I would at least try to get answers before I completely lost my cool.
“She’s guilty. What do you expect, of course she left,” he said flippantly, “she’s dangerous to this family, and the sheriff was simply doing his job to protect this town. A few calls to New York and he learned just how good Ms. Howard was at scheming.”
“You’re the real danger to this family.” Aja snapped.
Shock flickered across my father’s face but it was fleeting and his signature scowl returned.
“What if this were one of us? She trusted us to protect her and you completely disregarded Parker’s advice.” Janae chimed in.
“Did you not hear me? She is a criminal,” my father said, this time frustration was clear on his face and in his body. “Don’t let your little friendship blind you to what is at stake here.”
Sheriff Strauss leaned against the doorframe with a smug smile.
“Don’t upset yourselves too much. I’m sure trouble will find her soon. You know how criminals are, they can never stay quiet for too long.” Giving my father a clap on the back, Strauss opened the door and left.
My father straightened his suit and turned towards us.
“It’s good she’s gone. If she hadn’t left, I would’ve called the sheriff anyway. It seems that you all have had a lapse in your memory. This is my house and I decide who resides in it.”
Uninterested in hearing another word from his mouth I shoved past him and marched towards the pool house with the twins following behind me.
So much for being alone.
Janae walked to the bar and poured herself a drink while Aja sat next to me on the sofa. With my head bowed, I tried desperately to think of anything that would give us a lead, a clue, something to point us in the right direction.
My phone pinged, breaking the silence that had descended the room.
[Danny]: Call me when you’re alone.
I hit the call button and waited to hear his voice on the other side of the line.
“Are you alone?” Danny said disregarding pleasantries.
“I’m with the twins.” I rushed out. “Do you have a name?”
“Gregory Strauss. Transferred to Miami PD two years ago. He’s been bouncing around ever since.”
“Shit. He just left here.” Jumping from the couch I rushed to my room, grabbing my gun from the safe.
Tucking the handgun into the back of my pants, I grabbed my car keys off the counter heading for the door.
“Parker, I’ll be there in a few hours. I’m not asking you to wait for me—just please don’t go in there guns blazing. They’re smart. Strauss knows how to make things look like an accident.”
“I hear you. I don’t plan to be the one dying tonight.” I huffed before walking through the sliding doors. The twins were hot on my heels following me to the garage.
Another ping from my phone let me know a text message was coming through.
[Unknown]: She’s so much prettier when she cries isn’t she?
A photo of Evelyn tied to a chair with tears streaming down her face follows the message.
“Fuck!” My fist collides with the hood of my car, leaving a dent.
“What happened?” Everyone seems to say in unison.
“Charles has her tied up. She looks hurt.” I release another string of curses, throwing open the door to my truck.
“Find the sheriff, Parker. He’ll lead you to her.” Danny says with a heavy sigh and hangs up.
