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“Anything I can do for you, Perry?” I asked, walking even faster just for my brows to crinkle when he’d burst in a jog in order to keep up with me.
What the hell was he doing?
“I thought you were off today,” he said, hissing through a crude curse when his coffee spilled out of his cup and found refuge on his plaid button-down.
“I am,” I replied. “I had to come in long enough to grab something from my office.”
I was nearly there, the door right in my line of sight, but I was stopped dead in my tracks when Perry had damn near knocked me over trying to get past me, spilling more coffee all over the floor rather than himself. It wasn’t until his back was pressed against my office door, his chest heaving as he panted, when I crossed my arms tightly against my chest and said, “Let me guess… Harley told you not to let me in there.”
To my utmost surprise, Perry nodded. “I’m sorry, Charlotte.”
It was another cold, hard slap to the face, but I had to give the woman her props—Harley was smart to assume I’d come here. Which also meant that the odds of everything I had pertaining to Delilah and Amber’s cases still being in my office were outstandingly slim. And, if I was right, then they had to be locked up tightly inside Harley’s office.
But then again…
If they were inside Harley’s office, then why demand Perry guard mine?
“I just need to grab my blood pressure medicine. I forgot to take it home last night and I need it, Perry.”
It was the best goddamn lie I could scrounge up at the moment, and Perry looked torn as he began grinding his teeth, contemplating. He had no real way of knowing if I was lying and we both knew it. Might as well use it to my advantage.
“Are you fucking kidding me right now?” I growled, making him gulp hard as I stepped forward and fisted his drenched apparel, forcing him to stare deep into my raging eyes. “This is a life-or-death situation and you’re seriously just going to stand there? Fucking move.”
I didn’t fully unhand him until he stepped to the side, giving me access to unlock the door. Once I was in, I locked it, then whirled around fast, ignoring Perry’s apology echoing from the other side.
The white boards were still here and—thank you, God—all of the information I’d posted and jotted along them had remained untouched. I didn’t have a lot of time, so I dug for my phone and once I had the camera ready, snapped picture after picture, down to every last detail I could get. When I was done with that, I moved on the remaining pages in both Amber and Delilah’s file. All I had to do now was send each one to my email address, and then print them out as soon as I got home.
Later, though.
It would have to wait until later.
I’d already spent too much time hunting for fake blood pressure medicine, and I had to get the hell out of here.
I blew out a hoarse breath when I pulled up to my destination and parked, my pulse roaring through my ears. I had to be certifiably insane, but it wasn’t until I left the office and made it back to my car when I’d realized that, suspended or not, this was probably the best and last chance I had to get some solid answers. I couldn’t talk to Karl, not yet at least, and since Phoenix and Spike were currently with Harley, on their way to Karl’s apartment with a warrant, it could be hours before I’d hear from either of them again. I was breaking so many rules and whole-heartedly understood the risks if I got caught, but I just couldn’t help it—it was a risk I had to take. There were two sides to every story and if I was going to do this, then it had to be now.
So, I got out of the car and approached the front door with my head raised high.
“Daniel Strickland?” I asked, greeting the man who opened the door with somewhat of a strained smile.
“Yes?” he replied in question, observing me through curious eyes. “I’m sorry, do I know you?”
“I’m Charlotte Greene. You may not remember me, but I work for the DA’s office.”
“Oh, of course,” Daniel replied, looking surprised as he shook my hand. “Please, come in.” He stepped aside, and I nodded, thanking him. “Is-uh, everything okay? I was just about to step out and grab a few things from the store.”
“Yes,” I told him, softening my features to ease the worry still flashing through his eyes. “Everything is fine. I wasn’t where I could speak with Amber while she was in the hospital, so I’m just doing a personal check-in. Is she awake?”
“She is.” He turned to the staircase, nudging his head for me to follow. “She’s in our bedroom. Doc told her to stay in bed and get plenty of rest. She hasn’t left there since we got home from the hospital.”
We made it to the top, and as he lightly pushed open the door in the middle of the hallway, he walked in and said, “Amber, baby. Charlotte Greene from the DA’s office is here to see you.”
“From the DA’s office?” she questioned, sounding startled.
“Yes. She works with Detective Rhodes and Hutch.”
I remained rooted in place, refusing to move until Daniel’s head popped out of the door and invited me in. I found Amber sitting up in bed, releasing an ugly yawn that had her wincing and clutching her ribs. Her pretty face was still bruised and there were still slight traces of inflammation around and under her eyes. Aside from that, she looked better—much, much better than when I last saw her lying unconscious in a hospital bed.
“Do you want me to stay?” Daniel asked her from the doorway.
