Page 143 of Charity's Redemption

“Ahem,” I cleared my throat.

They both paused and glanced my way.

“Hi, Nico. Luca’s being a bully.”

“When is he not?” Max said, coming in from behind me.

“I am not. She almost used the wrong olive oil on the chicken.”

Itsked. “Would’ve been ruined indeed.”

“You Italians and your cooking rules…” She dropped her arms and let him have the spatula. “I didn’t want to cook anyway.”

Max strode to the fridge, grabbing a carrot from the dish on the counter as he walked past and popped it into his mouth with a crunch.

“I’ve just heard from Parker.”

Charity tipped her gaze my way after having a staredown with Luca who still hadn’t let her go. “Who’s that?”

“He’s the new officer we have in the department.”

“And?” Luca said.

“Internal Affairs finished up their investigation.”

She pushed on Luca’s chest, moving him out of the way as she came towards me. “Wait, how? It’s only been three weeks.”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m not looking a gift horse in the mouth.”

“What was their conclusion?” Max said, popping his head up from the fridge with a bottle of water.

“It appears a group of hackers called Cryp-70-n-1-c took the credit for hacking into the police department.”

Luca leaned sideways against the counter. “Hmm.”

“Wait, why? What was the reasoning?” Charity said.

“Because they can.” I said, studying her sunflower dress as she rounded the island. “Also, your dad is good at what he does. That’s for sure. He or someone in the department made it look as though your evidence, the stuff he stole, was sent to the incinerator and destroyed.”

“Does this mean my dad doesn’t need to worry anymore?”

I gave her a reassuring smile, wishing I could give her a definitive answer. “Just because they cleared people at the department doesn’t mean they won’t continue to investigate this group. Things could come up. I doubt it’ll have anything to do with your father, though.”

“But my dad is clear?”

“It looks that way.”

Charity touched her chest and puffed out her cheeks, and exhaled.

“We told you we’d take care of him, Charity,” Luca said, walking up behind her and rubbing her shoulders.

“I know you did. But that didn’t stop the worry.”

“It never does.”

She touched his hand resting on her shoulders and smiled. “This calls for a celebration, I think.”

“Hmm,” Max hummed from the opposite side of the kitchen, “I like the sound of that. What did you have in mind?”

---