Page 80 of Sachie's Hero

Trip leaned forward. “I’ve known you since the day you were born. When you came out with fiery red hair, I told your parents that you were going to be a pistol, and you’re more like a stick of dynamite.” Trip laughed. “I don’t believe anything I’m about to say, but I’m the law, little girl, and I must look at every angle. So, I’m going to tell you how this will go. You’ll let me haul you down to the station when they release you. You’re going to get a lawyer if it goes too far, and I’ll do my best to make sure it doesn’t.”

“You’re being a jerk,” she mumbled.

“I’m being the chief of police.” He lowered his chin. “And right now, the town gossip is that you killed your dad, tossed his body into the Everglades, and crashed the boat on purpose so that you’d fall and hurt yourself. Then, for dramatic effect, you made sure the fuel line was damaged so the boat wouldn’t be drivable. Some are even saying they heard strange noises last night. Owl noises. And that you’ve been practicing witchcraft.” He arched a brow. “While that’s all bull, there is some circumstantial evidence that points to a possible homicide, but I’ve got no body. And the motive? Well, it’s weak. However, you opened yourself up when you threatened your dad in front of the entire town.”

“I did no such thing.”

Trip waggled his finger. “I don’t have much to make anything stick. Nor will the State, but they will ask questions of you and everyone in this town. You know they will. Do you know what they will find?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “A town full of people who remember you poking your father in the chest and telling him you wished he was dead instead of your mom.” Trip dared to shrug. “Outside of talking with me, I’d stop the conspiracy theory crap. It doesn’t help you. It only makes you look like you’re a chip off the old man’s shoulder and will add fuel to a fire you don’t want to be ignited. You let me control the narrative. You let me work the accident angle. I’ll handle everything else.”

“You want me to sit back and say nothing? You want me to let this town believe I killed my dad?”

“That’s what you heard me say?” Trip shook his head. “No, little girl. That’s not what I want you to do. I need you to let me do my job, but knowing you, you’ll be out there in the middle of the night again. I can’t have that. It’s going to be hard. Damn hard. People will talk and whisper worse than they ever have. But only if you give them something to talk about. I’m a good cop. I know what I’m doing. Let me put this to bed so you don’t have this hanging over your head for the rest of your life.”

“Can I ask you a question?”

Trip nodded.

“Is your goal to prove this was an accident or that my father was murdered by someone other than me?”

Trip drew his lips into a tight line. “Your father was my friend. So was your mother. They’d want me to protect you. That’s my first order of business. So, I want to direct this town into believing it was an accident. I’ll continue to dig. I’ll find out what really happened, but you, little girl, need to keep that big fat mouth closed.”

“Screw that,” Audra muttered. “Someone either took my dad or killed him. That should be your focus. I don’t give a shit what people think of me. Never have. Never will.”

“That’s a mistake.” Trip stood. “That train of thought will land you in prison for murder.”

Keep Reading Secrets in Calusa Cove

ATHENS AFFAIR

BROTHERHOOD PROTECTORS INTERNATIONAL BOOK #1

New York Times&USA Today

Bestselling Author

ELLE JAMES

CHAPTER 1

Hiringon with the Jordanian camera crew as their interpreter hadn’t been all that difficult. With Jasmine Nassar’s ability to speak Arabic in a Jordanian dialect and also speak American English fluently, she’d convinced the Jordanian camera crew she had the experience they needed to handle the job. However, the resume she’d created, listing all the films she’d worked on, had probably lent more weight to their decision.

Not that she’d actually worked on any movie sets. Her ability to “be” anything she needed to be, to fit into any character or role, was a talent she exploited whenever needed since she’d been “released” from the Israeli Sayeret Matkal three years earlier.

Her lip curled. Released was the term her commanding officer had used.Forced outof the special forces unit was closer to the truth. All because of an affair she’d had with an American while she’d been on holiday in Greece. Because of that week in Athens, her entire life had upended, throwing her into survival mode for herself and one other—her entire reason for being. The reason she was in Jordan about to steal the ancient copper scroll.

The Americans arrived on schedule for the afternoon’s shoot at the Jordan Museum in Amman, Jordan. The beautiful film star Sadie McClain appeared with her entourage of makeup specialists, hairstylists, costume coordinators, and a heavy contingent of bodyguards, including her husband, former Navy SEAL Hank Patterson.

Sadie was in Jordan to film an action-adventure movie. All eyes would be on the beautiful blonde, giving Jasmine the distraction she’d need to achieve her goal.

Much like the movie heroine’s role, Jasmine was there to retrieve a priceless antique. Only where Sadie was pretending to steal a third-century BC map, Jasmine was there to take the one and only copper scroll ever discovered. The piece dated back to the first century AD, and someone with more money than morals wanted it badly enough he’d engaged Jasmine to attain it for him.

Up until the point in her life when she’d been driven out of her military career, she’d played by the rules, following the ethical and moral codes demanded by her people and her place in the military. Since the day she’d been let go with a dishonorable discharge, she’d done whatever it took to survive.

She’d been a mercenary, bodyguard, private investigator and weapons instructor for civilians wanting to know how to use the guns they’d purchased illegally to protect themselves from terrorist factions like Hamas.

Somewhere along the way, she must have caught the eye of her current puppet master. He’d done his homework and discovered her Achilles heel, then taken that weakness in hand and used it to make her do whatever he wanted her to do.

And she’d do it because he had her by the balls. He held over her head the one thing that would make her do anything, even kill.

---