Then someone else strolls up to stand next to me. “Unfortunately for you—no,” Caleb says. “Man, you picked the wrong family to mess with.” He chuckles lightly, as though seeing a guy get taken down by the FBI in a random Houston park is an everyday thing for him. “I’ve already traced the creation of those accounts you opened in Baylee’s name and gotten webcam footage of you creating them, along with an IP address at your house at two a.m. So, yeah. I think she’s good.”
Bryce clamps his jaw shut.
Caleb crouches down next to Bryce while they search him. “I’m the best there is, Bryce Hayes, and the thing is—if youhadn’t tried to blackmail Libby Bennet’s husband, we probably wouldn’t have caught you. I would’ve never been brought in. Tough luck, man.” He clucks his tongue and stands back up, turning to me. “Taunting the perps is always my favorite part.”
I take Caleb’s hand, shaking it vigorously. “You really are the best.”
He claps a hand on my shoulder. “Nobody messes with my family—and that includes a lot of people these days.” He tips his chin back toward the restaurant. “Come on, let’s go grab lunch.”
“Sorry,” I apologize. “I’ve got a jet waiting to take me home.” I look over at Agent Porter, who’s watching Bryce as they pull him to standing. A couple dark SUVs have approached the scene, lights flashing. “Am I good to go?” I ask him.
He nods. “I’ll catch up with you later if we need a statement.”
With that, I wave at him, then Caleb, and take off at a jog for my car. I want to get back to Libby as soon as I can.
CHAPTER 41
LIBBY
It’s shocking I can pay attention to the game at all. I got a text from Jordan right before it started.
Jordan
FBI arrested Bryce. See you at home.
We’re going to have a talk about detailed texts in situations such as these.
I tried calling him when I got it and didn’t get an answer. He’s only responded to my half a dozen follow-up texts asking for more information with, “Everything is fine.”
Is he still with the FBI? Maybe there was a lot to debrief.
Is he hurt?
Will leans forward, shaking his head as a couple guys get into a fight on the ice. “You know what I have never understood? Why do they take their helmets off, and their gloves?”
“Hockey guys are legit, babe,” Ellie says. The term of endearment reminds me of Jordan, even though he’s switched to calling me boss lately.
“Dropping their gloves is their signal that they’re about to fight,” I say. I asked Jordan the first time we watched a gametogether. “It’s kind of like everyone giving consent. Also, they can punch better.”
“Hmm.” Will nods. “That’s true.”
Dan comes into the box, settling in a seat next to me. He’s been working some of the other suites, which I’ll need to do at some point as well as the new owner. I’m putting it off for now. I’m so distracted by Jordan being gone, I don’t even know how we scored the one goal we have.
“They’re looking good, Libby,” Dan says, nodding down to the ice.
“We’ve got some really talented guys. Jordan thinks we’re going to lose Jonesy in a few weeks for sure. He says the Frost’s number one guy had knee surgery right before the season started. Doesn’t think he’s going to last long before he’s hurt again,” I say, referencing our pro affiliate team in Fort Collins.
“Heard about that,” Dan says. “I bet Jordan’s already got Cooper looking at a replacement.”
“Probably.” I chuckle with him. Jordan has quickly become Andrew Cooper’s favorite. It’s no surprise to me that Jordan is winning over everyone in the White Wolves organization.
“I’m surprised Jordan is missing the first game. Is he okay?” Dan asks, his expression filled with genuine concern.
I flick my gaze to Erin and the cameraman in the box with us. There’s no way I’ll be able to keep everything out of the show anyway, especially with Bryce being arrested this morning. “He’s in Houston. An arrest was made today in a case that involved his family and hometown. He needed to be there.”
Dan pats my arm comfortingly. “Good man,” he says softly. “I hope everything turns out well. You let us know if you need anything. And my wife would like to have you both for dinner soon.”
“We’d love to do that. Let’s get it scheduled.”
