Page 191 of Triggered By Love
Sure enough, Saul admitted he’d slipped the card from the camera while Blade and Trent were helping Avery. He’d picked up the purse she dropped and peeled open an unused condom just enough to slip the chip inside.
“You understand why I did it?” Saul asked, sounding worried. “If the police chief switched the guns, he’d come after me. I didn’t trust Blade or Jason or any cop.”
“Why didn’t you correct Ivanna when she said Ernesto had a toy gun?” Avery asked.
“I didn’t want her to know the rest of the story. She’s safer if the murderers think she didn’t know. I was just as shocked when I saw the switch. Joselito must have seen it too, but he didn’t keep his mouth shut. He went to the after-party to confront Larry Leach. He told me he believed Larry Leach ordered the hit.”
“Larry and Harvey. They might have been in cahoots,” Avery said. “Do you think they were both blackmailing the people in Orson’s videos?”
“Definitely. That’s what was so complicated,” Saul said. “They gave each other alibis because they look so much alike.”
“And they wore wraparounds, aviators, and designer cross-trainers to distract,” Avery said. “Only they got too attached to the mirrored cross-trainers.”
“The big mistake,” Jason said, kissing the side of her head.
“What are you guys going to do next?” Saul asked. “Should I disappear?”
“That’s up to you,” Avery said. “We’re going to upload the photos into the cloud and let people know if anything happens to any of us, including you, Ivanna, and Trent, the photos will go out to news media automatically. Looks like Jason and I are back to New York on the next flight.”
“Sorry, I ruined your vacation,” Saul said. “But it’s a load off my mind. You’re not too upset with Ivanna, are you?”
“Nah, she can keep selling those cat-eye glasses on Shopahol,” Avery conceded. “The ones on AlleyCat’s store, but she absolutely cannot sell porcupine Mohawks.”
“Not even for little old prickly me?” Jason kissed the side of her head after she ended the call with Saul.
“Especially not you. Porcupines are so last year,” she giggled and went to book return flights.
* * *
The next day,Avery and Jason were on their way back to New York City after spending the shortest time ever on Alex’s resort.
It was refreshing anyway, even after the long hours on the phone with her father and his lawyer, explaining everything and planning on how to get the police chief and other high officials.
And then, there was the nightcap which lasted most of the night. The only thing Jason had unpacked was his box of condoms.
Avery was content, although seeing the last photos of her and Brando was bittersweet. Intellectually, she knew she had to let him go.
He would always be with her. He loved her so much.
As soon as the airplane reached cruising altitude, she took off her seatbelt and cuddled with Jason. He didn’t like first class because of the console in between the passengers. This time, they got the two seats next to the window, and after lifting the armrests, she could practically be in his lap.
“I finally feel like I can relax,” she said, letting out a long sigh.
“The trials are going to be stressful,” Jason said. “We will both have to take the witness stand.”
“I know, but at least you didn’t do anything wrong.” She tapped him lightly on his chest. “You’re a good cop, Jason.”
“That is a high honor coming from you.” His grin was humble. “It’s always a fine line between reacting too fast and with too much force and screwing it up and letting the victim be hurt.”
“I trust your reflexes and instinct.” She nuzzled against him and held his hand. “I’m glad you never gave up the investigation.”
“Not when it comes with you as a fringe benefit.” He snuggled with her as they settled down to catch up on the sleep they’d missed the night before.
Avery was happy, and so was Jason now that Harvey Leach was caught and all the molesters were stopped. With Overton and Orson Leach dead, she might not even have to be exposed. She would have to heal, and so would Jason. Knowing Tatiana was on her side helped bigly, and she wished she could be friends with her someday. She said a silent prayer for the fiery woman who turned out to be a sexual justice vigilante.
Tatiana had also been good for Jason’s recovery. After their conversation about not feeling responsible for someone else’s bad decisions, he started dealing with the misplaced guilt he felt over his mother’s death.
Now, it was Avery’s turn to give him what he truly needed. She loved him, but she needed permission from Brando to move on. She was waiting for a sign, but had a sign or many signs come and gone already?
