Page 29 of Tapped

Not that she cares what I prefer. She’s busy trying not to get unalived by an unknown hitman hired by her husband.

Hugh turns to his grandson. “I need to talk to your mom. Go get packed. We’ll leave in ten minutes.”

Chase lets out a bellowingwhoopand runs up the stairs, leaving a trail of dry cereal in his wake.

Evie puts a hand on her hip and stares at her father. “What is he packing for?”

“Andrew called an hour ago and told me everything. We’ll talk about the fact you didn’t tell your mother and me about what happened with Jeff yesterday later. I’m here to get Chase and take him off your hands. We know everything—every damn thing, Evie. How do you think we feel knowing our daughter and grandson’s lives are in danger and you didn’t bother making a phone call. Andrew also said your babysitter quit. Your mother canceled her plans for the week to spend time with Chase.”

Evie’s eyes fall shut, and she pulls in a deep breath. “I should’ve called. It’s been a lot to think about.”

“Yes, you should have,” he admonishes as I stand silently to the side. I have no desire to step into anyone’s family drama. I have enough to worry about with my case. Hugh goes on pecking at Evie. “You should’ve packed up and moved to our house for the time being. I get here, and there’s a strange man in your house.”

So much for standing silently to the side.

When Evie glances my way, her pleading eyes look like an apology. “Dad, this is Micah Emmett. Micah, my father, Hugh Litchfield.”

“We met,” Hugh says. “But he didn’t tell me who he is or how he knows you.”

“Your daughter and I met yesterday. I came here to inform her about—” I pause and turn back to see if Chase is anywhere close and decide not to risk it since the little guy seems to show up out of nowhere. “The situation with her husband.”

“He’s a DEA agent, Dad.”

Well. So much for keeping my job under wraps.

Hugh hikes a brow, as if this bit of information finally captures his attention. “The DEA?”

“Your son-in-law crossed paths with my case. I can’t elaborate. The investigation is ongoing.”

“Jeff was being tapped,” Evie announces, spilling all the details about the work that’s taken years to compile. “If it weren’t for Micah, I’d never know what was going on and Jeff wouldn’t be sitting in prison right now.”

“Jail,” I correct. “Prison is for after you’re convicted. And you don’t have to tell everyone about the wiretap. We told you for obvious reasons, but I’m still trying to salvage what I can of my case.”

Evie throws a hand to motion to her father. “He hates Jeff. He’s not going to do anything to help him get out.”

“That’s true,” Hugh agrees. “Jeff is a shit husband and a lazy father. As long as my daughter and grandson are safe, I couldn’t be more pleased with this scenario. Andrew is working on getting an ex parte motion for an emergency divorce. When they find this person that Jeff hired and throw him away for life, too, you’ll be done with him for good. Years too late, but still done.”

It looks like this isn’t the first time Evie has listened to this, and mutters, “Trust me, I know.”

“Andrew also told me your babysitter quit. We’ll keep Chase until you can get that worked out. Your mom is more than happy to cancel her schedule to stay at home with him. Given the threats against you both, they won’t leave the grounds. The property is more than secure.”

“No way,” Evie argues as she fires up an espresso machine. “You can keep him during the day, but he’s coming back here with me at night. I can’t be away from him. Not right now. Sleeping last night was hard enough. I’ll go crazy if Chase isn’t here.”

“He’ll be safe with us, and you will be too,” Hugh insists.

She turns and leans into the counter while her coffee brews. “It’s too far for me to drive back and forth to the hospital and the clinic and all the way to South Beach. Seriously, what time did you get up to come here anyway?”

“I took the helicopter.”

Wow. These people are next level.

“You go from your house to downtown. My patients are all over.” Evie goes to the refrigerator, pulls out a container of half and half, and looks at me. “Not everyone can hire a helicopter service to shuttle them around the city. Am I right, Micah?”

I hold my hand up. “The only time I’m in a chopper is when we’re doing surveillance or chasing a high-speed boat over the water.”

She stops what she’s doing. “Wait, is that how you found out Jeff was running drugs on the boat?”

I shake my head. “Your husband is loose lipped. He was easy to peg, and we have all the evidence we need. No offense, he’s not good at what he does.”

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