Page 49 of Mine to Hold
She reached for the suitcase and opened it, showing off all the money she’d stolen from Tony. Or Tom, depending on how one looked at it. “Once we got home, I waited for Tony to pass out. I took the money, went to the corner, and made an anonymous call to the police about all the drugs Tony had and that I thought he might have had something to do with Ollie’s murder.”
“From your personal cell?” Emmerson asked.
“Yeah. But I broke it right after and tossed it so no one could track me.” She blinked.
“That’s smart and while Tom didn’t have a big operation back then, he does now. And he’s got crooked cops and politicians in his back pocket,” Rebecca said.
“That’s how they found out you made the call.” Once again, Emmerson kissed her hand. “Tony went to prison because ofthat tip you gave the police.” He pointed to the bag of money. “Neither he nor Tom care all that much about that cash. It’s small potatoes to them these days. But they do care about what you did. They care about the fact you put Tony in prison and fucked with Tom’s operation.”
“But how did they find me? I’ve been careful. I don’t stay anywhere for very long. I try to use cash and?—”
“Same way we tracked your journey across the country,” Miles said. “Thing is, Tom has been setting up shop in Miami for a while now. You simply made it easier for them by coming here.”
“What happens to me now?” Rumor asked.
“In terms of what?” Rebecca asked.
“I was there when that man was murdered and I did nothing.” Rumor tugged her hand free. She couldn’t stand another second of Emmerson’s kindness.
“Not that I ever want to see human life taken, but he was a bad man selling drugs. He’s off the streets and Tony went to prison,” Rebecca said.
“And the money I stole?” Rumor asked.
“What money?” Rebecca stood and closed the suitcase and zipped it shut. “I don’t see any cash. You boys see any cash?”
“No, ma’am,” Emmerson said.
“You listen to me, Rumor.” Rebecca lowered herself and took Rumor’s hands. “I’ve been a police officer since I was twenty-one years old. I trust my instincts. I know when someone is lying to me and I knew you weren’t telling us the whole truth at times. I know you’re telling it to us straight now. I get why you did what you did and if I were in your shoes, I might have done exactly the same thing. Right now, my job is to nail these bastards to the wall. Your job is to live your life without having to do it in fear. When you drove into town, there was a sign welcoming you to Lighthouse Cove. Do you remember what that sign said?”
“Everyone needs a safe harbor to sail into,” Rumor whispered.
“That’s right. And we’re your safe harbor.” Rebecca squeezed her hands. “There is nothing in what you told me that would make me want to haul you in for any kind of questioning or arrest you. All I ask of you now is that you don’t leave town. That you work with us and let my son protect you because I’m ordering him both as his mother and his boss to stay at your side twenty-four seven until we arrest Tony and Tom and take down their drug ring. Deal?”
“I can do that,” Rumor said. “I don’t want to see anyone else die because of me.”
“Don’t let me ever hear you say that this is your fault again.” Rebecca arched a brow. “Just because you’re the one who pissed them off doesn’t mean you’re responsible. If it wasn’t you, it would be someone else. Assholes like this don’t need much of a reason to flex their tiny muscles and kill people.” She stood. “Now, I have work to do.” She turned her attention to Emmerson. “You’re stuck to her like glue, got it?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Emmerson nodded.
“I’ll be in touch.” Rebecca squeezed Emmerson’s shoulder before marching off around the side of the house.
“Who was that woman and what did she do with our mother?” Rhett raised his beer. “Damn, that was wild.”
“I like this side of Mom.” Miles smiled. “Almost makes me want to be a cop and work for her.”
Emmerson laughed. “Trust me, once this case is over, she’ll be back to her old self.”
Rumor leaned back, nursing her beer. She didn’t know if she wanted to join in with the boys and laugh.
Or bury her head and cry like a fucking baby.
A phone buzzed.
All three men pulled theirs out.
“I’m out of here,” Rhett said.
“Me too.” Miles stood.
