AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“TJ, you stood her up? Why?”
“I got locked out of the car, it’s a long story. I’m really sorry.”
“You got me in trouble with my wife.”
“Please tell her I’m sorry.”
“Oh,that’llbe fun.” Patrick snorted. “Anyway my buddy ran thatplate for the Hyundai. It’s registered to a Barry Rigel in Exton. I got the address.”
Finally, a break. “Rigel is the legit owner?”
“Yep.”
“Thank you. Can you text me his address?”
“You owe me big-time.”
“I know. Again, I’m sorry.”
I hung up, my heart beginning to pound.
Got you, Barry Rigel.
Chapter Twenty-Three
“We’re home, Mango!” I unlocked my front door, went inside, and set the carrier down on the living room rug. I unzipped the flap and the cat darted out, scooting under the couch. Mercifully, she stopped meowing.
“Good girl!” I crossed to the kitchen, filled a bowl with water, and hurried back to set it in front of the couch. I knelt down and peeked underneath to see her crouching in the darkness, blinking with distrust.
“You can count on me,” I told her, a vow. Just then my phone rang, and I slid it from my back pocket to see it was my mother. “Hi, Mom. What’s up?”
“Honey, can you come to the office? We were burglarized. They turned the place upside down.”
I gasped. “Are you okay?”
“Yes,” my mother answered, but she sounded upset. “We weren’t here.”
“Thank God.” My gut told me it was connected to Lemaire and whatever the hell was going on. “When did this happen?”
“Just come. The cops are on the way.”
“So am I.”
•••
Police cruisers were parked in front of the building entrance, and I hurried into the office. Chairs in the waiting room had been knocked over, and crystal lamps were shattered on the hardwood floor. There was no computer on Sabrina’s desk, and wires strayed from the surge protector like frayed nerves.
I heard voices and the crackle of police radios emanating from down the hall, so I hurried to the conference room, where my father, mother, Gabby, and John sat at the table. Two uniformed cops stood against the wall.
I stiffened reflexively, acutely aware that I was hiding evidence of embezzlement and murder in my pocket. My prison days came back to me at the sight of dark uniforms, gleaming badges, and holstered Glocks.
“Hi, everyone,” I said, masking my reaction.
“TJ, come in.” My father gestured to me. “Officers Dembek and Pastona, this is my son TJ. He’s our firm’s investigator.”
“Nice to meet you, TJ.” Officer Dembek shook my hand with a professional smile. He was tall with strong features and in decent shape, like me if I’d followed the straight and narrow.
“So, we were burglarized?” I took an empty seat and grabbed a water bottle from the table.
