“There’s got to be a way to figure this out.”
“At this time, I’m looking more toward Desiree than Neil.”
Hawk thought about everything he knew and what he didn’t understand. “How did Lucky’s car end up at her house?”
Jase sat up straighter. “Desiree said she took Lucky home that night.”
“Right. So Lucky’s car should have still been in the Gunn Brothers parking lot.”
Jase turned pensive for a moment. “The video we have shows them going into the back room where there are no cameras. When the video didn’t show them leaving through the main entrance, I called Lincoln to ask about the banquet room. He said there’s a side exit in there that leads to the parking lot.”
“There is. But there are no cameras out there.” Hawk’s frustration rose. Initially, they wanted the cameras to watch over the registers and customers in the bar. He needed to talk to Lincoln about putting some cameras outside, too. Hawk tried to piece things together. “So Desiree would have had to take Lucky home, drive back to the bar, driven Lucky’s car to her place, then gotten a rideshare back to the bar, then gone home herself?” It seemed a lot to do in one night when Lucky could have simply gotten a ride to the bar the next day.
Jase shrugged. “It’s definitely something I need to investigate further.”
“But will it really get us closer to figuring out who is behind all this?”
“I’m doing the best I can with the evidence I have, and it’s not a lot to go on.” Jase’s frustration showed in the lines on his forehead.
“I know. I’m frustrated, too. I hate what’s happening to her.”
“Me, too. Like I told her, it’s not that I don’t believe her, it’s that I can’t prove anything.”
“I need to change the locks on her place. I don’t like that someone keeps getting in so easily.” Hawk would make it a priority.
“I did follow up with the busted window lock after the fire department flagged it. I had it dusted for prints. Nothing. It was clean—like, no prints at all. Someone covered their tracks.”
“Of course they did.”
Jase tapped the thick file folder. “I’ll call Desiree and ask about the car.”
“I’m headed home. Let me know if you get an answer that points to whoever is doing this.”
“I want to end this for her just as much as you do.”
Hawk hoped he did it soon. “I appreciate it.” Hawk headed out, anxious to check on Lucky, especially since she hadn’t answered his earlier text.
He needed to talk to Lucky and figure out a plan to keep her safe. No one was above his suspicion now. Not even her best friend. Because sometimes the people closest to you knew how to hurt you the most.
He hoped for her sake there was some other explanation.
She’d been betrayed enough.
Chapter Thirteen
Lucky lost herself in theMarked Men: Rule + Shawmovie on one of the many streaming services Hawk’s TV was set up for. She loved the movie just as much as the book by her favorite author. It was the perfect distraction and guaranteed a happy ending, one she never thought she’d get herself, until Hawk saved her. The determination and caring she saw in his eyes every time he looked at her let her know that he truly, deeply wanted her.
Can my luck finally be changing?
She hoped so, because it had been a long time, if ever, that she’d felt this kind of happiness.
She glanced at the clock on her phone.
He’s late.
He probably got caught up at the office.
Rule and Shaw were kissing on screen and it was hot and passionate, reminding her of the steamy kiss Hawk laid on her when she tried to leave. He’d made it perfectly clear that hewanted her to stay. And he simply wanted her. It still seemed so amazing and surreal to get what she’d wanted after so long. Her heart didn’t know what to do with all the emotions being with Hawk stirred up. Love. Joy. Acceptance. Hope for the future.
