Page 113 of Capture My Heart

“She wouldn’t want you to do this, even for her.”

“If she’s alive to hate me then I’ll be happy. Now, get in the vehicle.” He waved the gun between her and the vehicle.

It was a squad and not a clean one. The aroma of vomit and disinfectant hung in the air. She covered her nose but it didn’t matter.

She gagged.

Her butt hit the seat with a thud. The hoseable resin interior made for easy cleanup but lacked comfort.

He tossed her handcuffs and slammed the door. “Put them on.”

She did. One thought circled in her mind. I’m screwed.

Bob slid into the driver’s seat. She watched through the plexiglass and metal grate. Every nerve in her body quaked. She wondered if this was how the perpetrators felt when she closed the back door.

Peterson revved the engine before peeling out of the lot, gravel flew as he made the corner at the end of the alley.

The silence was deafening on the ride. She tried to engage Bob in conversation, but he froze her out.

She fanned herself. The heat was stifling, but she focused on one thing. Trey would notice she was missing. He would find her car.

But would he? He thought she was the dirty cop. Stupid. Why didn’t she just trust him with the whole ugly mess of her life. She knew her father was innocent, but Trey didn’t have the accommodation from the department, not one shred of physical evidence to support her dad’s innocence.

She slumped in the seat and watched the world go by. One more reason she wouldn’t get out of this alive.

Tires squealed as Trey pulled into the parking lot behind Gardiner’s restaurant. Only a few cars were there. None were Amy’s, but that didn’t mean she hadn’t been here.

He stormed to the door. Knuckles hammered on the metal. “Open up.”

The door flung open.

“Holy cannoli! What’s going on today? It’s like the State Fair. Butts to nuts.” She looked him up and down. “In this case, butts to badges.”

Trey pulled back. “What?”

“Besides our morning deliveries, we have tornado Amy whirl through here, blowing her accusations. Then Stephen. He got a call and flew out of here. Now, you come pounding on my door.”

“Amy was here?”

“Yeah, and I don’t care if she’s a cop, I’m filing a complaint for harassment if she does it again.”

“Were there any other police officers here?”

The anger that rolled off Pauline washed away at his tone. She shook her head. “What’s going on?”

Trey watched the woman in front of him change. She was a pissed off business owner one minute and concerned friend the next.

“Do you know where your brother went?”

She squinted at him. “He didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Who are you trying to convince? Me or yourself?”

She dropped the tough act. “Stephen made some bad choices in the past but that doesn’t mean he’s selling drugs.” At his brow raise, she continued. “I’m not stupid. I know he had some issues a few years back, but Dad straightened him out.”

“How many years?”

“Five.”