Page 95 of Capture My Heart

Jim stepped up. “Ma’am, could you please go back inside? We have a crime scene to preserve. I’ve called for backup.”

Amy and Ryan rounded the corner of the alley. She came to Trey’s side and dropped her voice. “We lost him.”

The back door opened again. Stephen popped his head out. He canvassed the scene in the alley then asked, “Adam, you alright?”

If the guy actually cared about Adam, it didn’t show on his face.

He nodded and pushed off Peterson’s help as he stood. “Some asshole jumped me.”

″So, where is the guy?” Stephen looked from person to person. “You can’t tell me all these cops and the guy got away.”

He mumbled something to his sister about Ashwood’s finest. Trey didn’t think it was a compliment.

Swenson ushered them back inside the building. Daniels and Peterson scanned the alley for evidence.

Trey tipped his head toward the van and gestured for Amy and CJ to follow. He waited until the door slid closed. He turned his mic off and the others followed. “Is it just me or did Stephen Gardiner not seem surprised to have five law enforcement officers in his back alley?”

″I noticed that, too.” CJ checked the progress in the alley from the video feed that was still recording.

″I’m thinking one of two things: Either Stephen figured we’d be watching Adam since the drug bust, or he figured out the kid is working with us.”

Amy frowned at the latter.

″Shit,” CJ pulled out his phone. “We need to get him secure tonight. Let’s put a detail on him.”

Trey tugged to the side. “I don’t like this.”

″Me either.”

He didn’t know if the Gardiners were involved in his corruption case, but his instincts whispered they were armpits deep in drugs.

His pants buzzed and it wasn’t Amy’s closeness that caused it. This time.

He pulled his phone from his pocket. Brie’s photo had guilt washing over him. She’d be pissed if she found out he put Adam in danger.

He stepped from the van and answered. “Hey, what’s up?”

″Jodi posted that Adam was arrested. Was that you?” Her voice rose as she spoke.

″Brie.” Fuck, he should have told her. The last thing he wanted was for her to find out on social media.

″How could you?” She sobbed.

He couldn’t tell her Adam was involved in something much bigger than some nose candy, or that he was using her ex to get to bigger fish. So, he took a different tactic.

″He needed help. You know his parents would never have him committed to treatment. This way he will get the help he needs.” Besides, now the egotistical ass wouldn’t be bugging her anymore.

She sighed in his ear. “I know you’re right. We may be over, but I don’t want him hurt.”

He wondered if she’d feel that way if she’d seen the way he leered at Amy. “Listen, we can talk about this later,” please no, “but I have to let you go. I’m working.”

″This late? I hear traffic. Where are you?”

″Brie, I’m working. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Her voice softened. “Okay. Stay safe.”

″Always.” He heard her snort as he disconnected.