“He is a good honest cop,” he repeats as he brings his eyes up to mine. “In a sea of crooked ones, he is good. Please, don’t go after him.” He types the name in my phone and hands it back.
I tip my head to the side, not making promises I can’t keep. Once I have spoken with other sources, and cross checked more times than necessary, I will decide. With the information I need, firmly encased away, some of my anxiety lessens. Checking my watch, sunset is going to fast approach, but she’ll skin me alive if I get in that car without a solid direction of what will happen to the deceptive detective.
Coercion using a person’s weakness is pretty basic, but I’m running out of time. “Are you sure this isn’t about payback for what your lover is enduring.”
I’m not prepared when he flips tactics either. His demeanour changes. It might be knowing what’s done is done. Or it might be that all the games and secrets he’s had to keep to himself are now up to the people he swears allegiance to stay true to their word. And a good person will always do just that. Instead of eating regret, the cheeky shit shrugs and smiles. “Technically speaking, Raney could be included in that statement, considering her recent heat. But yes, of course what they did to Hayes adds to my motivation. Some.”
“And what about what you just witnessed.”
“I was actually eating dirt because of a certain woman we both know. About what happened though, I doknowReid Anders is a beta, and he tried to abduct the omega of Pack Siderno. Justifiable homicide is the only plausible defence and no matter which department stumbles over the crime, no one will press a charge for the simple fact you cannot dispute a thing in the abduction of a packed omega. Especially by a beta. But to answer your question, I didn’t see a thing.”
I shrug. Completely unconcerned with discovering Reid’s excuse for being a disgraceful pissant of a man. Although Talon’s summation will help Giuseppe immensely if we face any investigation. And Talon was also correct that no police officer or person would ever dispute the kidnapping of an omega, and the length an alpha will go to protect them. Throw in a beta’s lack of lawful standing in our society, and an alpha’s recourse is considered intra vires, legally just too. I hold my hand up to stall our conversation as a car pulls up behind King’s truck. Talon is quick and reaches for his unregistered firearm, surging to his feet to stand in front of me.
Small movement, loud sentiment.
“Relax, Jeffers. It’s a clean-up crew. They’re going to take over from here and deal with the mess in the trunk. And after your last update, we might ask them to take a DNA sample and a couple of autopsy-ish images, just in case your lot decide to keep trying to pin something on me.”
“I’m happy to clean up. It’s an easy out for you, and you guys could leave.”
“We haven’t finished talking.”
“Get them to pick up my tap too. Please?”
Flicking my hand up, the two men jog from their position. One swoops to pick up the recording device, handing it over before he moves straight into the car. One clears out all our belongings from the back, while the other sits in the driver’s seat waiting for the signal to leave.
I dismantle the wire from the outside in, leaving a pile of worthless bits and pieces in my hand, that I hand back to one of the guys once they return with Raney’s bag. A few minutes after, he also sets one of our laptops and a handful of incidentals near the back wheel. My clean-up crew work without being asked. Leaving me wondering what to do with Talon.
“Raney saw Hayes.”
“I know, he called me. He also told me you did an ADV.”
“That was all Raney. And you have not seen him since, although he’s been watching you closely. He’s in the car with her now. And I suspect they’ve bitten each other.”
“What happened?”
“She’s made it pretty clear she doesn’twantto let either of you go, but she also doesn’t want to force you to consider packing with her either. Everything has happened in a strange, and fast, sequence of events since we arrived.”
“Trust me, I’ve heard all of Hayes’s explicit explanations as to what is going on with us.”
“Such as?”
“He’s sure, we’re twin flame lovers.”
I chuckle to myself because Raney’s also gone into graphic detail about the centuries old concept. On more than one occasion. I walk past him. “I’m taking Raney and the rest of my pack home after we’ve watched the sunset. We’re done here. King has things he needs to do, and then he will be coming for a visit. The same runs true for her girlfriends.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Because Raney is the most persistent woman I know. She was prepared to walk away from what she wants in light of a recent conversation with him, but after today she has a certain sparkle in her eye. The thing though, Talon, is irrespective of what she wants, she knows she deserves honesty; do you understand what I am saying?”
“I’m sure given the chance to think about this conversation more, it will make sense.”
I shrug. “You don’t want her, tell her. You do, again all you have to do is let her know. But if you say things to make her feel better knowing full well you have no intention of delivering on a promise, or her dream, I’ll cut you from her life and you’ll never see us again.”
Talon’s mind is pretty loud, as he works through all the small pieces I’ve shared with him. “Why did they speak?”
“Did you both ever do ADV tests?”
“Yeah.”
