Page 50 of Wildest Forever (Lovelock Bay #3)

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

PACEY

P ulling into a space outside my office, I climb out the truck and move towards my office, locking it behind me. Twisting the lock on the door, I let myself in and walk to my desk, waking my computer up before I am back hitting the sidewalk and moving to Sunny's.

I hadn't checked in on her and the guilt nipped away at me, but I know her and Austin have been speaking.

They have something in common.

Someone they loved both died.

Under our watch.

Again.

And I am so ready to have this damn cycle broken.

I really do feel like someone is out to test us as a family, but they need to know that they won't break us.

Ever.

The bell chimes as I walk into Sunny's. She isn't technically open yet, but for me, she comes in a little early.

She appears from the back, dark hair tucked behind her ears, eyes a little watery and I know instantly she has been crying.

“Sun,” I sigh, as she rounds the counter and into my arms.“It's okay,” my voice is quiet as I tighten my grip around her small frame and let her cry.

She trembles in my embrace and I have no idea how long we stand here for, but I don't care, she is part of our family, I am not leaving her when she clearly needs us.

“I'm sorry,” she sniffles as her small hands press against my chest, stepping back and running her fingers under her eyes.

“Please don't say sorry,” I mumble, head tilting as I look at her.

She nods, bottom lip trembling.

“Aspen and Dixie are coming over later on.”

“That'll be nice,” I nod, as she turns her back on me and moves back behind the counter.

“Normal order?” her voice heightens.

“Hmm,” I look at the board, pushing my hands in the front of my pockets. “Make it a double shot flat white, and I'll have a breakfast wrap,” I nod as she touches the till and places the order through.

“No problem, give me a minute.” She prints the ticket and hangs it in the small kitchen behind the counter.

Sammi works the kitchen, she helps Sunny out on certain days.

“You know we're always here for you if you need us,” and she looks at me through her lashes, blinking a few times.

“I know,” she nods.

“And I hate to do this...” I pause for a moment as she preps my coffee. “But I need you to come down the station when you have five... just need to ask a few questions,” and I watch as her shoulders rise and fall.

“Of course,” she whispers, and I know deep in my gut that she had nothing to do with it, but even if she saw Conrad leading up to his murder, at least she might be able to give some clue who could have done it. “I can come down after this?” she offers, and I glance at the time. It's ten to eight.

“Yeah, that works, Riggs is bringing someone in, but apart from that it's a day of admin,” I sigh, her eyes dropping to the gold badge that sits on my belt loop.

“Sounds tedious,” a small smirk slips onto her lips, and I smile back.

“It really is, it was nothing like I imagined.” I admit, sighing and following her down the counter as she finishes my coffee.

“How did you imagine it?” and I can hear the soft laughter that is teasing her tone.

“Like the old black and white western movies,” I admit, my brows furrowed.

“Oh,” she twists her lips.

“It's fine, you can laugh,” I roll my eyes in an over exaggerated manner.

“No, I wouldn't dare,” she turns her back on me just as the bell rings from the kitchen.

She passes me my wrapped-up breakfast wrap and my coffee.

“Sorry to be a pain,” I wince, “can you make one for Riggs too... I forgot about him.”

“Not a problem,” she laughs, ringing it up and I pay.

“So, how's the wife?” she asks, waiting for the breakfast wrap as she makes his coffee.

“Amazing,” I sigh, admitting that out loud has my heart fluttering in my chest.

“She seems real nice,” Sunny nods.

“She is,” a giddy smile plays against my lips just as the bell rings and she passes me the other breakfast wrap and coffee.“Thanks, Sunny,” I give her a wink and begin to move towards the door when I hear her footsteps behind me.

She grabs the door, and I walk out. “Won't be a minute!” she calls out to Sammi before she follows me towards the office.

Riggs isn't there yet and I am kind of grateful.

I just feel like once Luke is put in the cell, shit is going to come down on us.

There is a niggle in my gut that I know how it is going to go, but I am also not sure if it is anxiety.

Pushing my office door open, Sunny walks past me and I follow before placing our coffees and wraps down on my desk.

I quickly check my computer and make sure nothing urgent is sitting on there.

I have a meeting with the judge in a couple of weeks, just to go through a few things on his list.

Mostly nothing to do with me.

Marty is due there too.

But if this is going the way I think it is, a new livestock commissioner will be sitting in his place.

Locking my computer, I nod for Sunny to follow me to my side room, and I text Riggs telling him what is going on just so if he turns up and sees my office empty, he knows where I am.

