Total pages in book: 149
Estimated words: 147967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 740(@200wpm)___ 592(@250wpm)___ 493(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 740(@200wpm)___ 592(@250wpm)___ 493(@300wpm)
“Well, it’s nap time,” he said.
When he returned from the bathroom, he rolled her over and pulled her panties and pants back on.
As he was helping her sit, his phone started ringing. Frowning, he reached over and grabbed it off the side table. She tensed. Every time his phone rang she got nervous for some reason. She wasn’t sure if she was nervous about getting the news that Vince still hadn’t been found.
Or that he had.
Because once he was found, they’d likely go back to Billings. And she wasn’t sure that she was ready for that.
But she also wanted him found. Because right now, he was a threat to her and her babies.
“It’s Ink,” Matthieu told her before answering the call. “Hey man . . . are you serious? Trussed up like a turkey? Yep. Yep. Wait, she’s here. I’ll put you on speaker.”
He set the phone down on his knee and turned the speaker on.
“Right, we’re both here. Say that again,” Matthieu said.
“Vince has been found. Or, I should say, Vince was delivered to us. Trussed up like a turkey on the front steps of Callahan Security early this morning.”
“What?” she asked. “Who would do that?”
“Well, I know who did it because he left a calling card. But this is the tricky part, I can tell you because he obviously wanted me to know by leaving his calling card. But it would be best if no one else knew. Especially the cops. Can you do that?”
“I won’t tell anyone,” she said.
“Not even your brother?” Ink pressed.
Marlin had been in touch several times. But even though their relationship was slowly repairing itself, she didn’t feel the need to tell him everything.
“No, I won’t.” Who would do this?
“It’s a guy who calls himself the Fox. You could call him a friend of ours. Over these past few years, he’s helped with a lot of cases and he’s kept our women safe. Several of them, he helped rescue. Including Betsy.”
“Why can’t we talk about him? Why would he go after Vince?” she asked.
“The Fox doesn’t always stick to the law. In fact, he usually doesn’t. He plays by his own rules and the cops would love to arrest him. But even though he doesn’t follow the law, he doesn’t harm innocents.”
Okay, this Fox guy sounded interesting. She swallowed and glanced at Matthieu who was frowning.
“Why would he help me? I don’t know him.”
“He knows you,” Ink replied.
“What the fuck?” Matthieu said, jumping up. Luckily, she grabbed his phone before it could be knocked to the floor. “What do you mean, he knows her?”
“Matthieu, remember that I told you a bit about the guy Brody is with?” Ink said.
“Yeah. The one who was listening to our conversation that day with Detective Reeves?” Matthieu asked.
“Yep. That’s the Fox.”
Matthieu froze. “Brody is with a guy who doesn’t always stick to the right side of the law?”
“Yep.”
“Maya wasn’t there during that conversation, though,” Matthieu said. “How does he know her?”
“Brody admires her. He thinks she’s amazing. And the Fox loves Brody so we think he’s done it for him.”
“He found Vince and brought him back because Brody thinks I’m a good person?” she asked, incredulously.
“That’s what Brody thinks. Also, the Fox probably enjoyed the hunt. Vince is so scared that he’s singing like a canary. He’s full of information about the key corrupt players in the Billings PD who are taking bribes and terrifying the public.”
“Is he . . . is he working for my dad?” she asked.
“Well, he said he is, but I’m not sure I buy it. He looks a bit off when he talks about your dad. However, I do believe what he said about Robert and Malcolm, your stepbrothers, being involved.”
“Wow,” she whispered.
“I’m about to call Reeves. Unless there’s anything you want me to ask him,” Ink said.
“Who could the kingpin be if it’s not the Chief?” Matthieu asked.
“I don’t know,” Ink replied. “And why lie when he’s spilling his guts about everyone else? But Vince did confess to throwing that fire bomb and he said it was because he was told to do it, to scare Maya into leaving the city. He said that’s always been his aim, to get rid of her.”
“I don’t think my dad would want me out of the city, would he?” she asked. “I’m so confused by what is going on.”
“Give him to the cops,” Matthieu said. “I know you’ll have gotten everything you can out of him, and while I would like a go at him, you can’t compromise their case by keeping him.”
“My thoughts too,” Ink said. “We’re getting closer, but I’d stay away a bit longer if I was you. I have a feeling that things are going to get messier before they get clearer.”
52
Matthieu could tell that she was stressing.
He got it. Her father could be the head of all the corruption and bad shit going on at Billings PD. He could be the guy who had ordered Vince to get rid of her.