Page 10 of Buried Too Deep

“Because someone had placed a call to 911 three minutes before you arrived. A woman. She was whispering that there was an intruder at Broussard’s.”

“So I didn’t imagine her.” He’d been so afraid that he had.

Clancy’s smile was kind. “No, Mr. Bishop. You didn’t. The cameras captured the woman running away and the man in black chasing her. I’m sorry it took so long to get all the security footage together, but you’re clear. And you’ve given your statement, so you’re free to go.”

Phin got to his feet so fast that his chair fell to the floor with a clang. He righted it, then took SodaPop’s leash. “No offense, but I’m out of here.”

Clancy stood and handed Phin his card. “Call me if you remember anything more.”

Phin followed Clancy to the lobby, where Stone and Delores were impatiently waiting for him. They both rose, Stone giving him a look of concern and enough space so that Phin could approach them.

Delores, not so much. She ran to him, stopping short of hugging him. Phin could see that she wanted to, but she knew not to touch him when he wasn’t expecting it. But he thought that she needed the hug more than he did, so he bent down to pull her close.

She was only five feet tall on the outside, but on the inside the woman was a warrior. She buried her face against his neck and let out a long breath.

“You’re okay,” she murmured, then pulled back, wiping her eyes. “SodaPop helped?”

“She did. I should have brought her with me today. As usual, you were right.”

She pulled herself to her full tiny height. “And don’t you forget it.”

Phin felt his mouth tug up into a grin. “I won’t.”

She scowled. “That boss of yours is here. Him and the IT guy.”

Phin scanned the room and, sure enough, Burke was standing with Antoine Holmes. Burke looked wrecked and Antoine didn’t look any better.

Burke didn’t trust you.

Stone ambled over, glancing behind his shoulder at Burke and Antoine before meeting Phin’s gaze. “Your boss feels real bad.”

“As he should,” Delores scowled.

Phin rubbed her forehead with his index finger. “You’re going to get frown lines. It’s all right, Delores.”

But it really wasn’t. That Burke had, even for a moment, believed he could hurt anyone—much less Joy—hurt. A lot.

“Burke was an asshole this morning,” Stone said quietly. “But the way I see it, you can either walk away from them or you can work on patching things up. For what it’s worth, I want you to come back to Cincinnati with us, so I might not give you the best advice here.”

Phin found himself chuckling. “Honest as always.”

“You got that right.”

Phin met Burke’s eyes across the lobby, his boss’s contrition laid bare. Phin knew which option he needed to take. “He’s been a good friend to me over the past two years,” he murmured. “He’s welcomed me back every time I’ve run, and he’s given me support and opportunities. He even got me a therapist. And he’s human, just like me.”

“So no Cincinnati?” Stone asked.

“Not just yet. But soon.” Because Cincinnati was Phin’s hometown. His family was still there and he fully intended to return. When he was ready.

He still wasn’t ready. He’d run from his family—his loving, caring family—just like he’d run from Burke and his New Orleans friends. Every time he felt an episode coming on, he took off.

Every time things got too heavy, he ran.

He’d make things right with Burke. And Joy. And then he’d go home and make things right with his family.

“What are you thinking?” Delores asked suspiciously.

“That I’m going to find out who hurt Joy. I’m going to prove that it wasn’t me.”

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