Page 36 of The Spy Ring

Not only was she evil, but she was also petty.

“Emma Hawthorne is saying her daughter, Grace, influenced her. That she was so grateful to have found her long-lost daughter, that when Grace started to talk about getting back at the men who took her away, she promised Grace she would do anything to make her daughter happy. She claims she was just a mother being protective of her daughter.”

“That’s still a crime. I’m sure her lawyers have told her that. Mrs. Hawthorne may think she can manipulate her lawyers, but she can’t screw the federal government,” I said.

Tenn nodded but shrugged as if everything he was saying made sense. “She understands she played a part. But that part has less jail time. She said when she felt it was going too far she came to you because she was worried about her daughter. That you told her to play along to catch Grace. She agreed and only said those things at the warehouse to trick everyone into catching her daughter.”

I shook my head. “But that doesn’t make sense. Grace, wasn’t even at the warehouse. She was with me. Why would Emma Hawthorne say all those things to incriminate herself at the warehouse if her daughter, Grace, wasn’t even there?”

“Apparently, the judge is reviewing everything with her lawyers. In the meantime, the boss wants you off the case. I’m to take it over now.”

This was all messed up. Emma was blaming her own daughter for the crimes she committed. Her daughter, Grace, didn’t even know she had a mother until earlier this year when Emma tracked her down.

The case was complicated. Grace thought she was getting to know her real mother, not being framed for her mother’s crime. I reached out to Grace earlier this year when I knew she had contact with Mrs. Hawthorne. Grace quickly learned her mother wasn’t the sweet woman she hoped she would be.

Grace even helped me take her down.

“But Emma Hawthorne is lying. Even Katlin has to know that.” I leaned forward as if getting closer would help change everything.

“It doesn’t matter, Jagger. You’re going to have to step off the case. When they go forward with her allegations, it will all come out in court. Maybe something else will arise in regard to Emma before the court date and all this will be forgotten.”

“I guess,” I said as my thoughts drifted to everything about Emma Hawthorne’s case.

I analyzed anything that might be questionable in my head as I sat in that café. There were a few things I had to do in order not to blow my cover but nothing that would lend truth to her words.

“I got to get back. You coming?” Tenn got up and threw his thumb toward the door.

“No, I’m going to be here for a while. I’ll see you later.”

He nodded and turned to leave the café.

Something wasn’t right. Why all of a sudden, almost two months after Emma Hawthorne got caught, does she come up with the allegation that she’s being framed?

Tenn was right, I had to walk away from Tiffany and her son, no matter how hard it was going to be. I couldn’t let anything jeopardize this case. As much as I wanted to watch Tiffany melt as I made her come on my fingers, on my mouth, and on my cock, I had to walk away.

I got out my phone and texted Tiffany to tell her I needed to discuss something with her in person. After a few minutes, my phone vibrated letting me know she responded.

Tiffany: I’m here now. You can stop by. David’s here, he wants to ask you something.

Me: I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.

Damn it. I forgot about David. I can’t give him ninja lessons anymore. I only gave him and his friend lessons once, after Tiffany made that amazing dinner, but I had a great time. I’m usually around intense and emotionally closed off government agents, so it was refreshing to goof around with some kids.

I left the café. As I made my way farther south toward Tiffany’s building in a taxi, I tried to come up with an explanation that wouldn’t break that boy’s heart.

By the time I was in front of her building I realized I had thought up every excuse but nothing was going to prevent me from letting him down. He reminded me so much of my cousin, Ben, which made this worse. With Ben, I could be angry at his mother, and especially my father, for doing what they did, but with David, I’m the one abandoning him.

Tiffany buzzed me inside and I took my time getting to her door. I wanted to prolong the inevitable forever but knew that couldn’t happen.

The door swung open before I even brought my hand to knock.

“Jagger!” A shining pair of blue eyes with a mop of dark hair greeted me.

“Hi, David. Is your mom here?” I didn’t have to force the smile on my face. That boy was always alight with life, even when he was unsure and awkward like the first couple of times I was around him.

“Yeah.” He held onto the door as he stepped back, stumbling slightly.

He was still working on his balance, which I noticed when I taught him some tae kwon do. I decided to give him extra core strengthening exercises to help him better master the moves I was teaching him.

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