Page 16 of Detective Daddy Next Door

"I found out what he does and why he's in town."

"Oh, is that why you've not been bothering me about finding out who he is?"

I nod once. "Correct."

"I hope he didn't turn out to be an ex-convict stalker."

"Quite the opposite. More like the one who would track down a stalker."

The waiter comes with our drinks, big yellow straws and cocktail umbrellas sitting in the glasses.

"Thank you," Ava says and takes a sip. She shuts her eyes and when she opens them, they are wide. "OMG. This is really good. I might need another one of these."

"No problem. Just signal to me and I'll be right over with more," the waiter says and leaves.

"Taste it, Bria. Gosh, this is heaven."

I pick up the glass, take the umbrella out and place it on the table before putting the straw to my mouth. I sip. Then sip again. "It's good," I say, taking a third sip.

The alcohol in it relaxes my nerves a little.

"So, what do you mean by he's the type to track down a stalker? Is he a bounty hunter?"

I shake my head because Ava knows damn well bounty hunters have nothing to do with stalkers.

"He's a detective."

She drops her glass on the table gently and picks it up again. "Uhm. That's hot."

"No, it's not."

"It totally is."

"He's investigating me."

She drops her glass with a thud and doesn't pick it up again this time. "Huh?"

"Well…he's not investigating me in particular, he's investigating the firm."

Ava shifts in her chair. "Why?"

"He says the firm is being used for money laundering. Or something like that. Fraud."

"Oh wow. Are you serious?"

"I'm dead serious."

"Jesus Christ of Nazareth. How did you find this out?"

"He came to my place two days ago. He says he'll give me immunity if I cooperate with him."

Ava looks at me confused. "He should be talking to your boss, not you. I know for a fact you have nothing to do with any type of fraud."

It warms my heart that she trusts me. "That's the problem. He can't talk to her. He's an undercover detective."

She nods as the realization hits her. "Oh, I see. He wants to use you to get them."

I nod.

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