Page 41 of Love Me Fierce

“We’ll get it sorted, okay?” I offer him my fist.

With a heavy sigh, he bumps it. “Okay.”

Linden’s placeis down in the Lakeside neighborhood, a fixer-upper one block from the shore that he bought when he and Kelly split. It was originally a summer home for one of Finn River’s founders, then handed down through generations until it fell into disrepair. To say it’s a work in progress would be a major understatement, but Linden needs to stay busy or he has a tendency to self-destruct.

When we pull up in front of the two-story A-frame, Linden’s pacing on the deck that faces the lake, one hand thrust into his hair. A bag from Glory Holes, a giant travel mug of what I’m sure is coffee, and a to-go cup that’s most likely hot chocolate for Logan rest on the picnic table he uses more than the formal table and chairs inside.

“The answer’s no,” he snaps, then ends the call, shaking his head as we round the corner. “Hey, guys,” he says to us, tucking his phone into the back pocket of his work jeans and pushing the bag toward Logan. “They had those vanilla chai ones fresh out of the oven.”

“Thanks, Uncle Linden.”

Linden ruffles his hair. “I’m not such a grump I forgot the donut holes.”

“You’re not a grump,” Logan says, diving into the bag.

“Everything okay?” I ask my brother, keeping my tone low.

He releases a heavy sigh and squints at the lake, which is a bright mirror of glass in the early sunshine. “Kelly’s trying to rewrite our co-parenting plan now that I’m back on shift. It’s stressing me out.”

“Anything I can do?”

He shakes his head.

“Thanks again for keeping him busy today.”

Linden cracks his knuckles and flashes me a wicked smile. “The pleasure’s gonna be all mine.”

“How’s the shoulder?” I ask.

“Better. Sepp’s strengthening stuff helped a lot.” He swings his arm around, rubbing along his collarbone. “Hey, I heard the cabin’s got new tenants. Some friend of Sepp’s and her kid, right?”

The Rumsey family grapevine is alive and well. “Yeah.”

“They okay?”

I don’t know how much Sepp or Mom shared about the break-in, so I keep it simple. “Uh, yeah.”

He arches an eyebrow. “Wanna talk about it?”

Linden always been able to read me, but I’m not in the mood for one of his pep talks. “No.”

He gives me a nod. Linz isn’t a hugger, so we bump fists, then I give Logan a quick hug goodbye and head to the station. During the quiet drive, I review my to-do list. First, I want to make sure Vivian’s ex isn’t in Finn River. But I need to tread carefully.

Sharing information with cops in different regions is part of my job, but the kind of inquiry I want to make isn’t the collaborativekind. I don’t know anything about Vivian’s ex besides his name and unit: Kent Hyek, LAPD vice squad, and the last thing I want to do is stir up trouble.

Vivian is convinced he wasn’t behind the break in. So, who was it?

Because what if they didn’t find what they were looking for, and they decide to try again?

When I enter the sheriff building’s through the back entrance, a voice I haven’t heard in months draws me to Sheriff’s Olson’s office.

“Come in, Rumsey,” Sheriff Olson says just as his guest turns in his seat.

My gut churns when I realize who it is.

“Special Agent Luke Ballard,” I say, reaching to shake his outstretched hand. “Good to see you.”

Though I have a feeling I’m not going to like the reason.

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