“Travis just called.Do we know what we’re looking for?”the officer asked after introducing herself as Lieutenant Arden Voss.
“It’s a thumb drive with enough evidence of money laundering, and stolen credit cards to name a few of Talon’s crimes to lock away the prominent businessman for the rest of his life—in addition to the kidnapping charges he’s already facing,” Beau said.
“A thumb drive is small.”Lieutenant Voss held up her pinky finger.“Not much bigger than this.Got a good idea where she might have hidden it?”
“I know exactly where my mom would have put it,” he said.What they might never know was how she’d convinced the current tenant to let her inside the apartment, but he didn’t want to overthink it.
The tenant answered after the first knock.He had on pajamas and a muscle shirt.He froze for a moment, clearly caught off guard.“Can I help you, Officer?”
“May we come inside?”Lieutenant Voss asked.
The man in his late thirties frowned.“Did I do something wrong?”
“No, sir.It’s believed a visitor placed evidence critical to an investigation in your home.”
“Without your knowledge,” Beau added.
The man hesitated, but then stepped back and allowed them inside.
Beau motioned toward the hallway that led to the master bedroom.“May I?”
The lieutenant stood guard at the door as the occupant nodded.
Beau released Ivy’s hand and made a beeline for the hallway and the vent where his mother used to hide her most precious belongings.In the past, she’d hidden a gold ring that had been handed down by Beau’s grandmother, and a necklace with a dragonfly pendant that hadn’t been worth much, based on how much it had rusted.But it had seemed to carry sentimental value to his mother.He should ask his mother about its significance someday.
He moved the loose vent cover and reached inside.His fingers stopped on a thumb drive.He’d found it.He palmed it and then headed into the living room.
“This is it.This is what we came for,” he said to the lieutenant while holding up the drive.
She unfolded a paper bag and asked him to drop the evidence inside.
He hesitated.
“I’ll take good care of it,” she reassured.“I promise.”
It was time to let go.He dropped the evidence inside the bag, thanked the man who had opened the door, and followed the officer to her vehicle.He listened as she reported that they’d gotten what they came for.
The lieutenant thanked him before taking off.
He couldn’t wait any longer to talk to Ivy, so he stopped at the truck.“There’s something I need to tell you.”
Ivy openedthe passenger door and climbed inside, afraid Beau was about to say goodbye.
“Hey,” Beau said as he claimed the driver’s seat.“Did I do something to offend you?”
Ivy didn’t need to hear the “It’s me, not you”speech.She got it.The investigation was over.There was no need for the two of them to interact any longer.She crossed her arms across her chest and hugged her elbows.
“No, of course not,” she said.“I get it, Beau.We shared a couple of kisses and, sure, they were of the epic, soul-melting variety, but we don’t have to have an awkward conversation where you tell me this is over.”
“Is that what you think I’m going to say?”His tone said she’d caught him off guard.
“Isn’t it?”
Face muscles relaxed, he leaned in toward her.There was no guardedness in his eyes this time when he looked at her, just openness and something that looked a whole lot like vulnerability.His gaze was gentle, unwavering, and full of warmth like a caress.
“I couldn’t be thinking more the opposite, Ivy.”
Had she just heard correctly?
