Page 79 of Guarded Secrets
Levi was across the deck and in the house in a flash, returning a moment later with Keeley’s purse dangling from his fingers. He plopped it in her lap. “There you go. Test the hypothesis.”
She stood and set her bag on the table. With Owen looking over her shoulder and Zoey and Levi across the table watching with avid interest, she unzipped the main compartment. She found the zipper tab to the inside pocket and pulled it open. Slipping her fingers into the pouch, and with heart pounding, carefully extracted the contents.
“Holy shit,” Owen muttered.
Holding it between her thumb and forefinger, Keeley showed the others a flash drive with a shiny aluminum housing.
Levi disappeared, reappearing seconds later with a clear plastic zip baggie. He held the bag open. “Drop it in here, sweetheart. It’s possible the forensics guys can get fingerprints.”
Keeley dropped the device into the bag, glad to be rid of it. “I’ve had it with me all along. I feel like such an idiot.”
“Cut yourself some slack, princess.” Owen cupped her chin and gave her a firm kiss on the lips. “You put it together and figured it out.”
“I knew it,” Zoey crowed. “Thereissomething between you two.”
“You’re nosy,” Owen muttered.
Levi handed the baggie to Owen who slipped it into his pocket.
Keeley stepped back and took a fortifying breath. Zoey might think she and Owen were together, but Keeley knew better. He’d been caught up in the moment, that’s all.
“It’s hard to believe Pam Demaris might’ve been murdered because of this,” she murmured.
“Makes me wonder what the motorcycle gang was up to if they are so interested in getting it back,” Zoey said. “Is it safe to plug in and view the contents?”
Owen shook his head. “Word is it’s encrypted. If that’s the case, it’s password protected.”
“If we turn it over to the sheriff’s department, would they be able to see the contents?” Keeley wondered.
“Not likely. Even with a warrant it’d be near impossible to access the contents without the password.” Owen took out his phone. “I need to call Sawyer and let him know we have it.”
Owen leaned against the deck rail as he spoke on the phone.
Keeley helped clear the chips and veggies from the table while Levi grabbed the empty beer bottles. A cry came over the baby monitor now clipped to Levi’s pocket.
“That’s Lucas.” Zoey zipped across the living room.
“She wants to get him before he wakes Henry.” Levi stowed chips in a cupboard.
“Henry sleeps longer than the little guy?”
“Yeah, go figure. But Lucas will sleep longer at night. Henry’s our morning dude and is up with the sun.”
Zoey returned with Lucas in her arms, the boy rubbing his eyes with a chubby fist.
Owen came in. “We need to get going. Sawyer wants the flash drive asap. It was good to see you all.” He dropped a kiss on both Zoey’s and Lucas’s heads.
“Let us know how this turns out,” Levi said as the men shook hands.
Zoey pulled Keeley in one-armed. “Don’t give up on him,” she whispered. “He’s had it rough, but I can see you’re good for him.”
Keeley gave her a searching look. “I’d like to think so,” she said in a quiet voice. “But, more importantly, he has to think so.”
Zoey gave her another hug, little Lucas staring at Keeley with big blue eyes. “He’ll come around. I know he will.”
She nodded. “Give Henry a kiss for me. You have a beautiful family. I hope to see you again someday.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
