Page 68 of Cooper’s Passion

30

“Dad!” Her heart beating like a jackhammer, Anita stared at her father in disbelief. “What are you doing here? How did you even find me?”

“Your cellphone GPS,” he said in a clipped tone. “But that’s not important right now. Is this Cooper Montgomery?”

Cooper had already jumped up from his chair. He extended his hand toward her father. “Yes, I’m Cooper Montgomery. Nice to meet you, Sheriff Diaz.”

He ignored the offered hand, and instead, glared at Cooper. “I wish I could say the same thing, but you, Mr. Montgomery, are a liar.”

“Excuse me?” Cooper asked, his voice colored in stunned disbelief.

“I don’t know what kind of scam you’re running here, and what you’re trying to do with my daughter, but you’re not a police officer like you claimed.”

“Uh…”

But Sheriff Diaz cut him off with an impatient wave of his hand. “And don’t try to deny it. I called SFPD, and you’re not working for them!”

“Dad! Stop it,” Anita interrupted.

He turned his gaze on her. “You, young lady, are coming with me. I’m not leaving you here with a con artist who’s trying to reel you in with lies.”

“Sir,” Cooper started. “I can clear this up.”

“Oh, I’m sure you can. I’m sure you’ve got plenty of lies lined up. But I’m not as naïve as my daughter.”

“I’m not naïve!” Anita ground out. “And Cooper isn’t a con artist! He’s an investigator.”

“Didn’t you hear what I just said?” Sheriff Diaz asked, his jaw tight. “I called SFPD. He doesn’t work for them!”

“I never said I did,” Cooper interjected. “I said I worked with the SFPD not for them.”

Her father huffed. “Bullshit!” He made another step closer to Cooper, going almost nose to nose with him. “What the fuck do you want from my daughter, huh? What game are you playing? You’re pretending to believe in her crazy serial killer theory to do what? Use her? What’s your endgame?”

Anita noticed how the cords in her father’s neck bulged, and his face turned red, while Cooper looked like he was trying to restrain himself from lashing out at him.

“First of all,” Cooper said, inhaling a deep breath, “it’s not a crazy theory. We have a serial killer on the loose. And secondly, I’ve been working with your daughter to find him. I didn’t lie to you or to Anita about what I do. And the chief of police will be able to confirm that what I’m telling you is the truth.”

“Right!” He thrust his chin up. “Next you’re gonna make a phone call to one of your cronies and pretend he’s the chief of police. Nice try!”

“Goddamn it, Dad! How can you be so stubborn? I spoke to the chief of police myself to verify Cooper’s identity.”

He cast her a sideways look. “Don’t mind if I verify that myself. You haven’t exactly shown the best judgment lately.”

Anita gasped.

“Sir, I’d suggest you stop insulting your daughter,” Cooper said tightly.

“How about we all relax a little?” Wesley asked. “Would you like some lunch, Sheriff?”

He turned his head to look at Wesley. “And you are?”

“Wesley Montgomery…”

“His brother?”

“His uncle.” He pointed to Virginia. “And that’s my wife, Virginia.”

Anita could firmly see the wheels in her father’s head spin as he looked at Wesley and Virginia who looked almost as young as Cooper.