Page 137 of Out Of A Fix

“Yeah. It’s Owen. He can find anything, anywhere, at any time. Ask the DEA.”

As predicted, Owen’s deep green eyes met mine.

“Too soon?” I asked.

“That was years ago,” he said through clenched teeth.

I grinned at him, and he muttered the word ass under his breath. Jared told him to continue and bumped me gently.

“What? It was funny.”

“Not funny,” Jared mumbled.

“Anyway,” Owen went on, “I suspect Mullane was smart enough to know he was in trouble, so when Griff was passed out in the back seat of that police cruiser, I’m fairly certain he put his car key in Griff’s pocket.”

“A key?” Griff asked.

“Yeah. His gorgeous, tricked-out 1969 ZL1Chevy Camaro that was fortunately found abandoned on the highway just outside Eena proves that Mullane was here. That, along with Griff’s eyewitness account and the key, if it’s here, will bring a whole new level of scrutiny on ex-Chief Wilson.”

“Yeah, but all I have are my keys,” Griff said.

“May I see them?”

“Sure.” He went to retrieve them. After a quick examination, there was no key that didn’t belong on his ring. “See?”

“I do.” Owen smiled. “Let’s think now… When Nash brought you home from the police station, he drove the Jeep, yes?”

“Yeah.”

“Would you go check it for me?”

Griff took Darwin with him.

“I will never forgive myself for not being home,” Luke said softly.

“That’s useless,” Jared assured him. “You took on a big job to make certain your family was provided for. Nash was here to care for your family.”

“Yes, but if Nash hadn’t decided to come early, then⁠—”

“Then Griffin would have spent a second night in custody. I read the hospital report, and the important part to remember here is that nothing was broken, and he wasn’t suffering from hypothermia or anything else. I’m not downplaying Nash’s part, as there might have been a small fire—literally—where Tatum was concerned.”

“You know about that?” she asked him.

“I know about everything.”

“Wow,” she murmured, staring at him.

He regarded Luke. “Live in the present. It’s all you can do.”

“Yes,” Luke said, leaning into me when I lifted my arm for him.

“What an excellent pair you are,” Viola said with a smile.

“Agreed,” Jared rumbled.

I saw John nod as well, and that was nice.

“Found it,” Griff declared, striding back into the room. “Well, technically, Dar found it, on the floor under the passenger seat.”