Page 115 of Sterling Heat

Barnett’s hairline rises as he lifts his head. “No. And you know why.”

Yeah, I did. His mom had done them and then left him with his aunt.

“I’ll get the money back to you somehow. I’ve decided not to go to college in the fall and—.”

“The fuck you aren’t.” I point at him. “You’re going to college. And you’re getting that raise for telling me what you heard.”

His shoulders relax and a sigh of relief covers his face.

“But.” I hold up a finger. “Your pay will be docked until my money is recovered.”

His brows pinch, sensing the disconnect in my offer. I’m going to pay him to pay me, but he’ll be working more hours, giving me his time instead of the cash. Because I have a different employee to fire.

“What was this big score for Rena?” My heart hammers as I clutch the edge of my desk.

He licks his lips. “She was going to scope out a house. Looking for buried treasure.”

“She what?” I stand, forcing my desk chair back and into the wall behind me.

He holds up both hands. “She said no one would get hurt. She’d just get in and get out.”

“How?” I swallow back the bile in my throat as Enya’s home had been broken into, but nothing had been stolen. As Stone pointed out, it’s like the perpetrator walked right in.

“Rena had the code.”

“Did she now?” How the fuck did Rena know the code?

“She said it was probably the kids’ birthday or something . . .” Slowly, realization hits Barnett. “I can’t go to jail, man. I have Bernadette to think about.”

I scowl. “Why would you go to jail?”

“Rena said if I told you, she’d say it was me who went into the house.”

She was fucking blackmailing a kid? Fuck!

I pick up my phone and send a text to Enya. Change the lock code on your house. Immediately.

The command seems silly. After she kicked me out the other night, she probably changed the code instantly, as she should.

The big, bad wolf had no place in her home.

Next, I dial my brother.

“Stone. I have something you should hear.” Then I hand the phone to Barnett.

+ + +

Once Barnett’s confession is given, I send him home with sixty-five dollars in his pocket—the money needed for Bernadette’s monthly prescription—through the back exit. I’ll be closing the bakery myself today. When I step into the main area, Rena gives me a warm smile. Her weird, shadow-like behavior now makes sense.

I walk to the front door and flip the sign to Closed. Then I lock the entrance and turn to face Rena. Crossing my arms, I glare at her. I’d trusted her. I’d even stood up for her with Enya, the very person she betrayed, when my girl has been innocent in everything.

“I’m giving you one chance to be straight with me about the cash and Barnett.” I don’t need to further explain myself. She knows what she’s done.

“He needed the money, and you hadn’t given him a raise.” She’s right on that count and the responsibility falls on me. Just because he’s a kid doesn’t mean his value is any less than any other worker. I’d simply needed someone who could work more hours during the day, and I put that financial business investment on the one person I shouldn’t have trusted.

“You stole from me to pay him.”

Rena shrugs, not betraying a hint of remorse. “It was only the tips.”