Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
“You guys hungry?” Teagan asks. “I can make some sandwiches. We have leftover potato salad, and Jonah’s sister, Mary, brought over a plate of brownies last night.”
Holly’s eyes light up. I’m sure she could use a big helping of chocolate-flavored comfort.
“That’d be amazing,” I say, shooting Teagan a grateful smile. She responds with a wink.
“I can help,” Holly says quietly. I don’t know if it’s the warm welcome or meeting baby Joey that has her looking calmer, but most of the nervousness she walked in with seems to have left her.
“Awesome,” Teagan says. “I can always use help keeping this little guy away from the sharp objects.” She turns to Jonah. “Daddy, can you bring their bags up to the guestroom?”
Holly visibly tenses at Teagan’s casual use of the word, Daddy.
“Sure,” Jonah says, nodding to me. “Give me a hand, would ya?”
I take Holly’s bag from her, intending to leave her white kitten, but she hands the toy off to me, mouthing the words, I’m okay. I squeeze her shoulder, then head upstairs with Jonah.
“I’m surprised you didn’t turn the guestroom into Joey’s bedroom,” I tell him.
“My home office was closer to our room,” he says. “Besides, the nieces are obsessed with their new nephew. I swear they’d stay over every weekend if my sister let them.”
Jonah sets my bag on the dresser in the guest room, then takes a seat on the edge of the bed.
“Listen, brother,” Jonah says, elbows resting on his knees. “Holly seems like a sweet girl, and you know we love to have you. But since I’m not the only one under this roof, I have to ask, is there a chance you might be tracking in some kind of trouble?”
I set Holly’s backpack on the floor and chuckle. Once a cop always a cop.
“I wouldn’t have brought her here if I didn’t think it was the safest option for everyone. I doubled back twice on the way here to make sure no one was following us. That said, I’d understand if you didn’t want to take on the risk.”
Jonah considers my words, nods, then pushes up from the bed.
“You’re always welcome here, partner.”
I clap his shoulder. “I appreciate it.”
We head back toward the stairs.
“You gonna tell me what your girl’s running from, or am I gonna have to guess?” Jonah asks.
“I’ll tell you everything, but you’re gonna want to be sitting down for this one.”
The four of us, plus baby Joey, gather around the table for a lunch of turkey sandwiches and various sides. Once we’ve all gotten a bit of food in us, I begin explaining the broad strokes of the case, and the important players. Holly fidgets as I reach the part about McKenzie going off with the driver, nibbling at her cuticles instead of her food. I draw her hand away from her mouth and into my lap, as I bring everyone up to speed to the present moment.
Teagan and Jonah share a loaded glance.
“You guys can stay here as long as you want,” Teagan says, reaching for Holly’s other hand.
Holly tenses, but doesn’t pull away, and Teagan clearly doesn’t take offense. An ex-foster kid herself, she’s come a hell of a long way from the shy, distrustful teen Jonah took in as a favor to his social-worker sister.
“I appreciate it.” I raise my glass of sweet tea in thanks.
“That’s what family’s for,” Jonah says, scratching at his beard. “Could the guy who broke into your place be the same one who picked McKenzie up from the party?”
I glance at Holly, who shrugs.
“I didn’t get a good look at the man who stole Cal’s laptop,” Holly says. “But he was thin enough.”
Joey amuses himself by blowing spit bubbles. Teagan wipes his face with a napkin as Jonah breaks up pieces of turkey to go on Joey’s plate. Taking care of Joey is a dance they’ve learned by heart, and one they’ve both taken to masterfully.
“It’s a hell of a coincidence,” Jonah says. “Someone stealing evidence from your partner’s desk the same day this guy decides to break into your place.”
“My thoughts exactly,” I tell him. “Thing is, anyone on that video had motive to steal the footage. Which narrows down the suspect pool to around, oh, seventy.” I sigh with frustration. Holly draws her thumb across my knuckles.
I notice Teagan watching us with a look of contemplation.
“How does McKenzie tie into all this?” Teagan asks.
“Her disappearance fits the profile,” I say. “Most of the other victims have either been linked to the sex ring or the reverend’s revival tours.”
“So, you’ve got two cases then,” she says. “The sex trafficking ring, and the murders. And the only thing that can tie them together is McKenzie, who’s missing.”
“That’s the gist of it.”
“Have you gone out to look for her? Even if she’s laying low, she’s going to need food and shelter.”