Page 16 of My Temptation

Smiling, I heard Brody say goodbye, but I didn’t take my eyes off my phone. Dr. Campbell’s office was in New Hope, which meant I could get her close enough to keep an eye on her and my niece.

Me: That’s awesome. Want me to start looking for apartments?

Everly: I’m already on it!

Me: Need to meet with Brody, but I’ll call you as soon as I’m done.

Everly: Okay!! Thanks, E!

Looking up, I met Brody’s eyes and shoved my phone back into my pocket. “Sorry about that.”

“Good news?” he asked with a grin.

I smiled. “My sister got a job here in New Hope.”

He nodded. “Good. I know you’ve been trying to get her here.”

“Yeah. Had no idea it would take so long.”

“Small town.” Brody reminded me of the one thing I constantly forgot, having grown up in a big city. Jobs aren’t always as easy to come by in a town the size of New Hope. “What job?”

“Nurse for Dr. Campbell.”

Brody’s grin widened. “Colin Campbell is a good friend of my brothers.”

“Which ones?” I asked sarcastically, considering he had six brothers.

“Ben and Jake went to high school with him.” He leaned his elbows on his desk. “Want me to say something to them? Have them tell Colin you’re her brother?”

I shook my head. “No, she wouldn’t want that. She wants to do everything on her own.”

“Sounds like you two have a lot in common.”

Chuckling, I nodded. “Guess so.” I pointed at the phone lying on his desk. “Everything okay?”

He grunted. “Damn cat got out. The girls are upset. Lexi called my dad, who’s made it his mission to organize a search party.”

I chuckled. “So just another normal day, then?”

He laughed along with me. “Pretty much.”

“You wanted to talk to me?” I reminded him, suddenly feeling anxious to get out of the office so I could call my sister and help her find a place. I wanted them as close to me as possible.

Brody exhaled loudly and sat back in his chair. “I’m taking you off installs for a while.”

I sat up taller, wondering where the hell this was coming from. I’d been on installs since I started, and even though Brody had been training me for fieldwork, I’d never been given an actual assignment. “Why?”

“Need you somewhere else.” Brody was a man of few words, but that answer was vague even for him.

“Want to give me more information?”

“Someone attempted to poison Beth.”

My eyes widened. “Are you serious?”

“Yeah.” He ran his hand along the back of his neck. “Striker was with her. They ordered pizza, and after she ate a piece, she got sick. He rushed her to the hospital, and we had the pizza tested. It was positive for arsenic. Police are involved, and they have the pizza box as evidence.”

“Arsenic. Jesus.” I rubbed my hand over my forehead but dropped it when something occurred to me. “Striker didn’t get sick?”

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