Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 69155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 346(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 346(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
“There could be a number of reasons for that. Look, I’m not saying that he has nothing to do with it, and I’m going to look further into it from my end, I’m simply stating I can’t see why he’d risk his entire life and career for something like that. He is well known and does an incredible job ...”
Alarick and Kendric look to each other, and then Kendric states, “You know how fuckin’ deep this goes, we’d appreciate your help on this.”
Well, that’s probably the nicest thing he’s said to me.
“Send me the documents you’ve got, I’ll run them through some databases at work, see if I can pull any information off them. Also, I’m now working with Steven on a case. He personally asked me to.”
Alarick frowns, crossing his big arms. “He asked you to?”
“Yes.”
“Out of nowhere?”
I exhale. “Maybe I’m good at my job. I’m not the only one he picked.”
“You didn’t consider that he’s gettin’ close to you because he knows you’re workin’ with us and wants to cover all his bases?”
Well, now I’m considering that.
“I have,” I lie, “but I’m not going to pass the opportunity up if he actually wants my assistance. I’ve been waiting for this chance for a good long time.”
“Do it,” Kendric murmurs. “You working with him gets us even closer.”
“I’m not doing it for information,” I say, narrowing my eyes.
“Can’t hurt to fuckin’ gather it while you’re there, find out what you can. You’re working directly with him, it’s the perfect opportunity,” Kendric fires, his jaw tight.
“I’m not risking my job ...”
“You fuckin’ owe it to us.”
“That’s enough,” Alarick barks, then looks to me. “Zariah, we’re not goin’ to make you risk anything but would appreciate if you could, at the very least, keep your eyes peeled when around him. Listen out, if anything comes up, let us know.”
“I can do that,” I say. “I’ll see what I can find about the receipts. Where did you find that information?”
“We have our sources,” Alarick says, his voice stern.
He’s not going to tell me where.
Fair enough.
“Well, get those sources to keep digging. The more we have, the closer we’ll get to finding Dax. Are we any closer to locating Peter?”
“Peter has been seen, but he’s clean as a fuckin’ whistle. The man is smart, and we have no reason to barge in and demand shit. One wrong move, Kendric is going down, otherwise I’d have the skinny fuck tied up doing things to him you couldn’t even imagine for information.”
I have no doubt.
I try to turn my cop brain off when I hear that. I know some of the things Alarick and the club do would have my hair standing on end, but I also know they’re good people. In a strange sense of the word. They’ve helped me, and I know that Kendric doesn’t deserve what’s happening to him. For that alone, I’m going to make sure that he’s cleared. Then, well, then I’ll probably have to cut my ties with the club.
It’s not safe for my career to be friends with them.
Even though the idea of not having them in my life bothers me.
“What about Aviana? Have you made contact with her?”
Alarick glances at Kendric, who exhales and growls. “There’s somethin’ off there. She’s twisted up in somethin’. We’re tryin’, still tryin’.”
She could have the answers we need.
“Have you thought about getting Briella to try? Considering the two were best friends?”
“Yeah,” Alarick answers. “Don’t like her involved in this, but it might be the only way. Her friend Karen has been quite savvy in helpin’ us with computer work. She’s good at findin’ shit and so we’ve got her helpin’ to get some information, too.”
Karen’s nice, I like her. The more hands the better, I suppose.
Sometimes, though, more hands means more chances of getting caught.
Either way, we’re in so deep now I don’t think it matters anymore.
“What about Cova and Merleigh?” I continue to question. “They’ve been in amongst it. Surely they might have something we haven’t heard of yet. A name? A location? Something that stands out?”
“We’re talkin’ to Merleigh, but she was kept away from most of it. If anyone has answers, it’s Cova. She don’t want a bar of us, though. Every time we try to speak to her, she simply spits in our faces and refuses to talk. She hates us. No luck there.”
“Maybe I can try?” I suggest.
I feel bad for Cova, I feel bad for the life she’s lived. I know her mind is warped and twisted, that she’s living with an abuse she doesn’t fully understand. She was ripped away from a life she thought was her own, and is now living with a whole lot of emotion she probably can’t figure out in her own mind.
“Worth a shot. King has been tryin’ to talk with her daily, but she can’t stand him. He’s tryin’ all the same, though. Guess he’s tryin’ to step up because her momma is dead.”