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I shake my head. “No, I’m staying here.”
“It’s a crime scene, Quinn—”
My glare speaks volumes. I’m not a fan of his missus, if I’m being honest. She’s too intrusive and… off. Guess she’s pleasant enough, but alone time is too important when I’m stressed out. So that’ll be a hardno.
“Jeez. Alright, young lady. I’ll see what I can do. But you’re going to have company for a few days either way.”
I huff and look away, yet he still lingers.
“You look like him when you do that, you know?” He laughs while pulling me into a hug. His belly is big, arms warm. I could go to sleep in them.
Now’s not the time for comfort, though. My dad was taken. Never in a million years…
I pat Ferraro twice and break the embrace, lethargically heading for my door to glimpse the uniformed men and women searching the walls for fingerprints. I know it’s protocol, and I also know it’s a gigantic waste of time. The two men were wearing gloves. They were careful… professionals.
Why would they go after a police captain? That’s like rule number one for criminals, isn’t it?Don’t mess with cops.
I head down the stairs, feeling the weight of my legs compound from weakness. My toes go numb. My fingers too. It’s like I’m having the slowest heart attack in the world.
A familiar face snaps me out of my daze. Clean shaven, blue eyes, pale skin. One of my dad’s rookies who asked me on a date at the holiday party last year. Channing. Much like the one at the banquet, he folded like an Amazon cardboard box when my dad came and put an arm around my shoulders.
Who would’ve thought a ghostly pale man could turn nearly fire engine red? Uncle F even made a joke about calling them to put out a fire. Poor guy.
He looks up at me, then quickly shifts away to do his job.
Wuss.
I wince at myself for having the thought. I’m no better. Moreover… why am I such a bitch sometimes? Did my dad really cause this? In high school, he pretty much chased away and turned me off to the three boyfriends I attempted to bring home, and thereafter, I pretty much developed a switch that dries me up like a clam whenever a man shows the slightest insecurity.
Oof.
Dad would be smiling now if he knew what I’m thinking.
It’s times like these I regret not going into forensics like I wanted to. I was on my way even if the idea of nepotism really bothered me, but I was literally slapped in the other direction when three men tried to have their way with me one late night after the bar. If it wasn’t for that old bouncer, I would’ve been—
Anyway, the safe route of accounting was one of the few available in Dad’s eyes after that. I don’t even like numbers, or reading pronouncements, but being at a desk means less risk of harm according to him, I guess. It was a lot of kicking and screaming on my end, but ultimately, he’d been through enough when Mom left, so… I gave him a break. Now more than ever, I wish I finished pursuing my dream.
Maybe if things went a little differently, I’d be useful in this investigation, or at the very least have a man who could help me find my dad. Now I have to wait on Uncle F and Bill, andpraythey aren’t washed up tough guys.
xxx
Hours go by. It’s still dark out, but there’s a hint of dawn touching the snow outside. It’s been ages since I’ve been up at this hour. It’s always eight a.m. coffee, work, repeat until Friday. Even on my “go out late”nights, I’m snoring by three a.m.
What the hell? Might as well get some fresh freezing air to jar me out of this nightmare.
Getting my jacket on, I step past the yellow caution tape roping off a section of the hallway. It’s still so surreal.
“Where are you going?” a young cop with ridiculous cheekbones calls from the kitchen.
“Excuse me?” I arc my eyebrow at him when he stops at the island ledge.
“Lieutenant Ferraro gave strict orders to—”
“If I need you, you’ll know,” I say.
The truth is, I’m overcompensating with my attitude for being a coward earlier. Rationalizing that it’s better I didn’t say anything—telling myself, “Yeah, I got the cops here fast,”for what?They found nothing so far. It’s obvious. At least if I’d found the courage to act, maybe I could’ve shot one or both of them. Saved my dad.
I sigh and let the cold air slap me in the face.