Page 47 of Her Protector Daddies

“Ah. Didn’t know you were buddies with Detectives, Lamb.” Trask’s beady eyes were locked on Tyler who chuckled easily and rolled his eyes.

“Not friends, just filling Detective Grant in on what happened at the hospital. You know how it is, rehashing things.”

“Hm. Did I uh… did I hear you mention Marcus? Marcus Hartley? Did you guys get a lead?”

“No,” Tyler replied immediately, and his entire demeanor shifted slightly. I knew Tyler. Something was off here. “We were just discussing the case.”

“Ahhh.” Trask’s eyes slid from Tyler to me, and a strange, watery smile graced his lips. “Well, if you ever need another Office to chat shit with, you’ve got me.”

There weren’t enough words in the English language for me to express how that would not happen.

“Get moving, Trask,” I cut in before he could grill Tyler any further. “Haven’t you got a beat to walk or some shit?”

Trask’s eyes narrowed immediately, and the insults caught the attention of his two friends. Three pairs of eyes narrowed at me but luckily, no one was in the mood for an argument and thankfully, they moved on.

“Y’know, insulting Patrol Officers is a bit catty, even for you,” Tyler snorted. “Mr. Big Detective over here.”

“You’re a detective too, remember,” I said, keeping one eye on Trask’s retreating back. “What was that about anyway?”

“Nothing.”

I glanced at him, one brow raised.

“Okay fine. I don’t know. There’s just something about him I can’t quite put my finger on.”

“Do you trust him?”

Tyler shrugged, dejectedly kicking the broken vending machine, hoping to dislodge a fallen water bottle.

“I trust him as much as any other officer on patrol.”

“Hm.”

Trask’s interest in the case might just be personal curiosity, given how high-value Andrés is, but I had to agree with Tyler. There was something uncomfortable about him.

“He was with you when you found Selena?” I asked.

“Yup.”

My thoughts shifted slowly, running over my suspicions. “How did you get assigned to him when you went undercover?”

“Uh… he was the only one with an open car, I believe,” Tyler explained. “Why?”

“Trask?” Captain Watts appeared at my elbow, a folder in her hand.

“Huh?” Anger pulsed through me at the sight of her, momentarily severing my train of thought.

“You’re asking about Trask? Sorry, couldn’t help but overhear when you have a conversation out in the hallway two feet from my office,” Audrey remarked. A light smile graced her lips but I didn’t return it.

“Sure.”

“Trask actually asked for you,” she explained. “He said he wanted the fun of showing an ex-Detective the ropes and if there was a way he could learn how to get a Golden Ticket from you.”

Tyler’s gaze met mine. “Really?”

“Really. And you’re paying for that.” Captain Watts pointed at the broken vending machine, then continued on her path down the corridor.

“He requested you,” I said slowly. “Was with you when you found Selena and knew what hospital she was taken to.”

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