Page 20 of Too Broken to Love

Tessa grabbed a tissue and dabbed at her eyes. “Even with Hudson and Malcolm by my side, I still wanted to run. I’m on the police’s radar now. They think I may be included in Sam’s will and Frank found out. The police will be watching me to see if he tries to make contact so he can gain access to my inheritance.”

“Are you in the will?”

Tessa rubbed her temples. “If I am, Sam never mentioned it.”

“It makes sense from a speculative standpoint. Did they find any evidence of Frank trying to find you?”

“They didn’t mention any, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t looking.” Tessa glanced at the laptop still cradled on her thighs. “After you fell asleep, I tapped into my bank’s network. I didn’t detect any breaches.”

Lia held up her fork. “Don’t tell me about your questionable cyber extracurriculars.” She looked around the living room. “You know, just because Sam didn’t mention he’d put you in his will, doesn’t mean he didn’t.”

Tessa hugged the pillow tighter. “I don’t expect to inherit anything, but knowing Sam, he left me this house. My lease ended a few weeks ago. He said he’d get his lawyer to draw up a new one, but we didn’t need it because I’d always have a home.”

Lia sniffed. “That’s beautiful, and so was Sam. Do you know who else is like Sam? Hudson. The hottie on the fridge is something else. I wish I had been there when he and JAG escorted you into the police station.

“JAG?” Tessa raised an eyebrow.

“For Judge Advocate General. That’s what we’re calling Malcolm from now on.”

“You think he’s hot, don’t you?”

“Um, yeah. You know I’m a sucker for a surfer boy.”

“He was in a suit. How did you get surfer from that?”

“Did you not notice the fifty shades of blond in his hair? That’s the glorious work of sun and salt.” Lia stifled a yawn with her fist and stood. “I need a real bed. You coming?”

“I’ll be there soon.” Tessa opened her laptop and tapped in her login credentials. Since they’d left the police station, Lia had tried to convince her that if Frank was in town, it wasn’t her fault.

But facts were facts. If Frank was in Belmarva, she was the reason.

Dammit, she shouldn’t have let the reports from Sam’s investigator lull her into complacency. She should have kept monitoring the city servers and tracking flights into the country for any sign or mention of Frank.

Setting her fingers on the keys, she readied herself for some not-so-ethical, but necessary sleuthing.

As the sun’s first rays filtered through the bay window, Tessa leaned closer to her screen. “Son-of-a-freaking-sea-bass. I was right.”

Hudson needed to see this. She switched out her laptop for her phone and rose.

“Shit.” She didn’t have his number, but she knew where the mansion was. Darting for her keys, she stopped midway. “Double shit.” She couldn’t knock on the door when the sun was barely up, but she couldn’t stay here. Quietly, she slipped into her side of the duplex and changed into her running clothes.

Grabbing a scone, she scribbled a note for Lia and left it on the kitchen table.

Couldn’t sleep. Went to the pier.

Hudson stared at the text on his phone from his buddy at the hospital and cursed.

Commander Daviani was transferred to an undisclosed location.

Malcolm glanced at Hudson from the driver’s seat of his SUV. “Did you get a message from the police?”

“No.” The Welcome to Belmarva sign painted on the water tower glinted in the waning moonlight. As Malcolm turned the corner onto Inlet Drive, Hudson texted the General.

Need another favor. Find out what undisclosed location Lieutenant Commander Christopher Daviani, USN was transferred to from Bethesda Military Medical Center.

His phone buzzed with a response.

Will do. I need a favor too. Meet with the Pentagon about Project V. You’ll be sorry if you don’t. I’ll set it up and contact you with a meeting time.