Page 58 of The White Picket Fence

“Already on it,” Nick said. A few seconds later he grunted in frustration. “Corporation. Fancy one, too. Contact information lists a law firm in Rittenhouse.”

“The name of the firm?” Vito pressed impatiently.

“Ruskin and Jewel. Harold Ruskin and Darren Jewel are the senior partners.”

“Jason Ruskin was the kid who needed protection in prison,” Tino said. “The kid with the bawling mother. Harold must be her husband.”

Vito nodded. “I think the firm helped Hale buy this house. We need to bring Mr. and Mrs. Ruskin in for questioning.”

“I’ll take care of that,” Nick promised. “You focus on that slimy bastard, Hale.”

Vito ended the call and immediately dialed again. Tino recognized the name of the woman who answered as Vito’s lead detective in Homicide. His brother proceeded to let her know what was happening and that Nick was sending cops to Hale’s neighborhood. Vito wanted his detectives to gather at headquarters.

He also tasked them with finding out where Kevin Hale had gotten the money to buy a freaking house in Chestnut Hill.

Which was a damn good question. The house had to have cost the earth. It was also a dead ringer for the one Tino had dreamed about in his youth. How had Hale known?

Had Charlotte mentioned it? And if she had, what had been the context?

He didn’t question her loyalty. She would never have had a fling with Kevin Hale. Not while they were together. And he believed her when she said she hadn’t thought of the man since high school.

But somehow Hale had known the exact house to buy, down to the gingerbread trim.

Hand trembling, Tino hit play on the message she’d left and lifted the phone to his ear. His eyes filled with tears at the sound of her voice.

“Tino, it’s me. Charlie. If I don’t see you again, just know that I’ve always loved you. I never stopped, not in all these years. I’m sorry I’m doing this, but I don’t know what else to do. He’s got Kayla, and she’s just a girl. But you’ll figure this out. I trust you. And if you don’t, don’t you dare blame yourself.”

I never stopped loving you either, he thought.Never.

Angrily swiping at his eyes, he turned to Vito. “What are we going to do?” he asked, choking out each word.

Vito glanced over at him with sympathy. “Youare going home. I’ll have one of the unmarked cars drive you. I will deal with this.”

No way in hell, Tino thought. But if he said that to Vito, his older brother would keep him under surveillance. He might even put him in protective custody. On the other hand, if he agreed too quickly, Vito would know he was lying.

“I have to be there,” he insisted. The words were true, but not in the way that Vito would take them. “You have to let me come with you.”

Vito frowned. “I don’t have to. In fact, I can’t. It’s against every regulation in the book. You know I want to let you, but I can’t. If I don’t do this right, Hale could skate on every murder he’s committed. Charlotte wouldn’t want that.”

Charlotte might not want that, but she wasn’t here right now.Because Hale has her.

Tino didn’t want Hale to skate on five murders, either, but he wasn’t going to let that number become six. Or seven, because Hale had Kayla too.

Luckily Tino wasn’t a cop. He didn’t have to follow the regulations.

“Of course she wouldn’t want that. But what can I do then?” Tino asked, letting his rising panic charge the question.

“Stay home where it’s safe.”

“I can’t just stay home! He’s got her, Vito.”

“I know. And I’ll get her back. Do you trust me?”

“Of course I do.” He trusted that Vito would do everything humanly possible to get Charlotte and Kayla out of Hale’s clutches. But his brother would do it by the book. And that would take time.

Vito blew out a breath, his relief visible. “Thank you. I’m going to the station and I’m going to have someone take you home. I will focus the entire department on getting Charlotte back safely. Do you believe me?”

“I do.”

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