My lips twist. “You’re not the only one.”
* * *
It takes several hours to unravel the massive knot around Isabelle’s arrest, kidnapping, and how it relates to a three-year long battle between Isaac, Col Petretti, and Theresa. By the time I’ve been instructed by the head of my division to hand my findings to the local detective running the case, the sun has set hours ago. I’m not happy I was pulled from Isabelle’s case, but my disdain lessened when Ryan offered to keep me in on the case.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to follow you to the hospital? I can give you a ride back to your apartment.” Ryan’s glacier-blue eyes scan Isaac’s sportscar. “Or a tow when his piece of shit breaks down.”
I laugh. I like Ryan. . . when he’s not pissing on my turf.
“Nah, it’s good. My apartment isn’t far from the hospital, but I’ll hang around for a few, check the scene.”
Ryan nods, but his eyes reveal he thinks I’m full of shit. I am. I’m clocking out the instant I see Regan. I’ve been seeking an in to speak to her for weeks, and tonight may be my one and only shot. I’m not giving that up for anything.
I wait for Ryan’s unmarked cruiser to disappear into the abyss before sliding into Isaac’s car. I’ve worked undercover many times during my years at the Bureau, but this is the first time I’ve felt like a fraud. This isn’t me. A fancy car that smells of expensive leather and cologne isn’t me.
Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to update the car I have now, but I’ll never own one that costs me a decade’s worth of wages. I have Isla and Addison’s schooling to pay before I can think about a better means of transport.
Speaking of Dane’s girls, one is calling me now.
“Hey, I was just thinking about you guys.” My smile radiates in my words. “Are the girls getting ready for bed?”
“They would, if they had a bed to sleep in.” Kristin’s voice is snarky and brimming with exhaustion. The reason behind her unusual composure comes to light when she says, “We’ve been knocking the past hour. Did you text me the right address?”
Oh fuck.With everything happening this evening, I forgot they were driving down this week to spend Christmas with me. With Isaac’s case picking up steam, I couldn’t take time off, so Kristin offered to bring the girls to me.
“I thought you were coming Tuesday?”
Kristin sighs. “The girls were too eager to wait, so we left early. If a couple of extra days inconveniences you, we can stay at a hotel?”
“No!” I shout. “They traveled fourteen hours to see me, so let them see me.” My eyes drop to the clock in Isaac’s leather dashboard. “I’ll be there in ten, fifteen minutes max.”
I push Isaac’s car to the absolute limit, punishing it like he did on our way to Harbortown. It reveals some very interesting facts, the most significant being that I’ve zipped past two patrol cars at a speed well above the designated limit, yet they didn’t pull me over. If that doesn’t show Isaac is corrupt, I don’t know what will.
Kristin, Isla, and Addison slide out of a white sedan when they spot Isaac’s sportscar gliding down the road. The tint is so dark, I doubt they know it’s me inside. His ride is just too impressive; you can’t help but stare when it’s in your midst.
Addison squeals when I slide out of the driver’s seat. A mix of fruity shampoo and candy filters into my nose when she leaps into my arms. She giggles like she did any time my beard tickled her chin, but my two-day-old stubble is more scratchy than soothing.
“Hey, baby girl. I’ve missed you.”
I squeeze her tightly before tugging Isla to my thigh for a one-handed hug. I’d like to greet her as exuberantly as Addison, but we’re still working through the walls she built when she thought I was trying to replace her dad.
“What happened to your minivan?” I ask Kristin when she drags an overstuffed suitcase from the back of a brand-spanking new Audi.
“I wasn’t sure if she’d make the trip, so we rented a car.” She winks, her mood picking up with her smile. “The sales rep kindly offered me a free upgrade.” She jiggles her breasts, ensuring I can’t miss how the offer was awarded.
“You?” Her eyes stray to Isaac’s pride and joy, which outshines her vehicle by a mile. The thought annoys me more than it pleases me.
I return my eyes to Kristin. “I’ll explain everything after we get the girls in bed. It’s late.”
Her lips thin, but she dips her chin, agreeing with my proposal. It might not be late by adult standards, but for two little girls who spent the whole day traveling, it’s beyond bedtime.
“It smells in here,” Isla grumbles when we enter my apartment. It’s the same one I had when Regan slept over, but with most of my time spent at the office, my housekeeping has gone a little awry.
“It does,” I agree, smiling. “But it should clear when we open a few windows.”
Placing Addison down, I do exactly that. I then gather an old pizza box, an empty frosting container, and a handful of soda cans off the coffee table and dump them into the trash.
“There you go, just like new.”
