“Ask your other daughter to help you. I’m confident she can find him. Gotta run.”
“Don’t you dare hang up on—”
“Goodbye.”
Carly had texted her dad, but he never replied.
“No help?” Ashton asked.
“Of course not. That’s why I called your dad.” She gave him the once-over. “You look handsome. Why the suit?”
He moved the jacket to display the Glock tucked into his pants.
She raised a brow. “What’s that for?”
“I want you safe, babe. Do you have your weapon?”
“Not at the moment.”
“Seriously, you should carry it,” he said. “So, what’s with the getup?”
Faux prescription glasses framed her eyes and she wore a brown wig with bangs. “After we meet with your dad, I have another stop.”
“We. We have another stop. We’re back to the buddy system. You like the buddy system.”
She smiled up at him. “I love the buddy system.”
Warren Hott joined them, coffee cup in hand. “Good morning, you two.”
“Hey, Dad.”
“Thanks for meeting us, Warren,” Carly said.
“Why the disguise?” Warren asked.
“I’m working on a case.”
“It’s dangerous, Dad.”
Warren slid his gaze from one to the other. “That didn’t just leave me unsettled. No, not at all. Maybe one day I’ll stop worrying about you kids, but today is not that day.”
They walked into the building, stopping at the front window. Warren introduced himself and asked to speak with the commander. After a brief moment, the officer buzzed them in.
“I have a weapon,” Ashton said. “I’m registered to carry.”
“You’ll have to check that,” said the officer.
The three entered the duty area, which was brimming with activity. After Ashton checked his Glock, an officer led them to the commander’s office.
Commander Morgan Rush shook Warren’s hand. “Always a pleasure to see our former chief prosecutor. How’ve you been, Warren?”
After a moment of small talk, Warren said, “This is my son, Ashton, and his friend, Carly Stone.”
He shook their hands. “What can I do for you?”
“I need a copy of a police report,” Warren said.
Morgan chuckled. “And here I thought you were gonna ask me for the key to the city. I love when it’s this easy. I’ll get one of my officers to help you. Everything else good?”
