Page 91 of I Want You
“Just listing off the places we might visit.” He shrugged. My hands clenched at my side, my jaw locked with tension. I wanted to punch the smirk right off his face.
“Come on,” Owen said, already starting to walk away. “Let’s get out of here.”
They went in the opposite direction of Pine Street, further down Maple Street. I never took my eyes off them. After they were out of sight, I got back in my cruiser and called in the encounter over the radio, requesting additional patrol cars to make the rounds through on a continuous basis.
Those fuckers were going to know that I was watching them.
I circled the block again. And again, I parked in front of Daisy’s shop. I wasn’t going to distract Scarlett and potentially get her in trouble at her new job, but I had no issue with parking my ass right here until they closed up for the day. There was no way in hell I was leaving her on her own to deal with the two of them if they decided to make a reappearance.
* * *
“I’m driving myself fucking crazy. We’re not getting anywhere fast enough. I’m sick to shit of spinning my wheels and playing it cool. I say we confront Monroe and at least try to make some real progress.”
I spat my words out in frustration, not at Wes, but to him. We were sitting in my father’s living room after a Sunday night dinner. Wes looked down at the toddler burrowed in his chest and shot me a look.
“I don’t mean right now. I just mean we need to do something.”
“I agree. We’ve got the original document that’s in his name and the forged one in the case file. We have his name logging out the evidence on the log sheet, his name on the chain of custody report,” Wes whispered. His large arms held Jane close to him. She was overtired and overstimulated tonight, but as soon as she hopped onto Wes’s lap, she calmed right down.
“How do you want to handle it?” I asked.
Wes sat for a moment, thinking things through. That was the thing about Wes: he wasn’t one to run ahead without a plan. Even when he spoke, it was with meaning and intention.
“You can’t approach him at work—it’s too risky. If you ask to meet him somewhere neutral and he’s got something to hide, he’s immediately going to be on edge. A dirty cop is bound to be paranoid that someone’s onto them.” Jane wriggled against him. He draped his heavy arm over her like it was her own personal weighted blanket.
Scarlett and Claire strolled into the living room, chatting. Scarlett sat beside me, resting her head against my shoulder. I leaned back further to make her more comfortable and wrapped my arm around her, kissing the top of her head.
“What are you guys talking about?” she asked.
“What our next move is going to be,” I told her.
Reid pulled Claire up from where she was sitting beside Wes, taking her seat and pulling her onto his lap.
“Have you reached out to I.A.?” Wyatt asked. I turned my head to face him. He was standing near the kitchen, little Veda snug against his chest in a baby carrier while Wyatt bounced in place.
“No. Calla Bay is too small for an Internal Affairs department. I could talk to Chief Williams or Captain Langston, but I think what I really need to do is go to the State.”
“Do you know if he’s working tonight?” Wes asked.
My head swiveled back to Wes. “No. He’s off tonight. He was on shift with me this morning.”
Wes locked eyes with Wyatt. A barely imperceptible nod from Wyatt was followed by an equally subtle nod from Wes. Wyatt came over to Wes, bending down to scoop Jane out of his arms.
“Come here, baby girl. Daddy’s got you.” Jane threw her little arms around Wyatt’s neck, and he settled her on his waist while Veda was still strapped to his chest.
Wes got up from the couch, thanking Sheila and my father for dinner, before settling his stare at me.
“Let’s go. No time like the present.”
My gaze went to Scarlett nestled against me. She sat up and leaned forward with a kiss. “Go. Just be careful, okay.”
“We’re just going to talk to him. I’ll be home before you know it,” I said, placing another kiss to her lips. To Wes, I said, “We’ll take your car.”
I gave Scarlett my keys so she could get home, said bye to my family, and followed Wes out the door. Apparently, we were doing this now.
“Do you know if he’s staying at his place or Juliet’s?” he asked.
“Fuck if I know. We can swing by his house first since it’s closer and go from there.”
