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What the hell am I going to do with her even if I do find her? Keep her like a pet? I can’t take her home and how do I explain her to Mom?

Shit.

Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath, drive one more lap around the area and then head home. She obviously doesn’t want to be found and my father still needs to be dealt with.

I wheel into the precinct and take up two spots, drawing some dirty looks from the officers standing around outside. I don’t give a fuck. I just need to get to Emily and figure out what’s going on. Then…I need to put space between us.

This animalistic urge to protect her is no good. Fear for her safety has shaken loose memories I want to keep locked away and not relive. They are buried with my father, and there they will stay.

Getting out, I button up my jacket and march for the front doors.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

EMILY

Jen throws out questions followed by accusations, trying to lure me into talking. It won’t work. She is annoying like a gnat. She wasn’t on my radar before, but now…now, I can’t wait to teach her a lesson in manners.

“It is a crime to withhold information in an investigation,” she says again, like this time it will finally scare me.

She leans forward, bracing her hands on the small table between us.

“If you don’t tell me what you know, then I’ll have no choice but to make sure the assault charges stick?”

“It’s become very clear to me that you don’t deserve to wear a badge. I will make sure that it’s stripped away.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“No, unlike you, I don’t do threats. I will get you fired,” I say, sweet as pie, with just a hint of a smile.

The reaction is instant. Jen is too deep in her feelings. She slams her hands down on the metal table.

“Such a temper,” I mock. “You really should speak to someone about that.”

“You think you’re so smart. No wonder Rob couldn’t stand being with you and came running to me.”

I snort, barely holding back a laugh. She’s trying to goad me into reacting again, but I bite my tongue and remain silent, staring into her eyes. She will look fabulous when she can’t move, and her body starts to shut down.

Alden will be here shortly, but even if he doesn’t come, I’ll be fine. Jen has no proof. She sought me out. I don’t have a camera in the store, she doesn’t have body-cam footage, and there are no bruises on her. It’s her word against mine, which, as far as I’m concerned, her word is shit. She is the hussy who was screwing her partner, and I’m the grieving girlfriend. She doesn’t have a leg to stand on.

She suddenly slams her fist down on the metal desk.

“Why won’t you tell me the truth?”

It’s as if I’ve been dropped into the middle of a B-rated cop movie, and I can’t help but laugh.

“What the hell are you laughing at?”

I hit her with a cold stare.

“I think that’s pretty obvious.”

She grabs me by the front of my sweater. Yet another no-no. She’s cracking, and I like it.

“You act all sweet, but I see right through you. You assaulted a police officer. I’ll make sure those charges stick if you don’t tell me what Rob told you.”

“Why is this information so important to you, Jen? And I want the real reason, not the excuse you tried earlier. Tell me, and I may be inclined to answer your questions.”

She loosens her grip, but doesn’t let me go. Once more, proving she thinks with her heart, not her brain.