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“Have it your way.”
“If you really had any evidence like that, you wouldn’t be running to me wanting to charge Callie Pike with assault with coffee. You’d be trying to have her arrested for arson.”
“Who says it’s Callie?”
I keep my face straight. I can’t let the anger roiling through me show. I will not let Pat Lamone get the upper hand. “Who, then? Who do you think started that fire?”
“I could tell you,” he says, “but what fun would that be? I think my information is worth a lot more than just getting on Donny Steel’s good side.”
“You’ll never be on my good side.”
“Fair enough. I might tell you what you want to know…for a couple hundred grand.”
“This conversation is over. You want to take the Pikes down? Give it your best shot. My entire family will be standing in your way.” I walk swiftly out of the hotel lobby.
I text Callie quickly that I’m not coming back to the office.
Then I text Dale and Brock.
I’m going to the first coordinate now. See you there later.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CALLIE
“I love them all!” Rory gushes. “We live on a ranch. Can’t we take them all home?”
I commiserate with my sister. Every dog in the shelter looks at us with pleading eyes, and they’re all beautiful. They all deserve a good home.
“We can only take two, Ror. But I wish we could take them all.”
“How are we supposed to choose? They’re all wonderful.”
I meet the gaze of what appears to be an Australian shepherd and golden retriever mix. She’s a female, with one brown eye and one blue eye. Instantly, we bond.
“Hey, pretty girl, I think you’re mine.” I gesture to one of the employees. “How old is this one?”
“We think about two.”
“Perfect. I want her.”
“Great! She’s really friendly. I’ll get the paperwork started.”
I stroke her head through the kennel. “We’ll be going home soon, precious. What should your name be?” I regard her golden fur speckled with red and black. “Dusty, I think. You look like you’re flecked with colorful dust.”
“She’s beautiful,” Rory says. “But I still can’t choose.”
“I think you already have.” Rory is absently petting a blond lab mix.
“He is gorgeous, isn’t he?”
“What’s his name?”
“Zach,” she says without hesitation.
“There you have it. You’ve already named him.”
“But all the others…”
