Page 105 of Badges
She lets out a long exhale. “Yea, Dad. I got it.”
It doesn’t stop her from sending me a dirty look when he turns from her.
I’m tempted to stick out my tongue. It’s a miracle I hold it in.
“Alright, lecture over. Time to go.” He gestures her forward, then turns back to me.
Pressing a fevered kiss to my lips, he puts his finger on my credit card. “The Halloween party at Hilltop is next week. See if you can find a costume you like.”
“Yes, daddy.” I chase his lips for one more taste of him before he’s gone.
I have an idea that I think he’s going to love.
Still a shit show
Wade
“It’s a fucking shitshow,” Pete growls, tossing his glasses onto his desk. “She’s blocked the injunctions and the warrant. I’m waiting to hear from the Montana Supreme Court justice to see if I can go over her head. Why in the hell do I need permission to stop someone from grandstanding and keeping their kid from being arrested?”
It’s only the last few weeks that I appreciate Judge Simmon’s tenacity.
“She’s good at it. How many times did I pick up Matt for beating the shit out of his wife, before and after their divorce, and she got them all kicked out of court?” I tilt my hat back to wipe my face.
Would I be that kind of parent? I just can’t see it in that case.
But I understand the drive to want to protect my kid.
“I’ve got him narrowed down to being here in the state. That’s the closest I’ve been able to get.” I guess if I started tailing the judge there’s a chance she’d lead me to him.
At this rate, I’d have better odds at winning the lottery.
Pete stares at me in silence, breathing hard enough to make a thin whistle through his mustache. “I have an idea.” He jerks into movement, pulling out his phone.
“Can it be that you went to college with the Speaker of the House? Maybe the head of the CIA?” I’d take a hacker without scruples at this point.
“Close.” He raises his nose to look through the bifocals of his glasses. “Let me make this call. We might have something moving by tomorrow.”
I push up from my chair, then pause at the door. “One more thing.” I’m not entirely sure I want to push my luck. “Since we have this asshole pegged down, what are the chances of lightening Elena’s sentence?” I’d love to be able to offer her the best gift of all, freedom.
He squints at me with his finger poised. “Let me think about it.”
It’s all I can ask for. After dipping my hat, I close his office.
I’ve done everything I can for now.
There’s no trail, no evidence for where Max could be hiding. There’s a part of me that wants to march down to the county courthouse and interrogate her myself.
Except I know I’d be the one in trouble.
I hate politics.
A fake pumpkin makes a weak moan when I set off the motion detector near the main desk.
Oh yea.
It’s Halloween.
Elena has been secretive about the costume she chose and the suspense is killing me.
