Page 37 of Chasing Honor

Ethan had already texted me to tell me he’d called in an order at a sub shop around the corner from the station. All I could think about on the drive to the restaurant was the picture Lenox had given me. I was dying to get home and study it more carefully. I didn’t know Buck Sully all that well, and depending on who you spoke to, they’d tell you he was a great hero or an absentee husband and father. My guess was he was somewhere in the middle. I glanced in the rearview mirror and looked at Carson. I was happy she had a great dad.

With sandwiches in hand Carson and I walked into the station. The desk clerk buzzed us through and gave me directions to Ethan’s desk. Not that she needed to, Carson led the way, telling me all about her Uncle Lorenz and Aunt Maria. She told me they had dinner over there all the time, and I wondered if that was part of Ethan’s problem. I’d barged into his life and disrupted his routine. Not only with Carson but with his friends too.

“Daddy,” Carson called out, and before I could stop her, she took off across the room.

“Hey, Squirt.” He swung her up into his arms, and she immediately started to wiggle out.

“Ouch. Your stuff is poking me.”

He set her on her feet, and a tall, dark, and handsome man cleared his throat before she beelined it towards him. Whoa, what was it with all the good-looking men in this town?

“Hiya, Princess Rose, long time no see. What, did you forget about your old Uncle Lorenz?”

“No, silly. Meet Honor.” She pulled his hand forcing him to turn in my direction.

His head swiveled between me and Ethan before landing on me again. He pushed his hand in my direction.

“Oscar Lorenz,” he offered.

“Nice to finally meet you, Oscar. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Same here, but it seems our boy here has been keeping secrets from his partner.” He shook my hand, and I wasn’t sure what his comment meant. He threw an accusatory glance in Ethan’s direction. “Just all right, huh?” Lorenz shook his head and turned back to me. “Thanks for coming all the way down here with our dinner.”

“No problem.”

Ethan was still staring at me with the same funny look he’d had all week. I was beginning to feel like a lab rat.

“I guess we’ll be on our way,” I announced to no one in particular.

The look of indifference had changed, and Ethan’s gaze went over my shoulder and looked pissed, really, really pissed.

“What do we have here? Officer Shit-For-Brains has a hot wife and a cute little girl.”

I quickly shoved Carson behind me, shielding her from the handcuffed man’s view. The venom in his tone sent a chill down my back.

“Keep walking, asshole,” Ethan said to the man, then to the officer guiding the suspect. “Take him away.”

“Too late, Officer Ethan Lenox. I already saw them and I’ll be out of lock up in under forty-eight hours.”

Ethan moved with lightning speed and was in the man’s face in a heartbeat.

“You threatening me, motherfucker?”

Carson stiffened behind me, and I reached back, anchoring her tightly. I was stuck in place with nowhere to go.

“Not a threat, officer. Just telling you, I’ll be walking out of here soon.”

“This is your only warning. Stay the fuck away from my family.”

“Or?” the man taunted.

“Or you’ll find yourself not breathing.”

“You threatening me?” The asshole had changed the tone of his voice, trying to sound like a victim.

“Goddamn right I am.”

“We’ll see, copper.”