Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 108849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Huck looked at the sheriff’s deputy, who shrugged. “Fine. I’ll handle the rest of this if you want to be going.”
“I really do,” Huck said. “Are you sure you’ve got this?”
“Yes. We’re going to run through a field sobriety test. And then, ma’am, I’m going to ask you to take a breathalyzer.”
She stomped her foot. “I will not.”
Huck paused. “I’ll just stand over there by my rig.” He seemed to agitate the woman for some reason, but he wasn’t leaving the other officer without backup.
“Good plan,” McDonald said.
Mrs. Bearing failed the field sobriety test and then the breathalyzer, so Deputy McDonald handcuffed her and led her to his car.
Huck leaned against his truck. “I’ll call for a tow.” “Thanks,” McDonald said. “I’ll get her processed. I’m sure she’ll be out in no time, though.” He sounded sympathetic.
Huck turned to open his door.
“That was fun,” Rachel said, popping up from the rear of his vehicle, her phone safely out of the way.
“I told you to get back in your vehicle.”
She rocked back on her heels, smiling wildly. “They’re gone now. I don’t have to.”
“Please tell me you didn’t record that entire situation.”
Her laugh sounded gleeful. “Of course, I recorded the unfortunate situation with the mayor’s wife. Are you kidding me? This is going to make great copy. I’m going live with it in about an hour. Hopefully we can catch the mayor bailing his wife out.”
Huck jumped into his truck. Just great.
Chapter 7
Midmorning, Laurel turned off The Killing Hour, which had shown Huck pulling over an obviously intoxicated Teri Bearing the night before. While politics had never interested Laurel, she could at least recognize a potential problem when one arose. Huck had performed his job, but the mayor was known to be a bulldog when it came to his family.
The office was too quiet without Walter. When had she begun to depend on him so much? She’d built an efficient team, and perhaps she didn’t need to request additional agents. Her unit was able to cover every aspect of a case, and she could always rely on Fish and Wildlife, the Seattle FBI office, or even the local sheriff’s office if necessary.
Perhaps she didn’t want more people in her life.
Her phone buzzed, and she clicked a button. “Agent Snow.”
“Hi,” Abigail Caine said cheerfully. “How is my little sister?” The way she said it made Laurel think she was talking more about height than age. But that could be her own insecurities talking.
“Where’s Jason Abbott, and when can you come in for an interview?” Laurel asked evenly. If anybody had a clue as to Abbott’s whereabouts, it was the woman who’d suggested he escape.
Abigail sighed. “I don’t know where he is right now, but I can assure you I know where he was an hour ago.”
Laurel sat up straighter. “Excuse me?”
“The idiot walked right up to my door this morning and tried to break in. My alarm went off, and the security folks for my subdivision just notified me. I was teaching a class here at the school and didn’t have my phone with me.” Armed with several advanced degrees, Abigail taught classes at the Northern Washington Technical Institute.
What had been Jason’s plan? To break in and wait for Abigail to return home? “Where is Jason now?” Laurel asked.
“No clue. My security camera caught him trying to break into my house, and I’m having the security people forward the information to you.” Abigail’s tone remained calm. Nearly bored. “The guy thought he’d break in and just wait for me to get home? Moron. Thinks he’s smarter than my alarm system. He took off into the forest by my house, and the guys couldn’t find him. They did notify the local police, who are investigating.”
Laurel’s desk phone buzzed. “Hold on for a moment.” She answered. “Hi, Kate.”
“Hi. Sheriff York is on the phone,” Kate said.
Laurel sighed. “Abigail, I have to go. For now, you comprehend that Jason Abbott blames you for his lot in life and wants to kill you.”
“I’m well aware,” Abigail drawled. “I’m requesting FBI protection.”
“My current resources allow for me to secure you in a safe house, but I’m unable to provide protection in any other scenario. We have a scarcity of agents.” In fact, she’d love to squire Abigail safely away from her right now.
Abigail sighed. “I don’t want to put my life on hold, and I guess my agent Norrs can protect me well enough.”
Laurel paused in reaching for her other phone. “Why are you still dating Norrs?” In her experience, Abigail discarded men after she had finished using them. So she still must have a use for the FBI agent.
“Wayne is phenomenal in bed. We’re quite the item now, you know.”
A headache loomed at the base of Laurel’s neck. So Abigail had more machinations in store for the FBI and Laurel’s team. “Say hi to him and come in for an interview before I have you picked up by officers.” She clicked off and answered the other phone. “Agent Snow.”