Page 53 of Meant to Be

“But these numbers are inflated,” Brutus continued. “Look here. Compare numbers over the last five years, the rates being reported this year nearly doubled. But economic growth as well as income averages have increased as well. These two things rarely happen concurrently.”

“Tell me something I don’t know, Brutus,” I stated impatiently.

“If we can get in touch with my guy down at department headquarters he may be able to tell me what’s going on.”

“If?”I lifted my head and questioned him sternly.

“When.”

“Make it sooner rather than later. This shit is getting worse. I can feel it. I don’t like where this is going.” Instincts. My instincts were telling me this was a set-up. I wasn’t about to sit around and wait for the other shoe to drop.

Chapter Eleven

Kayla

“He’s so beautiful,” I cooed at the baby in my arms before lifting my gaze, looking toward a beaming Michelle. After Joshua dropped me off at the house, I got restless and decided to finally make the arroz con gandules and baked chicken I had decided to take over to Michelle and Carter’s. To my surprise, when I arrived, Patience, Aaron’s wife, was also at their place, with her two kids.

Michelle’s oldest son, Diego, played with the twins in an upstairs playroom, while the three of us oohed and ahhed over the baby.

“Thank you,” Michelle stated. “And this is delicious. Either that, or I’m just starving. I feel like I haven’t eaten since this morning.”

“That can’t be good,” I mused.

She waved me off. “I did have a lunch, but I think I was just running around while I ate it so I forgot. They tell you to sleep while the baby sleeps but I forgot what it’s like to have a newborn. That’s impossible.”

“I wouldn’t have minded watching Sam for you while you rested, Michelle. Besides, I thought Carter had taken off a couple weeks to be here with you and the kids,” Patience added.

“You have your own little hurricanes to deal with, plus two more buns in that oven.” Michelle pointed at Patience’s swollen abdomen. “Carter is off but they were short down at the station today and there was a big apartment fire.” Michelle’s light brown eyes filled with worry as she bit her bottom lip.

“I’m sure he’s okay,” Patience added, sensing Michelle’s concern as I had.

Michelle sighed. “He is. He just called a little while ago. He’s back at the station for a debriefing. He’ll be leaving soon. I just worry. Ever since Corey got injured …”

“Corey?” I questioned, looking between the two.

“A colleague of Carter’s. He was hurt in an apartment fire. Carter had to help pull him out, but …” she hesitated, “Corey’s leg had to be amputated.”

“Oh my goodness,” I breathed out.

“Tell me about it.”

I shook my head.

“Anyway, I’m surprised your husband let you out for the day,” Michelle quipped looking toward Patience.

Her brown eyes narrowed on Michelle as she pushed her long sisterlocks over her shoulder. “Aaron had a business meeting.”

Michelle grunted. “Hence the two huge security guards standing in my door, watching everything like hawks.”

I had noticed one huge guy dressed in black standing out front of Michelle’s home when I got there. She had already been standing at the door when I arrived since I’d called ahead. The guy didn’t say anything to me, just stared ahead.

“That’s your security?”

Patience nodded.

“I only saw one—”

“The other one’s at the back door,” both women said at the same time.