Page 54 of On the Chase
Twisting in her seat, she crossed her arms and locked eyes with him. “Not necessarily.”
“They blew up my truck.”
“Circumstantial.”
“What?” He blinked at her. “That’s not what circumstantial means.”
“Sure it is. Next flimsy argument?”
“The Rack and Ruin member said so.”
“Please.” She flicked her fingers at him. “Like you can take the word of a felon who beats up his wife.”
Jules made a tiny choking sound.
“That asshole at Otto’s place pointed a gun at you and said he was going to kill me for the money.”
With a shrug, Grace flipped her hair over her shoulder. The strands fanned out, sliding over his arm. He forced himself to focus on the argument—theinsaneargument. Even though he knew she was just trying to make him feel better, he couldn’t let her ridiculous assertions slide. “One guy. There were three. Maybe the other two were there for me. We don’t know that.”
“Yes, we do—”
Theo’s phone rang, and they all jumped. He glanced at the screen and then answered. “Hey, Otto.” There was a short pause before he spoke again. “Got it.” Ending the call, he headed for the hallway. “Otto’s coming down the driveway.” As if on cue, Lexi started barking from the front, where she was positioned in Theo’s squad car. Viggy was in the kitchen with them; they’d decided Lexi would be a better alarm in case anyone trespassed.
“I’ll go let him in,” Theo added, disappearing into the hallway.
“As entertaining as this thing”—Jules pointed back and forth between Hugh and Grace—“is, your argument is pointless. We’re not going to hide and leave you to the mercy of hired killers, Hugh. We’re helping. Deal with it.”
Grace smirked at him. “Exactly.”
Even as their words warmed him, the enormity of the situation pressed down, threatening to crush him—crush them all. “You can’t endanger yourselves like that. And the kids…they can’t be involved. What if something happens to one of you because of me?”
Jules flinched as if he’d struck her, but then she lifted her chin. “We’ll figure out how to keep the kids safe. I’m helping, though.”
“Me, too.” He’d never seen Grace look so mulish. It was a surprisingly good look on her. “We’re not going to treat you like a bullet-attracting leper, Hugh. We’re going to bring this Truman bitch down.”
“Exactly.” Jules held out her fist, and Grace bumped it with her own. They both made exploding noises as they opened their fingers.
Frustration and humor warred inside Hugh. They didn’t understand that he’d rather get shot a dozen times than see one of his friends get hurt. He opened his mouth to say…he wasn’t sure what exactly, butsomethingthat would convince them to run and hide a long way away from him and the target on his back.
He was distracted when Theo returned with Otto, however. “How’d processing go?”
“LT wants you to come in,” Otto non-answered, leaning his bulk against the counter.
“I’m aware. That’s why I haven’t returned his fifty calls.”
Grace frowned at Hugh. “Is it wise to blow off your lieutenant like that? Won’t you get in trouble?”
Shrugging with a nonchalance he didn’t feel, Hugh answered as lightly as he could. “If I don’t answer, then I don’t have to ignore a direct order. That would definitely get me into trouble. When he eventually chases me down, I can just say my phone died—which it will eventually, if he keeps calling me.”
“Maybe you should go in,” Grace said. Her fingers were tapping out a silent, anxious rhythm against the table, and Hugh put a gentle hand over hers, stilling them. “You’d be safe there.”
“Can’t hide at the station forever.” The idea of cowering in safety while his partners risked their lives to save his revolted him. It wasn’t an option. He’d just continue dodging his LT’s calls until he fixed the situation…however he was going to manage that. “I just need to track down Truman.”
“Weneed to track down Truman, you mean,” Theo corrected.
With an impatient huff, Hugh opened his mouth to restart the argument, but Otto spoke first.
“Got an idea about that.”
