Page 59 of Hot Damn
“Certainly. And I’ve called the investigator who looked into the incident with your daughter’s car. He’s on his way too.”
“Thanks. I’ll be there soon.” Disconnecting the call I debate calling Natalie Redding. But then I think about the PI and figure he’ll have done that; if not I can do it after I check that Cami is okay. Check on Whit.
It takes a lifetime to get to Whit’s school. In reality it’s less than the fifteen minutes it usually takes to get from the practice rink to Hannon Grove. I have to remind myself I’m entering a school and slow down even though every instinct I have is screaming for me to go faster.
Pulling up in front of the admin building I barely get the truck in park and the brake set before I’m bounding out the door.
Cami is sitting on the steps, her butt on the third from bottom, feet on the ground and the look she’s shooting the EMT would have a lesser person backing away. When I get closer, I can’t stop the slight curl of my lips.
“I told you I’m fine. I did not hit my head and the only things bruised are my butt and my pride.” Cami sees me coming and her eyes immediately dart to the right.
Following her gaze, I see Whit talking to a couple of men in plain clothes. It doesn’t take a uniform to tell me they’re the police. Stopping next to Cami, I lower myself to a crouch.
“Hey.”
“Hi.” The smile she gives me is strained.
“You sure you’re okay?” My level of concern for this woman is something I’ve only ever felt for three people. The first betrayed me in the worst way, the second proved my trust was well placed, and the third is the light of my life.
“Honestly, I’m fine. But I broke my heel. And I think my laptop is toast.”
“Your laptop?” I look around and see the computer on the ground about ten feet away. “What happened to your laptop?”
“She had it in her hand when we came outside. Part of the reason she fell all the way down the stairs was because she tried to throw it at the guy who grabbed my arm.”
I look up to see Whit standing beside me, a frown on her face. Glancing back at Cami I say, “You threw your computer at him?”
“Well, I didn’t have a baseball bat handy, so yes, I threw it at his head.” She grins, the curve of her lips somehow wicked andI’m reminded again how much she’s done to protect my daughter.
“I’ll buy you a new one.”
“Don’t bother, I’ve got a couple and thankfully that’s the oldest of my collection. Besides, I’d gladly sacrifice a laptop to protect Whitney.” Turning her gaze from me to my daughter she says in a tone meant to convey Whit better not argue, “Sit down and let them check your arm and chin.”
“I’m okay. You barely bumped me with your elbow on the way past and his grip didn’t really clamp down before I pulled away.”
I’m on my feet, finger pointing at the stairs. “Sit. Let them check you out. Now.”
Whit rolls her eyes but does as I say.
“I’ll be back in a sec. I want to have a word with the police and the principal.” Who all happen to be talking over where Whit had been when I first noticed her.
Marching over, adrenaline still pumping through my veins despite seeing Cami and Whit are okay, I’m sure I look like a tiger hunting its prey.
Except these men shouldn’t be my target and with great effort I use the skills from years of taking the ice where tempers can flare at the drop of a glove, and tone down the anger vibrating through every cell.
“Gentlemen.” I hold out a hand. “Beckett Higgison. Whit’s father, Cami’s…friend.” I stumble over the last because it suddenly occurs to me I don’t know what Cami and I are. Technically she’s my boss but she doesn’t have anything to do with my job and?—
“Higgison, we spoke the other night. Detective Clark. And this is my partner, Detective Anders.” The tall blond shakes my hand, his grip firm.
Shaking the dark-haired Anders’ hand, I say, “I’d say it’s a pleasure to meet you both but as you can imagine…”
“Yes. I would much have preferred attending last week’s fan event over this.”
Not wanting to get sidetracked, I ask about the reason they’re here. “So what do you know? Have you found the man who grabbed Whit?”
“No. He’s still out there but we know who we’re looking for.”
“You do?”
