“Oh, I had a locator on.It can help with engagement,” sheexplained.
Which Ian thought was hysterical, but her da simply wenteven paler.Not even Irishmen should be able to go so white.
“We’re all thankful for the quick thinking of her friends.”Her mother sat beside her father, and she’d poured her own whiskey.“Thequestion is what happens now?Was everyone arrested?Is my daughter introuble?”
Mitch sat back.“Daisy is not in any trouble with thepolice.She is a material witness, however.Everyone was arrested, and they’rebeing held for questioning right now.The problem is if they make bail, Daisyis technically the only witness they can count on.”
“But the client was with me,” Daisy argued.She’d been theone to cause all the trouble when she’d revealed their hiding spot because shewas pissed at her boyfriend.
She’d gone from crying because he might be cheating toyelling because he was obviously withholding funds from his secret job.
“Heidi Groverson is now claiming she believes her boyfriendwhen he says he got sent to the address to deliver a lunch order and hadnothing to do with the operation ongoing there,” Mitch explained.
“So she’s lying,” her da accused.
“I think she’s trying to protect her boyfriend,” Ruby added.“I’m already working on it.Ronnie Wilson is registered with a company calledMeals To You.They’re a group of gig workers who run food.I think I might beable to prove it’s also a front for moving drugs.According to Daisy’s account,Ronnie went once a month.I think he’s likely the go-between for the cartel andtheir lower-level dealers.”
So she’d busted up a dangerous drug ring on her very firstcase.“We can take them all down.”
“Very likely,” Mitch agreed.“But first you have to go totrial.With Heidi changing her story, you’re the star witness.”
“A cartel is going to want to kill me darling girl.”Her daalways sounded more Irish when he was emotional.He’d been born in Dublin buthad lived most of his adult life right here in Dallas.Not that his accentshowed the time he’d spent here.He was a handsome man with green eyes and darkhair.So many women would look his way even now, but he only ever seemed to seeher mother.
She wanted the kind of love her parents had.Deep and true.Steadfast.
“We’re not going to let someone kill Daisy,” her uncle said.Ian Taggart wasn’t related to her by blood.Or rather not the kind thatnormally made a family.She’d heard the stories.The men and women ofMcKay-Taggart had bled for each other over the years, and they’d formed bondsas tight as any family.It meant she had a ton of overly protective aunties anduncles.One of them seemed to finally be getting serious.“Ruby, I wouldappreciate you sharing anything you find out with us, but know we’re going to workthis from our end, too, and we’ll obviously handle getting her a bodyguard.”
Ruby seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.“Thank you, Mr.Taggart.”
“Yes, my dad will likely chill if he knows you’re handlingit.”There was a bitterness to Harlow’s words.Maybe her relationship with herdad was worse than she’d thought.
Daisy could work on that.She was good with parental units.Perhaps Mr.Dawson simply needed to see how competent his daughter was.Ifanyone knew how to handle an overly protective father, it was her.She wasalready thinking of ways to help out her boss.
“She should probably move home for the time being,” heruncle said.
She loved her parents, but the thought of leaving her housemade her sad.And there was the issue of her employment.She knew he wasn’ttalking about simply sleeping in her old bed at night.Her da would go for thefull lock-down.“I can’t.I have to work.”
“About that,” Ruby began.
Daisy felt tears well.Not again.She’d tried so hard.She’dbeen good at it.Mostly.Sort of good.She could be better, but she neededtime.“But I just started.”
Harlow’s head shook.“Sorry, man.It was a hell of a firstday, so it needs to be your last day.”
Tears pierced her eyes.She’d worked so hard to afford thedown payment on her ramshackle little home.“But I won’t be able to afford myhouse.”
She expected her da to tell her to move back in, but hereached out and put a hand over hers.
“Don’t worry, me darlin’.You’ll come to work right here.We’ll find you a place,” her da promised.
“I’m getting the Scotch, babe.”Aunt Charlotte was on herfeet in an instant.
Uncle Ian had gone pale, and a distant look hit his eyes.Like he’d gone someplace else.
It was weird.She often saw that look in men’s eyes.
But her natural positivity was already taking over.Thiscould be good.Maybe she was too extra for what was essentially a two-personshow.Here at McKay-Taggart she would be joining the big time.“I can help you,Da.”
Now her da paled.“Or you can work at reception.Orbookkeeping.We’ll find you a place.Don’t worry about it.”
