Page 58 of Coveted Justice

“I have no idea where she’d go,” Tanner said, rubbing at his temple. He could feel an Abby-sized headache beginning to bloom there like so many in the past. “She doesn’t have any family around here except for Emily.”

“I’m not going to lie. This looks bad for her. It looks like she’s fleeing.”

Tanner couldn’t argue the point. It did look suspicious, and it wasn’t going to help her with the public.

He wasn’t so sure he wanted to continue with this investigation, but he didn’t have much of a choice. If she was in the news, he was, too. He needed to find out who killed Marty Parnham as soon as possible.

And if it was Abby, he wouldn’t hesitate to turn her over to Sam.

Amanda couldn’t stand to hear that rude reporter asking her dad about his drinking. Again. Hadn’t he already answered that question about a million times? And then to ask him to take a test to prove it? The audacity. He didn’t have to prove shit to Arnold Hudson or anyone.

Not wanting to be around it, she climbed into the back of the SUV, the dark tinted windows hiding her from sight. She didn’t want the press asking her any questions either. She couldn’t be as calm and polite as her father.

She was fiddling on her phone, texting Lizzie when the car door opened, letting the sunshine spill into the vehicle. Josh climbed in next to her, closing the door behind him.

“Are we hiding?” he asked, peering over her shoulder to see who she was texting. She held up the phone so he could see the screen.

“No. Yes. I thought I’d come in here and talk to Lizzie.”

“Tell her I said hi.”

“I will.”

Amanda tapped out the message and Lizzie immediately responded.

“She says hi back.”

“What are you guys talking about?”

“Plans for my birthday.”

She was going to turn nineteen very soon. Her mom wanted to throw a huge party to celebrate since most of their friends were still in town after the fundraiser.

“What does the birthday girl want as a present?”

“The usual. World peace. A really cool pair of shoes.”

“In that order?”

“Preferably.”

She liked that Josh had a sense of humor and that he seemed to get hers as well. She could relax around him and say anything she wanted without worrying that he would think she was weird.

Although I think that I probably am weird. But not in a bad way.

“I know that you’re upset.”

She paused, her finger hovering over the screen. She didn’t want to get upset again. She was tired of it, and it didn’t change anything.

“I’m not upset.”

Josh smiled and shook his head.

“I think that you are. That reporter pissed you off. If you’re not upset, then you’re angry.”

“I am mad but it’s not a productive emotion.”

“Because they keep bringing up your dad’s past.”

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