Page 11 of The Stolen Dagger

CHAPTER NINE

DREW

A fter dropping Katherine off at the college, I made it into work a little later than usual.

Now, I sat at my desk on the left side of the main room in the Hawthorn Police Department, finishing up some paperwork on the case I worked on.

But I couldn’t stop thinking about everything Katherine said that morning and the night before.

Why did Adrian think Katherine had a dagger? Why did he want it? Why was it so important to him?

If he sent someone to wreck her apartment and scare her with threatening notes, what else was he capable of?

Adrian was unpredictable. I needed to neutralize the threat before anything else happened to Katherine. She was my main priority, just as she’d always been.

But to do that, I needed more information on Adrian.

That afternoon, I closed the file of my latest case and looked around the precinct to make sure my captain wasn’t anywhere nearby .

As much as I didn’t like it, I had promised Katherine I wouldn’t tell Captain Rodgers about her situation. But if he asked about what I was looking into, I wasn’t confident I’d be able to lie to him either.

I scanned the room, past the two rows of desks that created an aisle in the center.

A handful of other officers sat in their seats and did paperwork.

The precinct was one of the newest in the area with hardwood floors, a high ceiling, and large windows.

I was proud to work at this precinct and had been for about six years now.

I turned back to my computer monitor and pulled up our nationwide database. After a few minutes of searching, I found him.

Adrian J. Perez from Las Vegas, Nevada had been booked with theft, B&E, drug possession, and other gang-related activities. He was also a person of interest in a number of homicide cases, but most of the charges on him had been dropped because of inconclusive evidence.

That didn’t always mean his gang had connections with the local police force just as Katherine had mentioned, but it was just as suspicious.

I studied Adrian’s mugshot displayed on the screen.

He had short, close-cut black hair and tanned skin. He scowled at the camera with dark brown, almost black eyes below thick brows. His square jaw was clenched and brought more attention to his crooked nose.

Overall, the guy looked just as I had pictured him—dangerous.

I scrolled farther down the page and read that Adrian had been brought in for questioning on a murder case about a year ago.

I clicked on the file and read about a local businessman, Henry Miller, who had been reported missing by his wife, then found dead outside an abandoned warehouse a few days later. The case was suspected to be linked to the recent gang activity in town.

I reread the article a few times. There was no mention of a dagger.

How does a missing dagger fit into the picture?

I assumed it had to be connected to what Katherine saw the night of the murder. Why else would Adrian be after her now?

According to this file, Henry also had a record of his own. He had been charged for theft, racketeering, and was a known informant for the local gangs in Vegas. He worked for both sides.

I guessed Henry was a middleman. Someone who got things for the gang like drugs, weapons, and, more importantly, information. He most likely sold his services to any gang willing to deal.

So, what? Henry had obtained an, apparently, “priceless” dagger and made a deal with the Phantoms? With Adrian?

But then Henry’s deal went south. Did Henry change his terms? Did Adrian simply lose his temper?

Whatever the case, Adrian killed Henry and took the dagger for himself.

And now he was after Katherine for the same thing, but why was he so sure she had it?

Footsteps approached my desk, but I kept my gaze on the computer screen.

“How’s the Williams’s case going, son?” Captain Rodgers stood over me with a thick folder in his hands. His grayed hair was short and matched his handlebar mustache.

He wore a crisp white button-up shirt that was tucked into dark blue pants. His badge sat proudly on his barrel chest. The wrinkles on his forehead emphasized his cold, passive expression .

I straightened in my desk chair. “All wrapped up, sir. Just have to finish the paperwork.”

Captain Rodgers nodded stoically as ever and walked back to his office.

I sighed and turned back to my computer and Adrian’s file. I was getting closer to understanding the truth, but some things still weren’t adding up. I needed to know more.

And my only viable witness was Katherine, who was unwilling or unable to share the details of that night.

I picked up my phone and went to Katherine’s contact. I had sent her a few texts throughout the morning but hadn’t gotten a response. I was worried.

Me:

If you need anything, call me.

You would let me know if something was wrong, right?

I just want to make sure you’re okay.

All of my texts had gone unanswered.

She must be busy.

Her chances of being approached, even attacked, during the day in a public place were low, but there was always that possibility.

In my line of work, it was like second nature to think of every possible outcome. It kept you aware.

More often than not, it kept you alive.

Me:

You’re probably in class, but just checking in.

Everything all right?

Katherine:

Yes.

Thanks.

For checking in.

Me:

How’s your day going?

Katherine:

As can be expected when your psycho ex is after you.

A smile pulled at the corner of my mouth. I typed out a response about her not having to worry about any psycho exes from me but thought better of it, not wanting to undermine her situation, or, at least, that’s what my sister would tell me I was doing.

I knew this was hard for Katherine. As much as she kept everyone at a distance, I saw through her mask of indifference. I knew it was all a defense.

But she didn’t need to be on the defensive with me. She could be herself, free of the worry that was so evident on her face. She could lean on me, burden me with everything she had bottled up inside her.

I wanted so desperately to be that for her ever since she walked into my self-defense class.

I had taught the class for some extra cash on the side, but once I saw some of the women who would come in skittish but would leave with a new sense of confidence and security, I realized how important self-defense was.

Every now and then, I saw glimpses of my baby sister, even my mother, in some of those women.

Only after teaching a few classes did I decide to become one of the regular instructors and had been doing so for three years now.

I glanced at my phone again and smiled to myself as my thoughts drifted to Katherine .

I hoped none of my brothers on the force saw me because they would surely tease my ass endlessly.

After last night, something between Katherine and me had shifted for the better. And I couldn’t help the warm feeling that spread through my chest at that fact.

Either way, texting her wasn’t enough. I needed to see her, hold her in my arms, to know she was truly safe.

I counted down the minutes until I could do just that.