Page 20 of Badges
She’s being petty as shit. What claim does she have on me when she’s the one who’smarried?
But she chases me, reaching up to drape her hands behind my neck until she’s practically hanging off me. “I’ll come by tonight, and you can tell me all about it.” Her fingers walk down my collar, then she drops her palm and cups my nuts. Firmly. “See you later.”
With a wink, she turns and leaves.
God fucking hell on a stick.
She didn’t even seem bothered by the fact she didn’t take care of Elena.
I guess I’ll just have to make sure I do it.
“I really think she’s the key to opening up this walnut.” I lean back in the wooden chair across from the District Attorney.
He pushes his glasses up his nose and twists his mouth downward. “This evidence against her is pretty indisputable. There’s extensive video footage, and she was arrested on scene after the explosion trying to run down a woman.”
“Well—” I clear my throat, letting the legs of my seat hit the floor. “—she was actively trying to avoid hitting Libby, that’s why she plowed into the concrete barrier.”
I’ll admit, it’s pretty damning.
“Wade, why would I hold off for some mysterious bigger fish when I have her?” Pete looks over his rims with a wry expression. “For all we know, those two idiots that got killed in the grain silo this past winter were behind it all.”
“Nope, I’d wager a dollar that there’s someone bigger bankrolling all this shit. They’re focused on Black Gulch, and they’re pulling strings all over. This girl—” I gesture at the folder laid open on his desk. “—is the first one that can start to put the pieces together. We’re talking tens, if not hundreds of thousands in cattle, damages, and more. People have died, Pete. We need to find out who’s really at the root of this shit and yank their asses out.”
His fingers steeple and press against his lips. “I get it. Okay, I’ll talk to her lawyer.” He flips the manilla cover closed, then slaps his palm over it. “This means you need to get her to spill itall, Wade. And what kind of flight risk is she if we need her to testify?”
The proof that she’s been living out of her car for the last few weeks was pretty obvious.
Blankets, pillows, and a pile of receipts made for a neon path to follow her footsteps.
“Fuck, I don’t know.” Does she have a house in Texas? I haven’t been able to find any records.
“Wait, you’re putting all this weight on her, but she could just fucking disappear tomorrow?” He shakes his head. “Nope. Find her a place that’ll keep an eye on her, or she’s going down to State.”
If she goes down to the big facility, I can’t protect her.
Damn it.
“I’ll find a way.”
Peter tilts his head, his jaw ticking. “She must be important for you to try so hard. You’re usually of the mindset to toss ‘em all in.We could still find whoever is orchestrating things without her getting off so light. What gives?”
I let out a long sigh and readjust my hat as I slump into the leather cushions. “She’s the kid of a family friend.”
“Hmm. Must be a close friend.” His phone interrupts his judging of me. “I have to take this. Okay, I’ll see what I can do.”
“Thanks. I’ll keep digging.” Pushing myself up, I almost feel a little guilty for not sharing all of the information I have.
I want to find out for sure before I open up that can of worms.
Oh, he does like it
Elena
I’m starting to getto recognize his footsteps before I see him.
So it’s no surprise when I drop the pages of the book I’m holding to see Wade squinting at me from the other side of the bars.
“Did you talk to your lawyer?” His amber gaze rakes over me before fixing on my face.
