Hayes investigation.
My eyes slide over the documents. There it is.
Employers. It’s a short list of names of companies which Connor probably worked for. The last two catch my eye. One project for Viktor Koslov and one for a guy named Nick Vanderberg.
I take a picture with my phone and close the file when I hear feet shuffling in the hallway. As fast as I can, I sit back down in my seat. Hawk’s arrival found me still slumped in the chair, uninterested.
The man rubs his chin. “Let me repeat,” the officer states, “everything’s still under consideration.” His spine ramrod straight. “I don’t have any more information for you, so you’re wasting your time.”
“I noticed that.” Sliding my chair back roughly, I rise. “I wish you a good day, Mr. Hawk.”
“Superintendent,” he hums as he looks at me with narrowed eyes.
With no further response from him, I leave the office and step back into the blazing sun.
Apparently Connor had connections with the Russians. Strapping on my helmet, I speed off.
Five
Ipacethroughtheliving room. What the fuck does Kyler know about Connor? I run my hands through my hair. My gaze wanders to the clock; eleven-thirty. With a sigh, I turn off the lights and walk up the stairs. Carefully I open Rebel’s bedroom door and stare at the blond hair, the same color as Connor’s, fanned out over her pillow.
What had her father gotten himself into?
Tiptoeing over to her bed, I press a kiss to her forehead and head to my own room. After changing my clothes, I crawl under the covers and stare at the ceiling. My brain keeps mulling over Kyler and Connor. Who killed him? How on earth am I supposed to trust Kyler with information about Connor’s death? If I tell him exactly what I heard and it gets to the wrong person, Rebel’slife might be at stake. I can’t take that risk. For now, no one knows we were in the house at the time it happened, so how does Kyler know Connor was killed? If someone does know we were home at the time, I’m not sure Rebel’s still safe. I turn from side to side, drifting in and out of sleep, while seeing every hour pass on the clock.
With my latte and breakfast, I sit at the small wooden table waiting for Teagan. I slide the scrambled eggs around on my plate and impatiently tap my foot on the floor.
Reluctantly I take a bite; in spite of everything I still need to eat. My stomach protests as the food goes in, but I ignore that and bravely take another bite. It’s certainly not because of the eggs on toast, which tastes delicious. My anxiety makes me nauseous. Bravely, I push on and just as I slide the last bite into my mouth, Teagan arrives.
My best friend raises her hand, and a few minutes later she plops down across from me as she sets down her mug.
“Hey.” She heaves a big sigh and looks up at me. “What’s the matter?” She brings the cup to her lips and carefully takes a sip.
“You’ll never guess who showed up at my door yesterday,” I whisper to her and cast a cursory glance through the bakery.
Wide-eyed, she swallows the coffee and sets her cup down so hard it’s a miracle the drink stays in. “Shit. Seriously? Did you let him in? What did he want?”
I lean on the small wooden table with my elbows, and bend toward her. After glancing through the store again and noting that it’s practically deserted, I say softly, “I pulled him in hoping no one in the neighborhood saw him.”
“You do know that his motorcycle was still in your driveway, right? Or did you drag that into your hallway, as well?”
I stared blankly, despite her valid point that hadn’t occurred to me the day before. “He started talking about Connor.”
“Connor?” Teagan’s gaze turns a tad absent, as if she’s trying to figure out what’s going on.
“At first he just asked if I knew more. About… Connor. Finally he slipped up and said they found a link to another MC. But why are the Renegades looking into it at all?” I sip my now cooled latte. “Why are they interested in him? I don’t get it.”
“The Renegades I can understand, but that other MC…” Her gaze slides thoughtfully to the ceiling and a thinking wrinkle appears on her forehead.
“How so?”
Teagan sighs and waves her hand meaningfully through the air. “Oh, come on, Layne. Everyone knows Kyler’s still checking up on you.” She rolls her eyes and takes another sip.
“What?!” I exclaim. Immediately I cringe and glance around fleetingly, hoping I haven’t attracted attention.
My best friend rubs her forehead. “I was just talking to my colleague the other day about how striking it is that Kyler never had another relationship after you. At least, not one that anyone took notice of.”
With wide eyes, I stare at her. “Why are you talking to a colleague about this?” My voice rises.
