“I know. I came to tell you I love you and I’m cooking steak tonight.”
“Cody…” Not a good idea, considering TJ was about to go and arrest Cass.
“I’ll be celebrating.”
“They will more than likely lose the house. Cassie will be homeless.”
“Will she?” Cody arched an eyebrow. “You’d see my sister out on the streets?”
“That’s a low fucking blow, Cody. You know I would never do that to her.”
Cody shrugged. “You or Carter will take her in. As for Emily, she can rot in a field somewhere.” Cody’s face hardened. “She deserves it.”
“She’s your mother.”
“And? Knowing your husband is sending your son off to some camp and doing nothing about it makes you a mother? I guess she is, then.”
TJ closed his eyes and shook his head. “Cody—”
“I’ll go. I hate him. I hate them both, but I love you. I’m sorry you have to do this.” TJ opened his eyes and looked up at Cody. Cody shrugged and glanced away. “I’m not saying sorry for him being arrested, though. You reap what you sow. Isn’t that the saying?”
“You need to go, Cody. You can’t be here.” TJ stood and grabbed his pistol from the drawer. “Cody. Go. Your being here could compromise the evidence.”
Cody nodded and grabbed the door handle, then paused. “I love you. I know this is difficult for you. I’ll be waiting when you get home.”
TJ didn’t respond until Cody had closed the door and then all he did was sag back in his chair. Cass Paarman. Someone he’d thought he’d known but clearly didn’t, given everything he had found out in the last couple of weeks. First Cody and now this. What else was there?
“Sheriff.”
TJ slowly raised his head and saw Miles waiting for him. Standing, he checked his pistol and holstered it, then grabbed his hat and put it on. “Let’s do this.”
“One of us can take the lead. It doesn’t have to be you.”
“No.” TJ walked past Miles and ignored the looks cast his way. “Bates! Savon! You’re with us.” Stopping at Taylor’s desk, he said, “I need you and Simpson to bring Angelo Ricci in on charges of embezzlement.” He placed the paperwork on the desk. “Take any additional backup you need.”
Taylor picked up the papers, then looked up at TJ. “I’ll do it now.”
TJ nodded, then walked outside, jumped into the car and waited for Miles to get in, then pulled out of the parking lot, making the fifteen minute drive to Cass’ home. The entire journey there, neither of them spoke, but that didn’t stop TJ’s mind racing over what he could have missed in all the years he’d known Cass and Emily. Had Cass dropped hints, knowing TJ wouldn’t pick up on them? Had he and Angelo laughed about it?
TJ parked and stared at the house, then got out and waited for Miles to reach him. They looked at each other as Bates and Savon arrived, then TJ walked over to the front door and knocked. He only had to wait a minute before Emily opened.
Showing his badge, he asked, “Is Cass here?” Emily looked past him to the others, then sagged and opened the door wide. “Where is he?”
“In his office.”
TJ walked past her and went to Cass’ office. He didn’t bother knocking but walked straight inside. Cass looked up at him and sat back in his chair. “TJ—”
“I’m placing you under arrest for embezzlement. Miles.”
Miles stepped forward and began to read Cass his rights. Cass shouted at TJ and leaped over the desk, trying to grab him, but Bates and Savon intervened and soon they were all trying to hold Cass down as he fought to get away.
A fist caught TJ’s eye, but he held on until Bates snapped the cuffs on Cass’ wrists. Cass glared at him from the floor. “You fucking cocksucker. It’s your fault Cody’s like you. You fucking pervert. What did you do to make Cody like you? Did you suck his dick when he was a kid? Did you lure him in with sick promises?”
“That’s enough,” Miles snapped. “Get him out of here.”
Bates and Savon dragged Cass up from the floor while he screamed obscenities at TJ. “You destroyed my son! If you’d let me send him to that camp, he would have been normal, but youstopped that. How many times did you fuck him when he was a kid? You sick, perverted bastard!”
“And thankfully we all have body cams on to record all of this,” Miles muttered as Bates and Savon dragged Cass outside.
