“She’s sleeping,” Kayne answered.
“What happened?”
“She came here looking for her father,” Synder answered.
“What?” Alistaire asked.
“Yeah, he skipped town a few weeks ago, and she’s been on her own since,” Kayne explained. “Apparently, the man does that a lot. Disappears without telling her and then shows up, sticks around, then leaves again.”
“Son of a bitch,” Alistaire cursed.
All this time, she’s been alone. Fuck, what kind of cop am I that I didn’t notice?Alistaire had run a quick check on Ava’s father, and nothing jumped out at him that made it obvious he was a deadbeat dad. Trevor Bates had a good job with Wolfe Construction and had been in Vale Valley for a little over four years, but was known to be a bit rough around the edges and a loud talker.
“How did she get pegged for stealing?” Alphonso inquired.
“Simply the wrong place at the wrong time.” Synder took a sip of his wine. “Walked into a convenience store to buy something and realized she didn’t have enough money so she put the items back and left the store. Seconds after she walked out kids her age walked in and robbed the place. The owner thinks she was with the gang scooping out the place for them. When they arrested Ava, she was nowhere near the store. But none of the kids vouched that she wasn’t a part of their group.”
“How did you find out about it?” Alphonso asked.
“I was at the station to see a friend and saw them bringing her in,” Synder answered.
“No one investigated her claims?” Alistaire growled.
“Son, this is Valleywood. Do you ever wonder why the magic is so thin here? Unless you’re a celebrity and have enough money to pay the cops off, nothing gets investigated,” Kayne answered.
“So why’d you move here?” Alistaire snapped.
“To make a damn change. This town is dying, and unless we do something about it so will many others.” Alistaire had a feeling his father was trying to tell him something without using words.
“She’s going to need a lawyer,” Kayne said, cutting the tension that had suddenly grown in the room.
“Is this your way of asking me to take her case?” Alphonso asked. “I’m in entertainment, not criminal law.”
“But you know someone,” Kayne said.
Alistaire didn’t stick around to hear Alphonso’s response. He took the stairs two at a time and followed his instincts finding Ava’s room. He knocked on the door and heard her soft response. He knew she was up. It was as if she knew he was going to show up.
“Are you mad at me?” It was the first question she asked when he entered her room.
“Why would I be mad?”
“I didn’t tell you about my dad. And I got arrested. But I swear, Alistaire. I…I didn’t steal anything…I didn’t do it.”
Alistaire looked at her with tears brimming in his eyes, and all of his anger disappeared.
How lonely she must have felt for the past few weeks, not sure who she could trust.
“Come here,” he said, holding out his arms. She rushed into his arms, and Alistaire held her close. “It’s going to be okay.” He kissed her on the top of her head. “I’ll take care of you from now on. And I believe you. I know you didn’t steal anything.”
Alistaire held her while she cried her eyes out. He meant what he said. From that moment on, he’d take care of her.
Chapter Thirteen
Fox opened the door, smiling when he saw Alistaire standing in front of him.
“Are we alone?”
Fox nodded. “My parents are out on a date, and Zev and his mates are away for the weekend. Dilen hasn’t been around for a while, so I’m guessing he’s on an assignment.” Fox couldn’t have planned it any better if he tried. With everyone out of the house doing their own thing, he thought it was the perfect time to show Alistaire what he could whip up in the kitchen and maybe later in the bedroom.
