Page 38 of Faking I Do
My gaze shifted to where Shotgun lay on the ground, chewing up a piece of cardboard. “If what you said is true, they’re breaking the law. Aren’t you going to arrest them?”
“Not without a little more investigating.” Bodie grimaced. “I need to figure out what they wanted to do with them, wherethey were getting them . . . letting them know we’re onto them wouldn’t help the case at this point.”
I clamped my arms to my waist, my brow furrowed. “So you’re not going to say anything about this?”
“No”—he put his hand on my shoulder—“and you can’t, either.”
My gaze traveled to where his palm rested, making him acutely aware of the heat generated by his touch. “And why not?”
“Because if they know we know something they’ll be liable to destroy the evidence.” That would set him back, putting him even farther away from learning what his dad and pops were up to.
“You think your dad’s going to smoke them all?” My lips quirked up at the edges like I wanted to laugh at the ridiculousness of the idea.
“Just promise me you won’t say anything for a few days?”
CHAPTER 19
BODIE
My stomach clenchedas I waited for her response. In my experience, Lacey could be unpredictable. At least she had been when she was younger. She’d promise to stay behind so Luke and I could meet up with friends then always show up where she knew we’d be. Hopefully she placed more value on her word than she had when she was ten. I studied her, trying to figure out if she’d be on board.
“Fine.”
I exhaled, my breath seeping out like a deflating balloon. “Thank you.”
“I’m not doing it for you.” Her lashes fluttered as she blinked her eyes, drawing my gaze to the light smattering of freckles that still danced across her nose. “I’m doing it for everyone else. The town deserves to know what’s going on and if holding off gives you a better chance to uncover the whole story . . .”
“It will. I promise.” I squeezed her shoulder then let my hand fall to my side. Knowing Lacey wouldn’t spill the beans took care of one issue. Now I had to deal with the more dangerous one—confronting my family. I didn’t know much about cigars beyond the fact my dad always seemed to have one clenched between his teeth, but if what they were doing was illegal . . .
“I’m going to go grab a broom and sweep up this mess.” Lacey used her foot to nudge the broken pieces into a pile. “Hey, where did Shotgun go?”
I glanced to where the dog had been shredding the cardboard just moments before. “I don’t know. Shotgun!”
When the dog didn’t come right away, Lacey moved toward the end of the aisle. “Shotgun, come here, girl.”
“You go left, I’ll go right?” I asked, already heading in the opposite direction.
Lacey nodded before she disappeared around the corner. I turned the other way, peering down the aisles as I went. Where could the dog go? It’s not like she would have sniffed out anything edible in the mix of decorations and figurines.
“Found her.” Lacey’s voice came from a few rows over.
I followed, rounding the corner to see Lacey crouched over the poor mutt. Shotgun lay on her side, her tongue lolling out of her mouth.
“What happened?” I squatted down next to her, not liking the way the dog didn’t make any kind of effort to get up. My stomach churned as I ran a hand behind her ears. “Come on, girl.”
“I think she ate your evidence.” Lacey pointed to what was left of a chewed-up bundle of cigars. “Do you think the tobacco made her sick?”
“I don’t know, but we’d better get her to the vet.” I scooped Shotgun up in my arms. A giant pink tongue lapped at my cheek. Once. Twice. Then Shotgun panted as I tried to get a better grip. “Do you want to try Zina or should we find an emergency vet?”
Lacey must have already dialed. She held her phone to her ear. “She’s not picking up.”
“To the vet, then. Can you try to find the nearest one?” I pushed through the front door, Shotgun still in my arms.
Lacey climbed into my truck first then I laid Shotgun in her lap. “Hurry, Lacey.”
Her fingers tapped on her phone. “There’s one about forty-five minutes away. Just east of Swynton.”
“You going with me?”
