Page 11 of Detective Daddy Next Door

Myles

Igetoutofbed and stumble to switch on the light. I'm thirsty and didn’t have much to drink before bed. I open the door and step into the hallway. It's dark, but I don't turn on the light. I don't want to wake up Ellie or Garcelle. Instead, I guide myself by touching the walls until I get to the living room. The moonlight flooding in makes my walk to the kitchen easier. I'm filling a glass of water at the tap when I raise my head to see a room in the next house has its light on. It's probably her bedroom. Or is it her living room? Is she working late?

When the glass is filled with water, I gulp it down. I feel my way back to my room and close my door gently. I'm about to get back in bed, but I stop and go to my work table instead. I pull my laptop close and open it, but I don't turn it on immediately. I tap my finger on the table, then boot up my laptop. The sleep has cleared from my eyes, and I need something to fill my mind with. I'm not really curious about Bria, but I need to know where she works. What does she do? What might she be doing this late at night? What's keeping her up?

I open my browser and type in her name, but there are quite a number of Brias. I decide to go the detective route. After a few minutes, her picture pops on the screen. The first thing I think is how beautiful she is. She may be rude, but the copper-colored brown eyes staring at me are probably the most mesmerizing eyes I have ever seen. I stare at her lips, her honey-colored hair, her narrow and straight nose. That smile on her face makes her look innocent. But she's far from it. It's a different look from the mean mug she had on her face the last time I saw her. This is false advertising, I think to myself.

Then I look below the picture. Bria Shaw. Attorney. Interesting.

Then something catches my attention. Maestro Law Firm.

My fingers lay still on the keyboard. This must be some type of joke. I look at her picture again, studying it hard to make sure I'm looking at the right person. But it's her. Bria works at the law firm we're investigating for fraud. I lean back and let out a chuckle. My mind races back to the pictures Jon showed me some days back at the office. How did I not recognize her? And gosh, the name Bria rang no bells in my head. I rest my hand on the back of my head, my mind trying to process what I just discovered.

Jon and I have been looking for a way to penetrate the firm. A way to get closer so we can investigate from inside. And here, we’re being offered a solution. But—and it’s a big but—Bria and I aren't exactly chummy. I'd told her I'd stay out of her way, and she’d said the same. What if she’s in on the fraud? What if I approach her and she informs her boss about it, enabling them to cover their tracks and making our investigation futile?

I sigh and rock my chair back, lifting the front legs off the floor. I slowly let the chair back to the ground and shut my laptop. I reach for my phone and quickly shoot Jon a text to inform him I might have found our in, but it isn't something we can discuss on the phone. He texts back to say we could meet at the office or a restaurant we frequent. I choose the restaurant because it will be easier to get to.

I go back to bed, but sleep never comes.

"Are you sure it's her?" Jon says, looking at the pictures of Bria I saved to my phone.

He's never seen her before in person, but he wants to make sure I’m sure of what I'm saying.

"Yes, that's her. You could come over today. I can see her house from my kitchen. You might catch a glimpse of her."

"So, how do we move in? Do we go interrogate her?" he questions.

I twist my lips to the side. "We don't know if she's in on the racket. She could inform the rest of them and destroy our lead."

He nods and takes a sip of his coffee, then sighs.

"I'm thinking we could offer her a way out, if she's involved in the dealings. We could get her on our side. Let her know how serious this is. If she refuses, then we can escalate the issue. What do you think?"

He nods. "That sounds fine. So, what do you have in mind?"

I rub my hands together as I prepare to tell Jon what I have planned out.

It's 8 p.m. Garcelle is in Ellie's room, getting her ready for bed. I pop my head through the door. "I'm going out. I should be back soon."

"Daddy, come say goodnight to me before I sleep."

"I'll be back before you go to bed," I say, and pull my head back out.

I reach the front door and pull it open. When I'm out I shut the door and look around for a second or two. Instead of going to my car, I turn left and head for Bria's house. Her lights are on, a sign she's in and up. When I reach her door, I press on the doorbell.

She opens the door with a smile on her face. A smile that slowly melts into a frown.

I have my detective face on, set without emotion.

"What do you want?" she demands.

I expected she'd slam the door in my face. "Can I come in?"

She looks at me with a scowl on her face. "Why do you want to come into my house?"

I put my hands in my pockets and wait for her to calm down a little. "We need to discuss something."

She shakes her head. "Look. If you're here to apologize for being rude to me then I'm not interested. We're better off not talking. I'm fine with that."

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