Page 102 of Counter Attack

Gram stood. “You can have one tiny piece.”

“But—”

“No buts. Your doctor said your triglycerides were high and you had to cut back on your carbs.”

“So that’s why my portion of lasagna was so small,” he grumbled.

“Yes. Now do you want a small piece of cake or not?” When he nodded, she turned to the others. “Anyone else?”

Kayla and Nathan took a piece, but Alex held up her hand. “I’m good. I just remembered I want to go over a file at my office. And then Nathan and I have a couple of things to check on. I won’t be home until probably around eleven.”

“It’s cold out. Want to take a thermos of hot cocoa with you?” Gram asked.

She must really look tired for Gram to make cocoa—it was her “it will fix everything” remedy. Alex shook her head. “I may make some when we get back.”

“I need to be going too,” Kayla said. “But I want to help with the dishes.”

Gramps waved her off. “I’ll help with the dishes. You run along.”

Alex stared at her grandfather. He had never willingly helped with the dishes before.

Alex followed Nathan out the back door to his pickup.

“Great dinner,” he said.

“Kayla seemed to enjoy it too. I hope Gramps didn’t offend her.”

“He was just being Sheriff Stone.”

“I’ll have to let her know he wasn’t singling her out,” she said with a laugh as Nathan opened her door. She was getting used to his chivalry.

He turned to her as they pulled out of the drive. “Your office first?”

She nodded. “I want to check for a response on the dark web but not from home. And I was thinking about playing more of the video game, see if there are more photos of the victims.”

“Good thinking.”

Alex spoke to the night dispatcher as they entered the building. It was quiet and she hoped it stayed that way. It didn’t take long to boot up the dark web, and not only was there no message in the chat room, but the website with the video game was gone. Alex leaned back in her chair and blew out a breath.

“Phame has gone to ground.”

At least Nathan didn’t point out the obvious—it was her fault. “But probably not for long—he was making too much money on the game. He’ll surface again.” He stood. “Why don’t we check out the field house, and then I’ll take you home? You need a good night’s rest.”

“I won’t argue with you there.”

An hour later, Nathan pulled behind her grandparents’ house. “I didn’t figure anyone would be there tonight. You could’ve stayed home.”

She ignored his comment. “Have you gotten any hits on the photos you took Monday night of those men in the Escalade?”

“Haven’t heard from the Drug Enforcement Agency. The Hamilton County sheriff’s department says they’re not in their database, and I’m still waiting on the Chatt PD. Whoever they are, evidently they’ve been keeping a low profile.”

She yawned and unbuckled her seat belt. “It’s been a long day.”

“Hold up a minute so I can clear your bedroom.”

Alex half saluted. “Yes, sir. Be sure to enter the code for the alarm or one of your officers will end up on our doorstep.”

“The code is your birthday, right?”

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