Page 75 of S.O.S. Perk

Extrapolating from that last bit of intel, it sure sounded like good old Felix had been planning a change in his life; a new job. One that perhaps didn’t sit well with his wife? Is that when she’d taken things into her own hands and employed foul play to get an uncooperative partner out of the picture?

If that were the case, how? And with whose help? And where?

Sloane had studied pictures of Jennifer Nelsin. She couldn’t picture the immaculately coiffed and manicured woman getting her stylish nails dirty, offing her husband. And looking into her movements—albeit not as in depth yet as what she’d done for Mr. Nelsin—there had been nothing out of the ordinary in where she’d gone during the period of time in question. Her trips took her into her office, back to her house, shopping at high-end boutiques, and relaxing at various day spas.

Maybe that’s where the teacher, Mr. Shultz came in. Perhaps he’d been instrumental in making Mr. Nelsin disappear.

Sloane sighed, now she’d have to do a long, arduous search onthatman’s activities, which she’d been putting off, hoping to nail the Nelsins.

Taking a short break, she stretched her arms over her head and couldn’t keep her mind from traveling back to three nights ago; the last time she’d seen Perk. After they’d discussed where his part in the case was going next, their eyes had met, and…

Yup.They’d gone at each other with a ravenousness that had defied the cold encroaching inside the barn. Clothes had been thrust askew, skin stroked, nipples pinched, and Sloane had eventually dropped to her knees on the wooden floor and sucked a highly responsive Perk into submission.

Their orchestrations had been frantic. Exhilarating. And the slight naughtiness over the possibility of being caught had lent an air of titillation to their tryst.

Once they’d both been satisfied with intense orgasms, they’d giggled like children, straightened out each other’s clothing, and clucked over swollen lips and a hickey on Sloane’s neck. But they’d walked back into the main house, owning their behavior.

Other than a few sly nudges, nobody had called them out on anything.

****

Sloane hadn’t seen Perk since that night, and yeah. She was pouting.

He’d been spending all his days at school, and all his afternoons and evenings hanging with Jeremy. Nothing new had been uncovered, and Sloane felt like all the operatives on the job were spinning their wheels, but… That’s how most cases went until there was an unexpected breakthrough.

She lamented. It seemed that to solvethis,Perk would eventually be required to go back into the Nelsin household wearing a wire when he “returned” from his vacation.

That would suck. Not just for the creepy pedophile behavior of Mrs. Nelsin, which was abhorrent, but because Sloane also hated putting Perk in danger of being discovered.

She also understood it was part of their jobs.

If she and Perk decided that they really had something going on between them, and eventually opted to stay together—something Sloane was still trying to wrap her head around—this wouldn’t be the last time one or both of them faced a sketchy situation. She’d have to get used to it. Another thing to consider when she pondered whether or not to make the leap into entwining her life with his.

Looking at the clock, Sloane noted it was well past quitting time, but with Perk working at the Nelsin’s, what else did she have to do but search the net? Maybe, however…

Sloane picked up her phone and hit Melissa’s number.

“Hey sweetie. What’s up?” Mel answered. “Any news on Kaelyn?”

Sloane figured that would be Mel’s primary concern.

She hated to prevaricate, but… “We’re, uh, getting closer.”

There was a huff.

Screw it.

It wouldn’t hurt to give Mel a little hope. “Wedoknow she’s alive and well, but we still have to, uh, get her back home.” That wasn’t a lie. The girl wasn’t currently at her house, but shewouldbe once they wrapped up the case.

“Oh, my God. That’s awesome news,” Melissa cried.

“Yes, it is. And not for public consumption, got it?” Sloane warned. “We don’t want to put Kaelyn in any more danger than she already is before we move in and make arrests.”

Sloane knew the admonishment would keep her friend from talking.

“My lips are sealed,” Melissa assured her. “But privately, hon, I’m doing a happy dance right now.”

Sloane laughed. “What would it take to interrupt you mid-cha-cha, and get you to meet me for food? I know we haven’t been able to stick to it lately, but itisour standing Thursday night date. I’m just finishing up at work and realize I’m starving.”

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