Page 39 of Whispers of Redemption

Wade felt a flicker of surprise, but his face remained expressionless.

“She’s gotta be in on it, man,” Brett went on. “She’s an illegal street racer. And she knows her way around engines. Does she seriously want us all to believe that the van she was driving just suddenly broke down? And she gets out and leaves it unlocked? I’m telling ya’, she’s the one that stole that old lady’s painting, probably with some partner. She has a history of stealing, you know,” Brett added with a smug smile.

Wade’s voice was harsh. “We’re not here to discuss your co-worker, Brett. We’re here to talk about you.”

The conversation continued to go in circles that led nowhere. Finally, Wade was forced to release Brett.

Once he’d left the building, Cassie and Hugo left the observation room, meeting Wade in the hallway outside.

“So, that’s it?” Cassie said in frustration. “He’s free to go?”

“I’m afraid so,” Wade said. “At least for now.”

Cassie began pacing up and down in front of them, counting out her points on her fingertips. “Brett used to boost cars when we were in high school, so he could have easily stolen that truck. He was researching stolen art. He has the right shoes. Oh!” She suddenly stopped her pacing and faced them. “I almost forgot. He also made a snarky comment to me on the day of the theft, just before I left in the company van. He said something about being careful not to destroy my precious record of perfect deliveries. C’mon, guys, it has to be him!”

Wade felt as upset as she was. “It’s not enough that we suspect it, Cassie. We have to be able to prove it. Unfortunately, his lawyer was right. The search of his apartment and vehicle both came up empty. And even though he has no alibi for the time of the theft, we have no real evidence to continue holding him. So, for now, we have no choice but to let him walk.”

With an angry swipe of her hand, Cassie tossed back her auburn hair. “This is so wrong,” she said. “I know it was him, Wade. I know it!”

Her emerald eyes sparked like green lightening in her flushed face. As she stood there in the midst of her Cassie-style storm, he thought she looked more beautiful than ever. He resisted the urge to pull her into his arms to soothe the savage beast.

Instead, he said, “I get it, Cassie. And we’ll keep watching him. If it was Brett, he’ll eventually slip up,” Wade said. “He doesn’t seem particularly bright.”

“You got that right,” Cassie muttered.

“Listen, I’m going to go take care of the paperwork,” Hugo said, turning, then he whispered out of the corner of his mouth, “And I’ll leave you to calm her down.”

“I heard that!” Cassie said as they watched him waddle painfully up the hall. She turned her back to the wall and leaned against it, staring at the floor, arms crossed.

Wade moved closer. Dressed simply in jeans and a sleeveless cream-colored blouse, her clothing highlighted the soft curves of her body. The top button of her blouse was open, revealing her delicate collarbone, and he could smell the honeysuckle fragrance of her rich, russet hair. She looked up at him then, and he was suddenly swimming in the sea-green depths of her eyes. Geez, focus, Riley.

She broke the spell with her next words. “He wasn’t lying, you know.”

Wade frowned. “About?”

“About me,” she said quietly. “I do have a history that I’m not proud of.”

“Cassie, you don’t need to explain—”

“Yes, I do,” she said, and looked at the floor again as she found the words. “I got busted for shoplifting when I was in high school. And Brett is right. I used to race illegally, too. Although, I never got caught for that,” she added, a hint of pride creeping into her voice.

She found his eyes again and held them. “Did you know that I used to live in the same foster home as Ani?”

Wade shook his head.

“Not the one she’s in now—although the couple she lives with now could totally be related to the foster parents we shared,” Cassie said, her lips tightening. “The couple we lived with were the worst kind of foster parents. Anyway, one night, I got caught vandalizing their property with some friends and they kicked me out. But it turned out to be a blessing in disguise, because that’s how I came to live with the Wainwrights. And as I mentioned before, they were the best foster parents I could have ever asked for, helping me straighten out my life and get on the right track.

“You didn’t have to tell me all that, Cassie,” Wade said softly.

She lifted her chin. “I just...wanted you to know exactly who you’re dealing with,” she said. “And I didn’t want you thinking the absolute worst of me after what Brett said.”

“I wouldn’t have,” he said with heat, his eyes still locked on hers. Then, as if magnetized, Wade felt himself moving closer until he stood directly in front of her. He was only inches away, close enough to feel the warmth radiating from her body and breathe in the intoxicating scent of her. It was making his head spin. His gaze dropped from her eyes to her soft, pink, parted lips. More than anything in that moment, he wanted to kiss her. His eyes met hers again and he was surprised to see the same desire reflecting back at him. He slowly leaned in.

“Seriously, guys? Get a room!” said an officer who had just entered the hallway. He snorted with laughter as the two of them jumped apart.

“I...better go,” Cassie said. She turned away from him and walked quickly back up the hall.

Wade stood there, feeling equally bewildered and frustrated as he watched the sway of her hips until she was out of sight.

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