Page 29 of Stilettos & Whiskey
“You’ve read the autopsy report. When you got off the school bus, your parents were already dead,” Nate reminded me.
A tear rolled down my cheek, then another and another. “I know, but I’ll never know any peace until their killer is caught.”
“Why is she crying?” Lucas demanded, looking all official in his Alpha Dog tactical gear.
I quickly wiped my face. “Old memories.”
“We investigated your parents’ deaths thoroughly. The fire was started by faulty wiring in the attic,” Lucas stated firmly.
I pushed my plate of half-eaten tamales away. “You’re right.”
“After the Evans family is in custody, we’ll go over the arson file again. Okay?” Lucas promised.
I nodded. “Okay.”
“Now finish your tamales and drink your water,” Lucas ordered, using his detective lieutenant’s command voice. “The operation begins in an hour.”
“Yes, sir.”
Chapter Seven
Since no one in the Evans family had ever been inside the house they didn’t know about the Alpha Dogs’ military-style command center. We had our own dual-screen, portable UVA control station. The drone’s camera could spot a fly on Bodacious’ rump from a thousand feet up. The command console held eight security camera screens, a secure modem, an EMP shield, and a matrix-based encrypted radio system. On the back wall was a gun vault with all sorts of weaponry.
I had changed into an Alpha Dog jumpsuit just in case they needed help at the Vulture Mine command center.
Devon shook his head and patted the chair next to him. “Sit. There is no way you’re leaving this house.”
I opened my mouth to protest then subsided with a resigned sigh. My face was a battered mess, and I still had a tendency to list to the left.
“Dad’s body camera is on screen five and the Huey’s camera is screen six,” Jacob advised.
“Thanks, where are Lucas, Nate and Logan?”
Devon grimaced. “Lucas is doing a perimeter check. Nate got a bomb callout, and Logan is having a “come to Jesus” meeting with your grandfather.”
“With my grandfather? Why?”
“Your grandfather is suing Mom and Dad for ten million dollars for alienation of affection,” Jacob interjected.
I frowned. “But alienation of affection only works if you’re married and the spouse is cheating.”
“Exactly,” Devon replied.
Sucking in a disgruntled breath, I spat, “That old bastard thinks we owe him money?”
“Yep.” Jacob’s voice was taut with venom. “And he’s demanding you spend time with him.”
I made a rude noise. “After he was going to sell me to that child molester? Not happening.”
“Which Logan is explaining to him in explicit detail,” Devon said.
Just the thought of seeing that old bastard again gave me the willies.
Devon stiffened and keyed his radio mic, “We’ve got visitors at the main gate, Lucas.”
“Copy.”
I glanced at the security screens. Two heavily armed men climbed out of an old military Humvee. One was carrying a rocket launcher. “Oh hell, they’re going to blow the gates again, and Mom just got them replaced.”
