“It would.” He shifted in his seat. “You look upset.”
Shit. “Yeah, I am.”
“Tell me about the K9 Unit. What’s going on there?”
Dammit. “So you heard.”
“That it went to Frank, yeah. But why?”
Now she had a choice—tell George about Frank and Tom and risk exposing their undercover operation, or admit to her affair with Alex. One would compromise her fellow officers, and the other would make her look like a fool. So, to her mind, as embarrassing as it would be, she knew the choice she had to make.
“I fucked up, Dad. I got caught with Alex. Stan decided it would be best if I withdrew, so Frank got the position instead.” She kept her gaze straight ahead and stared at the wooden fence bordering the parking lot. She didn’t dare meet his gaze or he’d know immediately that there was more to the story.
George watched her for a beat. She swallowed hard.
“That it?” he asked, his voice gruff.
“Pretty much, Dad.” She chanced a swift glance his way, just long enough to know she wasn’t getting away with a damn thing.
George gave her a tight-lipped smile. “Again, this is where it becomes absolute shit to be your dad. I’m worried about you, and I also understand what you can and can’t do.” He reached across the bench and gripped her hand. “Sometimes, you play by the books a little too closely, and it’s…I’m afraid it’s gonna hurt you. That’s the dad talking. But, it makes you a good cop, and that’s the sergeant talking. I’m proud of you, Sylvie, but damn, I worry.”
He’d given her an out and she knew that Dad had defeated Cop this time.
“It’s okay. I’m going to be fine.”
George looked like he was going to protest, then changed his mind. “What can I do to help?” he asked, looking resigned.
“Just be aware if anything weird happens…I can’t talk about it necessarily.”
“I don’t like that. I think I know what you’re up to, and I’m telling you, you don’t have the experience or the support to go undercover. Loop me in closer whenever you can.”
Sylvie sighed. “I’ll do my best, but no promises. I see you’re keeping Kyle up to date.”
“That gonna be a problem?”
“Yes.” She drew out the word. “The fewer people who know what I’m doing, the better. Please? Otherwise, it’ll make my position harder.”
“What about Alex?”
Damn. Her dad knew how to go straight to the issue.
“I have to be careful there as well. Otherwise, he’ll swoop in and try to protect me and I don’t need that right now.”
“I disagree. Sylvie, don’t lone wolf this.”
“I’m not.” This time, she reached back across the bench and grabbed her dad’s hand. “I have Sergeant George Williams as backup.”
“And Watchdog if you need it.”
Not in this case. I can’t let them know. “Yeah. I do,” she said anyway.
“And Carla.”
“See? A virtual army at my beck and call.” She dropped her dad’s hand. “By the way, have you heard from Carla?” She frowned. “Is that why you’re asking about the K9 Unit?”
“She checked in with me yesterday, yeah. And yes.”
Sylvie sighed. “So, she’s the one who told you.” She checked her phone. “I texted her a little while ago but she hasn’t responded.”
