Page 59 of What Started In Deception

She frowned as she unbuckled her seat belt. “What does that mean?”

“That little honey is mine.”

“Then who does this belong to?”

“The government.”

Her frown was back, entirely surprised. “Oh.”

“I got the truck a couple of years ago after one of the squads executed a drug raid. They confiscated it and gave it a new purpose.”

“Does that happen often?”

He nodded. “Criminals lose their property for doing shitty things, and agents get new work vehicles, which doesn’t cost the taxpayers a dime.”

“Huh.” Getting out as he did, she smoothed her pale-blue floral minidress, listening to the muffled sounds of the city beyond the cement and concrete barrier.

“Should we drop off our stuff and go see your grandma?”

“Sure.” She grabbed her bag from the back seat as Ty did the same, unable to deny that she was eager to check out his apartment.

They walked the few steps to the elevator and got in, making it to street level moments later.

“This is my building here,” he said as they stepped out onto the sidewalk and into the summer heat, then into the air-conditioning of the upscale lobby as Ty swiped them in.

“This is really nice.”

“Yeah, it’s certainly not bad.”

They hurried into another elevator before it closed, heading for the third floor.

Seconds later, they got out and headed two doors down.

Ty stopped, taking out his keys and unlocking the door, then opening it for her to walk in before him. “Welcome to my place.”

She stepped into the tiny entryway, immediately smelling Ty’s aftershave in the air as she set her bag off to the side.

He set his keys on an old table and his bag next to hers, then locked them in. “I think you’ll find that things are pretty basic. My roommate and I don’t spend much time here.”

Her gaze whipped to his. “You have a roommate?”

He nodded. “Davey. Another agent who works white-collar crimes. He and I split the rent. I haven’t laid eyes on him in three months.”

“Oh.”

“Make yourself at home.”

“Thank you,” she said, walking down the short hallway, stopping in the open-concept room, noting the dark laminate flooring, leather couch, coffee table, and big-screen TV, then the small two-person table tucked in the corner of the dining area.

Ty followed. “Like I said, it’s pretty basic.”

“It’s certainly nice enough.” But as she said so, she noted that there were no pictures on the walls or accents of any kind anywhere—a far cry from Ty’s staged condo in Oliver Heights. “Which room is yours?”

“That one right through there. We both have our own bathrooms, so that’s pretty nice.”

“Do you mind if I peek?”

He shook his head. “Go ahead.”