Page 65 of Ultimate Justice

Browning thought for a moment. “As a matter of fact, I don’t. I can ask my officers. If I hear of anyone, I’ll let you know.”

“Thanks.” He pushed through the heavy door into the lobby. His gut told him the reason Browning didn’t know anyone who worked at that farm was because all the workers were children.

Now he just had to find a way to prove it.

…

Marlie lowered the window to let in fresh air. The breeze blowing against her face was warm, yet cooler than in Denver, with hints of the winter season not far off.

She looked over her shoulder. “Was that game already loaded on the tablet?”

“No.” Noah had the tablet propped on his lap, his attention riveted on a video baseball game. Blue’s big head occasionally jerked left then right as players raced around the bases. “Evan bought it for me.”

“That was nice of him.” Especially since Noah’s mitt was probably sitting in an FBI evidence locker. The man was not only a good lover but unexpectedly thoughtful. “When did he do that?”

“This morning while you were in the shower,” he said, his eyes still glued to the screen.

Right. The shower. While she’d been washing parts of her body that hadn’t been touched in over three years and were so tender, she’d flinched when the hot spray hit them.

Noah’s eyes glittered as he tapped the screen like a video game pro. Her chest tightened at the thought of sending him off to a new family, but he needed a home, a family, and stability she wasn’t capable of providing. Not yet, anyway.

“I think he likes you.” Noah looked up from the tablet for the first time since they’d arrived at the police station.

“Who does?”

“Evan. I think he wants to kiss you.” Noah puckered his lips and made smoochy noises.

Marlie nearly snorted. That ship already sailed. “What makes you think that?” Lordy, was she really pumping an eleven-year-old for information on a guy?

Oh, yeah. She really was.

He rolled his eyes. “Jeez, anyone can see it. He watches you. A lot.” His grin widened.

“I hadn’t noticed.” Except for last night. In his bed, while he’d watched her orgasming. The memory of all the delicious things he’d done to her body made that still-tender spot between her legs spasm as if she were reliving the moment.

Blue jerked his head up and huffed.

“I just talked to Evan,” Brett said.

Marlie gasped. She’d officially met Evan’s friend only that morning. Now he stood right outside her open window.

“Sorry. Didn’t mean to startle you.”

“You didn’t.” Liar. “I was just…” Fantasizing about Evan. Even now, she felt the heat blooming in her cheeks.

“You okay?” Brett frowned. “You look flushed.”

“Um.” She cleared her throat. “I’m fine. It was getting hot in here, so I lowered the window.” Good recovery. “What did Evan have to say?”

“He’s staying inside to check his email and make a few calls. Cell service is marginal up here. Email’s worse.” Brett’s dark blue eyes watched her with something more than professional curiosity. “So, are you coming to Deck’s wedding this Saturday? I heard you say ‘no.’”

“I said I’d think about it.” Stupidly.

“You should come.” He smiled, nodding. “It’s gonna be a great party. I hear you already know Tori, Deck’s fiancé. You can meet my girlfriend, Gemma.”

“Yeah, c’mon, Marlie.” Noah leaned over the edge of the seat. “I wanna go to a wedding.”

“I don’t know.” She swallowed at the thought of being around so many people. “Evan is in the wedding party. He’ll be busy. He won’t have time to—”