Page 55 of Falling for Her

“The strip club in one hour.” Without giving me a chance to say anything, he disconnects.

I toss my phone on the desk and get up to go to Captain’s office.

“Hey.” I knock and stick my head in. “Randy called. I have to meet him in an hour.”

“Finally. You think he’s got anything?”

“We won’t know until we meet with him.” I lean against the doorjamb. When I was having coffee with Finley this morning, Martinez scheduled an emergency meeting. I had to rush my ass all the way there to be told that the drug runners were tipped off, and there is a leak somewhere. Something I already knew from the gift they left Martinez.

“Go meet him,” Captain huffs out. “Tomorrow, we have that meeting with the team everyone has to attend. Then you get the whole weekend off, so I don’t want to hear or see your face.”

“Wow.” I put my hand to my chest. “I’m hurt.”

“Get the fuck out of here.” He motions with his chin. I turn to walk away. “I want you checking in with Cathy.”

“Got it.” I grab my things and stop at the front desk. “Hey,” I say to Cathy, “I need a car.”

“It’s always ‘I need something’ and never ‘let me give you something,’” she mumbles as she reaches into the drawer. “Lucky number two today.”

“Do you have four by any chance?”

She rolls her eyes and looks into the drawer. “It’s the same car.”

“It’s not.” I take the key from her. “This one has my ass imprint in the driver’s seat from all the time I’ve spent in it.” I smile big. “Have a great night. I’ll be checking in with you when I’m done.”

“Great,” she quips sarcastically, “I can’t wait.”

I call Finley from the car before I start driving. After four rings, her voicemail picks up.

“Hi, you’ve reached . . . well, I’m not just going to tell you my name. You should know who you called, so that is going to be a test. If you don’t say my name as soon as the beep comes, I’m not calling you back. You’ve been warned.”

I shake my head. “Hey, it’s me. I’m not going to tell you who it is. You should know. Anyway, I don’t know if I’ll be home for dinner. I don’t think I’ll be late, but I can’t confirm what time.” I sigh. “I’ll call you when I can. Bye, Finley.” I disconnect and start my drive out to the strip club.

I’m parking the car when the phone rings, and I see it’s Randy again. “I’m here.”

“Shit,” he hisses. “I was on my way, but I think someone is following me.”

“No one is following you. Where are you now?”

“I’m not telling you,” he hisses. It sounds like he’s under a bush or something.

I let out an aggravated breath. “Okay, how is this. How about I meet you at the diner in town? It’s open, and if anyone is following you, they aren’t going to do anything with all those people around. We’ll go in, and I’ll buy you a burger.”

He takes a second to think about it. “Fine. I’ll be there in an hour.”

“An hour?” He has already disconnected.

Half an hour later, I back my vehicle backward in the diner lot, facing the door. I can see through the windows that Randy isn’t there yet.

Time ticks by, and my phone buzzes. I look down to see a text from Finley.

Finley:

I think you left me a message, but I didn’t listen to the whole thing because you didn’t follow the rules. By the way, we’re home.

Me:

I said your name. I just said it at the end. Glad you guys are home. I don’t know how long I’ll be.