Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 67665 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 338(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67665 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 338(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
That day at work, I focused on processing Angie through the system and getting my divorce papers signed. It had been one thing right after another, leaving me with little time to process my own feelings.
“It’s none of my business,” Dillon began, “but Lindsey could use some TLC from you.”
I nodded, knowing he was right. “I’ll take the day off tomorrow,” I promised.
Dillon finished off his beer and set it down on the porch. “I gotta get home.”
“Thanks again, man.” I stood up to see him off.
“I’d say call me anytime, but hopefully you won’t have a reason to,” Dillon joked.
“I’ll drink to that,” I agreed, draining the dregs of my beer before picking up the discarded empties. Dillon jogged down the porch steps and disappeared into the night. I went back inside and threw away the bottles, being careful not to make too much noise.
My bed was empty. I guessed Lindsey had chosen to sleep in her own room. Cursing my stupidity, I was determined to make it up to her the next day. I took a shower and climbed into my own bed. The television was on to some cartoon channel when I flicked it on to drown out the noises in my head. I picked a sports program, reliving the highlights of the games that day. I fell asleep early in the morning, with the screen still blaring results.
Idreamed of finding a baby and then losing it in the forest. I searched and searched but came up empty. I woke in a panic, a desperate need to find the tiny child that had become so important in the space of an afternoon. The sun was streaming in past the blinds, alerting me to the time. I had overslept.
I fought my way past the covers, righting myself groggily. Before coffee, before a shower and a shave, I wanted to talk to Lindsey. I stumbled through the hallway only to find her door ajar. There was no sign of the woman I loved either in her bedroom or in the shower. On the kitchen island was a note saying that she had gone to meet her friends for breakfast. Of course she had. I had pushed her out of the house, making it clear that her only refuge was with her friends. It was comforting to know she was safe but disappointing that I couldn’t be the one to provide that safety. I would make it up to her that night.
Instead of taking the day off, as I had planned, I went back to work. Ryan and Cheryl greeted me as I walked through the door.
“How did it go?” Ryan asked.
“She was asleep when I got home,” I said. “And now she’s out with Macy and Ava.”
“Give her some time.”
“How’s the salon case coming?” I asked. We had been in communication with the prosecutors as they asked for all our evidence.
“The assistant manager gave a full confession,” Ryan told me. “We’ve got the case locked up tight.”
“What did she say?” I asked.
“I’ve got the deposition here.” Ryan tapped his computer screen. “I can send it to you.”
“Thanks. You have a summary?”
“Yeah.” Ryan stepped over to the coffeepot to pour himself a cup. “We were right about the money laundering. They were hooked up with an outfit from Nashville.”
I nodded.
“The Mafia would deliver its stacks of cash, and then the hair salon would wash the money through their purchases of product. They actually had more people on the books than just the two part-time girls.”
“How many?” I got myself a cup, having skipped breakfast at the cabin.
“Nine. Made-up names.”
I nodded again.
“The weekly transactions that Lindsey witnessed were transfers of clean money.”
“And the drugs?” I asked.
“Side hustle,” Ryan explained. “Offloading product that couldn’t be sold in Nashville.”
“Because it was too dangerous?” I guessed.
“You got it,” Ryan confirmed. “This assistant said that they all knew we were close and that she was afraid Katrina and Lena thought of her as the weak link. She ran away at the raid because she was terrified of them, not us.”
“And the owner?” I asked, “The one I chased into the dog pen?”
Ryan laughed. “She’ll be going away for a long time.”
“She’s not claiming any police brutality?” I wondered.
“I don’t think so. She doesn’t have a case. That family you saw witnessed everything. I think your bases are covered.”
“Good,” I sighed.
“You want to go grab some breakfast?” Ryan suggested. “You look like you could use it.”
I nodded. We took a patrol car, just in case, and drove to the diner. Inside, the welcome was warm. Everyone seemed to know what had happened yesterday and took pains to make me feel comfortable. The waitress left an entire carafe of coffee at our table.
“Just ask if you need anything,” she said.
“Can I have two eggs and a side of bacon?” I asked.