AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yeah, of course. You know we’ll do whatever we can,” Blaze returned.
“What’s going on?” Pax asked.
Silence fell over the room briefly while Banks looked in my direction. He searched my face, and when he found whatever it was he was looking for, he returned his attention to his coworkers and said, “Last summer, Lamise’s dog went missing after her fiancé, Graham, died while out on a hike. At the time, it was believed Graham had died from a snake bite, but as it turns out, there’s enough evidence to suggest foul play. The Steel Ridge PD has opened a case, because it looks like Graham might have been murdered.”
Curiosity and solemnity washed over both of their expressions, and it was Blaze who asked, “How could there be such a discrepancy about how he passed?”
Banks went on to share the news I’d given him last night, the same news Detective Shaw had given me. It was too tough to tell conclusively at this point what occurred first—the snake bite or the head trauma.
“What has led anyone to believe there’s been foul play, though?” Pax pressed.
“At first, there wasn’t anything. It seemed everything had lined up for this to be merely an unfortunate accident. It was only recently when Lamise discovered a video her fiancé recorded on his phone just hours before he died, and he made it clear he believed he was in danger. Lamise, too.”
Both men nodded their understanding as Banks turned in my direction again. “Would you mind showing them the video?”
I shook my head, pulled out my phone, and brought the video up on the display before I slid the phone across the table. Blaze tapped on the screen, and the video started to play.
Not wanting to break down as I listened to Graham’s tortured voice again, I focused on Rhys. Banks seemed to realize what I needed, because he quickly passed his son offto me. I occupied myself with Rhys, doing my best to block out the video.
Shortly after it finished, Blaze asked, “Do we have any idea what the mix-up at the dog park was?”
“No,” Banks answered.
“When you called me yesterday, you told me there was a rescue mission ahead of us,” Pax started. “I can only assume that was about the dog.”
Nodding, Banks explained, “Lamise was at the cemetery near the dog park yesterday morning, and when she left the cemetery, she saw Henry, her Boxer. He’s got some unique markings, so that’s why he stood out. She called out for him, and he reacted. When he saw her, it became obvious he knew who she was. Unfortunately, the man who had Henry took off before Lamise could get to them.”
“Do you have a picture of your dog, Lamise?” Blaze asked.
“Yes, I have a bunch of them on my phone,” I said.
Banks handed me the phone, and I pulled up a folder I’d created just for my dog. “This whole folder is of Henry.”
Paxton took the phone, scrolled through some of the photos, and finally said, “I’ll go there.”
“What?” Blaze asked.
“I’ll start taking my dogs to the park and see what I can come up with,” he clarified.
Banks chimed in. “That’s kind of what I’d been thinking we could do as a starting point in this. With pictures of Henry, you’ll know what you’re looking for. And since you’ve got a reason to be in a dog park given that you’ve got actual dogs, I’m guessing nobody will question your presence there. If the people who are connected to Graham are still visiting that spot, it’s likely you’re not going to stand out as odd or someone to be wary of.”
This had already been an emotional twenty-four hours, but I’d have been lying if I said it didn’t make me feel even more moved when Paxton offered to step up for me like he just had.
Or, I guess he was likely just doing it because it was his job and because Banks had asked him to, but ultimately, I was the one who’d benefit from his selflessness.
Deciding it would be best for me to redirect my focus to Rhys and stop paying attention to the men surrounding the table, I started whispering and playing with Rhys. He gobbled it up, and I loved the distraction it offered me.
Before I knew it, there was movement happening around me. That’s when I realized the men were done talking and were standing from their seats. I did the same, holding Rhys firmly in my arms, and Banks was quick to pull my chair back to give me space to move.
Everyone moved to the exit, and once we were outside the room, Banks said, “I’m just going to run down to Blaze’s office for a minute while we reach out to the Steel Ridge PD. You can join me or hang with Avalon.”
I glanced over at the reception desk and saw Avalon was looking in our direction with a dreamy expression on her face. I didn’t quite know what was prompting it, but I figured I’d rather be with the woman who had hearts in her eyes instead of the guys who were being serious and foreboding. “Rhys and I will visit with Avalon while you handle whatever you need to handle.”
He nodded and replied, “I won’t be long.”
“Okay.”
In another move that seemed so effortless for him, Banks leaned down and gave me a kiss before planting one on Rhys’s head. Then he took off, and I made my way toward Avalon’s desk.