Closing the door behind me, we sit down, and I reach across for my notebook and my recorder. Turning it on, I look down at it to make sure it's got battery.

“Okay, this is just a quick five-minute interview if that's okay?” I say softly, trying to reassure her and she nods.

I give her a nod then press record.

“Please state your name,” I grab a pen out the pot and get ready to jot it down.

“Sunny Olivia DeLuca.”

I continue with the normal questions, place of birth, date of birth, where she lives etc. It's all routine and I don't really want to be doing it but you can never be too careful.

“When did you last see Conrad Fisk?”

“Last Tuesday,” she says loud and clear.

Perfect. Conrad was found a couple of days after.

“And how was your meeting?”

“Fine, we arranged to go for drinks on Friday down Randy's...” she pauses and her bottom lip trembles.

“Take your time Sunny.”

She nods, knotting her fingers in front of her and I fucking hate this.

“He had a phone call just before we said goodbye. He stepped away and spoke quietly. He didn't seem panicked, more excited maybe. Who knows. Conrad was always a happy go lucky kind of guy.”

And I nod, knowing exactly what she meant.

He was a wind up but nice with it, he liked to spark a reaction but more for amusement.

I honestly don't think he had a malicious or vicious bone in his body.

“Do you know who it was?” I press her but she shakes her head.

“Words Sunny,” I point to the recorder.

“No, no idea,” she speaks loudly, and I smile.“There was someone I saw him with on the Wednesday evening when I locked up though...”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah, looked like an out of towner,” and the base of my neck prickles, “but then Marty rolled up not long after. They were all talking, hanging just outside your office.”

I swallow down the lump that has formed in my throat.

“I thought it was a bit strange but then again... I didn't think much more of it at the time,” and I see the remorse that flashes across her eyes. “I should have told you, I'm sorry...” she trails off and I shake my head.

“Please don't be sorry, why would you think to tell me? Marty is a good friend of the family.” I pause, lie . “And Conrad is loyal to us isn't he,” I try and see if anything changes in her expression but nothing.

“If I can get Conrad's phone from evidence, would you be able to go through his call log and tell me what sort of time the call came in?”

“Of course,” she steadies her gaze on me.

“End of interview,” I pause for a moment and glance up at the clock, “eight oh five a.m.” and I press the stop button.

“Was he in trouble Pacey?” she whispers, and I can see the fear that creeps onto her face.

“I think so,” I admit. Whether he was in the midst of planning it or whether he was just on the sidelines, either way, he was caught up in something he shouldn't have been.

I push away from the table, and she follows my lead.

“Thanks for doing that for me Sunny,” I stretch my arm out for her to exit the room.

“Not a problem, not sure if I was helpful or not,” a nervous laugh bubbles out of her.

“You were helpful,” I smile as I close the door to my side room and usher her through my office just as Riggs walks in with Luke.

Sunny freezes and my front hits her back.

Riggs looks between me and Sunny, and I nod to the door that leads to the cell block.

Riggs grunts as he shoves Luke forward and punches the pin into the keypad, the door clicks and they disappear.

“Pacey,” she whispers, her voice shaking as she turns to face me.

“Yeah,” I look at her, brows furrowed as I hang on her silence for the words to leave her lips.

“That was the out of towner,” and a single tear rolls down her cheek.

“Okay,” my voice is quiet but inside I am reeling.

Of course it was fucking Luke.

“It's fine, everything is okay,” I say softly and try and reassure her before I lead her to the front of the office and walk her back to her cafe.

“I'm scared,” she admits, and I can see the way her body is trembling.

“You have nothing to be scared of, I promise. He isn't getting out that cell anytime soon. We are already dealing with Marty... we will figure this out. But if you remember anything, call me. I'll let you know about the phone,” I give her a curt nod and wait until she is the other side of the door.

“Shit,” I lift my hat and run my hand through my hair as I run back towards my office.

Pushing through the door, Riggs is sitting at my desk, and I am panting.

“What?” he asks, mouthful of food in his mouth.

“Sunny said Conrad and Marty were outside my office Wednesday evening,” I puff out my cheeks as I sit on the edge of my desk, looking at my brother.“With an out of towner.”

“Right?” his brows furrow.

“The out of towner was Luke.”

Riggs' eyes widen and I nod.

“I know,” I whisper.

“Fuck.”

Once Riggs has left, I settle myself down and dial my old mate Tyler in evidence.

He answers in three rings.

“Yo, Pacey,” his tone is light as his voice floats down the line.