Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 98755 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98755 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
I decide being alone isn’t the best thing for me right now, so instead of going home, I head to the precinct.
Heidi greets me as I walk in, and when I enter the bullpen, I see Lucas hunched over his desk. He hasn’t slept since Kylie was murdered, and although he was removed from the case, he’s still been working on it tirelessly. I’ve been trying my best to avoid his questions about the investigation as best as I can.
“Braxton!” He perks up when he sees me. “There’s something I want you to go over.”
I sigh as I sit on the edge of his desk. “You know you shouldn’t be working on this,” I say under my breath. “If the chief finds out, you’re fucked. You need some rest, Lucas.” He looks worse than me.
“I know. I know. But I found something,” he tells me. “You know how Hope Ivanov came to the funeral?”
I narrow my eyes on his screen as he begins opening files. “So, obviously, they went to art shows together, but I wonder if your involvement was a catalyst for my sister’s death.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, think of the two people who were at recent events with her. Hope Ivanov and Candice, her agent,” he says rapidly. “The week before she was murdered, my sister had a falling out with both.”
My eyebrows dip as he brings up two screens and begins scrolling. He’s brought up text messages. He’s grasping at straws, and I don’t know how to gently tell him that.
“See? Look here. Kylie texted Hope Ivanov and said, ‘Now I understand how you climbed the art world so quickly. It’s all because of your mother.’ And Hope replied with, ‘Who’s number is this?’ An hour later, Candice messaged Kylie, saying she might have to let her go because her work hadn’t been selling as well, and their contract was due to end. What if they’re involved in this together?” His eyes shine with excitement. “Hope obviously told Candice to get rid of her.”
Others are looking our way, and I dip my head to quietly speak with him. “Lucas, I know this is hard for you, and I’m not discrediting that there may be some connection, but this is not enough to indicate they were involved with the murder. If anything, wouldn’t it be the other way around?”
“I’m telling you, I know she’s a part of this. She has to be. It’s so obvious,” he insists. I pity Lucas. This is not enough evidence. If anything, it’s going to get him a temporary dismissal, which he should already be on.
I sigh, knowing what I have to do. He’s going off the rails. Hunting for his sister’s killer is driving him mad. “Hope Ivanov had an alibi that night. She was with Ivy Walker,” I gently remind him.
“It’s all a lie! Of course, they’re going to have each other’s backs. They’re just pompous little bitches who cover for each other!” he yells. I jump to my feet, then grab the collar of his shirt, fisting it. I bite my lip as the words I want to freely say need to be held back. You don’t speak about her that way.
My gaze alone enforces that as I’m conscious of onlookers. “You need to calm down, Lucas. You need to trust me.”
“Trust you?! My sister is dead!” he shouts. “You’re covering for her too, aren’t you?!” He points at me. “You’re in on it! You’re all in on it!”
My fingers curl into his shirt to restrain all my violent thoughts. He’s absolutely fucking cracked. But is he really that far from the truth? His actions might discredit him, but his words hit home for me.
“You need to be careful with these families,” I remind him. “Remember what happened to your friends?” I say even quieter. If he goes further down this road, there will be no coming back. I’m on a tightrope myself, but someone like Lucas has no fucking chance. He’s never stuck his neck out. Never spoken or lashed out, and if he does this time, it’ll cost him his life.
“What’s happening here?!” The chief steps out of his office, and we look around the room as onlookers gawk at us. I release Lucas and take a step back.
Fuck me. Does it already look like I’m choosing her over my own? But everyone in this room knows well enough how quickly people disappear when trying to interfere with these families. I didn’t mind playing with them a little at the beginning, but there are deadly consequences in these games. Ones that Lucas will not survive.
“Nothing, sir,” I say, giving Lucas a pointed look.
He falls quiet and sits back in his chair, scowling at me.
Fuck. Being here wasn’t a good idea either.
Everything is falling apart around me. And I’m not so sure I can control where the pieces will land anymore.