Page 77 of Secret Triplets for Christmas

“Since you’re here, did you find anything useful on your trip home?”

I hesitated, weighing the pros and cons of telling Donovan about the papers. My fingers tapped against the side of my bottle, an action that did not go unnoticed by him. I settled for a half-truth as I met his inquisitive gaze.

"Some papers."

Donovan sat forward. "Like what?"

"Can't say much. Don't want to mess things up before Agent Marsden investigates."

“Oh, hell, you’re bringing the Feds in? You can’t do that to me, Oliver. Don’t you trust me?”

"Trust isn't the issue here. It’s about honoring Liam.”

He sat back again, his brow furrowed as he took a sip of beer. “So, it’s evidence of something. It has to be.”

“What do you know about it?”

Donovan’s jaw clenched as he looked to the side. I wondered what he was trying to sort his thoughts about. Finally, he turned back. “There were rumors.”

“About?”

“About Liam talking to the Feds. I don’t have the details. By then, I was out of the crew, but I still had a few connections. He was seen as a traitor.”

“What about you? You became a cop. Isn’t that seen as a betrayal?”

He shrugged. “I got some shit for sure. But I’ve never tried to put them in jail. I was assigned a different area on patrol, and now, my investigations are mostly break-ins and drug deals, but nothing related to the crew.”

“Do you know who killed him?”

Donovan’s eyes were pained. “No. Don’t you think I’d say something if I did?”

“I need justice for him, Donovan. And I owe it to him to finish what he started."

He nodded. "Okay, fair enough. But I can help. In fact, you shouldn’t be around this at all. Look what happened to Liam. Are you sure about putting your life on the line for this?"

I didn’t want to die, but I couldn’t let this stand either. “Like I said, I owe it to Liam.”

“It’s not just you, though, is it? Lindsay’s been targeted, her home ransacked. This could be dangerous for her as well.”

I felt sick at the idea. “We’ll always be targets until this is finished. I have to trust the FBI is going to handle it.”

Donovan made a jerk-off motion with his hand. “They’re a bunch of government bureaucrats. Let me help. I can take the papers, and me and Riker can figure out how to use them to get justice for Liam and keep you and Lindsay safe.”

I hesitated. Donovan’s argument made sense. He was more invested in the case having known Liam. Plus, there was already an official investigation. Two, actually, the break-in and Liam’s murder.

But Liam had gone to the FBI, not to the police. I knew from my own research that the FBI was the better option to stop identity theft, which had been Liam’s goal.

“I need to stick to the plan, but I am worried about Lindsay’s safety. Do you think you or some of your men could keep an eye on her?”

“Sure. Of course. I was there earlier today.” A soft smile played on his lips that I didn’t like. “She didn’t mention anything about finding papers, so I guess you had them all along, eh?”

I shrugged.

“I’m just saying, that could help protect her if whoever is following you two knew about the papers and that you had them.”

He had a point. “I’d still like someone to watch out for her.”

He grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Not a problem. Watching Lindsay isn’t a hardship. She's easy on the eyes, if you know what I mean.”

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