wait for my instructions.”
My mind was spinning.The roads had finally been cleared, and the people in town were slowly emerging. Willa had texted that she was headed into work to see her afternoon patients, so I headed into town to grab a cup of coffee and think.
Unsurprisingly, the Caffeinated Moose was full. After a morning of shoveling, it was no wonder everyone wanted to gorge on muffins and lattes. I said hello to a few people while I waited for my order, then found an empty table and mulled over all the things I’d learned. My mind kept circling Chief Souza. What the hell had he been doing out there?
And why had he reached inside his coat?
My heart thundered in my chest at the thought of what could have happened. But my thoughts snagged on the glimpse I’d gotten of his wrist.
That watch.
My spidey senses were tingling. I needed to get a better look.
I headed up to the counter and gave Raeanna, the owner, a smile. “I’m headed over to visit my friend, Chief Souza,” I explained. “What is his usual order?”
Armed with a skim-milk peppermint mocha, I headed for the public safety building, determined to get answers. I could pop over to town hall across the street and do some digging around in the records, but my curiosity would not be sated. I’d been forced to listen to my father drone on and on abouttimepiecesfor years, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that this one was important.
Martha, the dispatcher, greeted me warmly as I walked in. Her granddaughter played on my team, and she and her husband never missed a game.
“I brought a treat for the chief,” I said, my tone friendly. “Can I drop it off?”
She pointed me toward his office, where I knocked gently on the door.
“Come in.”
Souza’s face soured the moment he saw me. I had to duck my head under the frame to fit, but I walked right in and sat down without being invited to, both cups of coffee in hand.
“Raeanna said you enjoy a good peppermint mocha. Since you didn’t get much sleep last night, I figured you could use it.”
“Thank you,” he said curtly.
