Page 55 of Detective Daddy Next Door

Chicago. The Uber driver from Las Vegas had said his daughter lives there and that she’s a criminal lawyer.

"Hold on. I think I might know someone who could help in Chicago. I have her business card. She’s a criminal lawyer."

"Really?"

"Yes, but we'd have to go over to my house to get the card."

After Myles tells Ellie to stay away from the windows while we are at my place, he locks the front door and we go over to my house. We don't open the blinds once we're in. I switch on the lights and make for my room while Myles stays in the living room watching both houses.

Where would I have put the card? I know I put it in my bag. I look for the bag I took on the business trip. I search the inner compartment and outer ones, but it's nowhere to be found. I search my dresser drawers, then my desk drawers. Did I leave it at the office? No. I never took it to the office. Why would I? I search and search until I hear a knock on the door. Myles pokes his head in.

"I still haven't found the card. I can't remember where I put it."

"Need more time?"

"Yes, please."

He withdraws from the doorway, and I go back to searching. I'm throwing my clothes off the hangers in the closet when something falls out of a jacket pocket. I pick it up and let out a sigh of relief. I look down at it. Winny Baldwin. Saxton Firm, Chicago. Her number is on the card.

When we get back to Myles’s house, I call her. I don't know what to expect, but I hold my breath and wait as the phone rings.

A soft, sweet voice comes on the other side. "Hello?"

"Hi. Is this Winny Baldwin, from the Saxton firm in Chicago?"

"Yes. This is she. How may I help you?"

"I'm Bria Shaw. I’m calling from Long Beach, California. I met your father in Las Vegas, he gave me your card. He told me I could call you if I needed help. And I need help."

I explain everything to her, and she gives me a strong promise that she'll help in any way she can. She has a lot of connections, and promises Daisy will be fished out soon. I e-mail her the necessary documents. Pictures of Daisy and Ben, too.

A week later, I get a call from her. Her sources have informed her that they've spotted Daisy and she's passed it on to the police. By afternoon, we get news that Daisy has been arrested. She was arrested along with Ben.

Chapter 22

Myles

Thefraudringisbigger than we thought. What we thought could have been two or three firms turned out to be multiple lawyers from six different firms across the country. I'm still surprised at how they were able to pull it off for so long without anyone knowing. I'm glad they've all been caught.

I'm standing at the kitchen counter, sipping lemon tea.

Bria is lounging on the couch. Garcelle has gone out to the park with Ellie. Although Bria has resumed work, it's a Saturday, and she's practically moved into my house now. I'm not complaining. I love having her around. Ellie loves having her around. I empty my cup of tea and set it in the sink, then go to join her on the couch. She’s sprawled on it, so I lie on top of her gently. I let out a sigh.

She runs her fingers through my hair and kisses my head.

"It feels so good to be able to relax again. Although I have more work to do, since two spots are open at the office and someone has to do the job. Micha doesn't trust anyone to handle the documents but me."

I raise my head. "That's a good thing, right? When your boss trusts you."

She sweeps my hair away from my face. "It is. But it means more work. I'm swimming in work."

We both laugh and I rest my head on her chest, listening to her heartbeat. "What has Micha said about your promotion? About you making partner?"

"Nothing for now. We're still trying to do damage control. We lost two clients already. But it doesn't seem like more will be leaving. I'm just concerned about the firm's growth right now."

I lie still on her chest, thinking about how sad I am that the case has come to an end, because that means I'll be leaving soon. I don't want to leave, but I have to. More assignments will be coming up soon and I don't know where I'll be going to next. I don’t know if work will be taking me back home to Denver, where I have a house. I'll be retiring soon, but I still have a few more months of work.

I’m not sure that if work takes me out of Long Beach that I'll come back. I haven't really made anywhere home. Even when I was married to Sonya, it wasn't any different. I bought a house in Denver so my family would have a place we could call our own, but it never really felt like home. It was just a place where I lived with my wife and kid. A safe place I could leave them at while I traveled for work. I can't do the same with Bria. One, we aren't married. And two, I can't put that responsibility on her. I know she'd accept—anything to keep me around—but I can't do that. I'll have to leave when the time comes. I’ll miss her so much. My heart aches just thinking about it.

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