Page 28 of Secret Squirrel

I shifted in my seat, wincing when my side pulled. “But there are so many possibilities. This could have something to do with Rafe, or maybe it’s about FNG. Maybe someone he was involved with was somehow connected to Rafe.”

He shook his head at me. “I did a very thorough background on him. Trust me, there’s nobody he was connected to that was also connected to Rafe.”

“But—”

“Rae,” he interrupted. “It’s over. FNG is gone,” he snapped. He winced as he tried to get comfortable on his side of the table. “We’ll investigate the plane explosion, but that’s where our focus stays. The rest is just conjecture. Even if your theories are right, until we have more information, there’s nothing to go on.”

“So, you want me to put it aside?”

I couldn’t believe he was telling me this. Cash never pushed anything aside.

“Put yourself in my shoes.” He sat up and rested his arms on the table, leaning in closer to me. “You just went after a man you thought was kidnapped. In the process, your entire team was nearly taken out in an explosion, killing the very man you were after. Would you keep pushing or would you regroup and investigate the evidence in front of you or chase down theories that have no basis of evidence?”

Well, when he put it like that… “Yeah, I see your point.”

“I would love for you to be right, but we can only investigate what we know, what we have evidence of. Unfortunately, we’re in a tight position right now. With Johnny on the run with Tahlia, that investigation is locked up tight. You went over everything yourself. You said you found nothing.”

I nodded, feeling like I’d let him down.

“This is not your fault, Rae.”

“It sure feels that way,” I grumbled.

“Whenever Rafe is involved in something, you can always bet there’ll be a shit show to follow. I’m not saying I’m giving up on finding out why FNG was involved. We just need a different approach for now. We can’t afford for anyone else to be put in danger because of him.”

I was so fucking tired that even agreeing with him felt like a chore. But he was right. I needed to shift my focus on things that I could actually investigate. Going after crazy theories and leads would get me nowhere and only frustrate me more when no evidence turned up.

“I hear ya, boss.”

“Now that we’re clear on that, let’s get some breakfast. Hospital food sucks.” He raised his hand and motioned for the waitress to come over.

“You actually stayed the night?”

“Eva wouldn’t allow me to leave,” he grumbled.

I stifled a laugh. Any humor I found in the situation would only anger him.

“What can I get you?” the waitress purred.

That voice. I gritted my teeth and looked up at the wannabe Barbie doll standing next to the table. Her seductive smile fell when she saw me sitting there, and was quickly replaced with anger. “I’m surprised you’re here. I thought you’d be with Duke after you pissed all over him last night.”

Cash looked at me funny. “You pissed on him?” He raised his eyebrow and grabbed his water from the table.

“Metaphorically,” I murmured. “That means symbolically.”

Cash kicked me under the table and I winced.

“You have some nerve showing your face in here,” she snapped, thrusting her hand on her hip.

“It’s a diner,” I snapped. “A place to get food. I can come in here if I want.”

“That’s rich,” she said, her face contorting wildly. “Especially since he was in here not even an hour ago getting food for you!”

“I’m sorry,” Cash cut in, smothering a smile. “You are…”

“Carly.” She turned her sickeningly sweet voice on him, leaning forward on the table and thrusting out her breasts. “IwasDuke’s girlfriend until last night when this…” Her lips pursed in anger as she looked me over. “This hoochie threw herself at my man.”

Cash nearly choked on his water, grabbing his napkin to wipe at his mouth. “You’re Duke’s girlfriend. That’s…”

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