Forever Hers Walters, Ednah (best novels for teenagers .TXT) 📖

against him and get him off the streets. He needs help and will continue to come after you until someone stops him.” He stopped, smiled and made a peace-sign with his fingers.

The screen went black. Eddie and Briggs exchanged a glance.

“Where did you find the thumb drive?” Eddie asked.

“We have our way,” Briggs said vaguely. “Now that we know Burgess went to school with Reither, we can track him down. His confession maybe inadmissible in court, but he could make a credible witness during Reither’s trial.”

Eddie grinned. That the captain believed they would catch Nolan was gratifying. “What about the fingerprints on the crowbar and the laptop?”

“We lifted those and we’ll confirm they are Reither’s, but if Burgess planted them…”

They would be useless in any court of law. Eddie’s mind raced as he searched for solutions. “What if we find Reither’s stash of mementos?”

“That’s the smoking gun in this case, and it must be in his possession. It doesn’t matter whether it is his house, car or garage.” Briggs studied him. “Did you have something in mind?”

“Yeah, but I need to flesh it out before running it by you.”

Briggs nodded. “Okay. Take the thumb drive home and show it to Ms. Kincaid. I’m sure she’d be happy to hear the truth.”

Eddie shook the detective’s hand and hurried to his car. He did a little shopping before heading back to the lake house.

***

The first thing Eddie noticed was the police car, and it wasn’t Sally’s. Something cold settled in his gut. He parked his car and hurried inside the house. Laughter, Amy’s voice and male voices, reached him before he saw her.

She was on the patio with two uniformed men hanging on her every word. One even sat in his favorite chair. What were they doing here?

He focused on Amy. Her brilliant blue eyes sparkled with merriment, the men completely under her spell. Her laugh, natural and genuine, showed she was enjoying their company. She had no idea how gorgeous she was and the effect she had on men.

Her eyes widened when she saw him. She jumped to her feet, a more radiant, sunny smile lighting up her face. The two men followed her gaze and stood as soon as he opened the back door.

“Detective Fitzgerald,” they said in unison.

“Officers.” Eddie’s eyes stayed on Amy as he walked toward her.

“You’re home,” she said, her chin lifting up, inviting. He did what was becoming natural for him. He lowered his head and captured her lips in a kiss.

Home. Yes, he was home. She was home.

He eased off the kiss and offered her the dozen roses. “These are for you.”

Surprised flashed in her eyes.

“Oh, thank you. They’re gorgeous.” She inhaled their fragrance, closing her eyes.

He wasn’t a flower person, but the red blooms had reminded him of her lips. He looked over at the two cops. “What’s going on, officers?”

“We’re just going back to the car, until we hear from Detective Briggs,” the taller one said.

“Thank you for the drinks and the cookies, Ms. Kincaid,” the short, balding one added.

“I told you to call me Amy.”

They glanced at Eddie and answered in unison, “Yes, ma’am.”

“What’s going on?” Eddie asked as soon as the cops left. “Briggs didn’t tell me anything about leaving sentries here.”

“Long story.” She reached up and kissed him. “I’ll put these in water. Do you want something to eat?”

“No.” He caught her hand and walked with her inside the house.

“Dinner won’t be ready for hours,” she added quickly and laughed. “Actually, I haven’t started it yet.”

“What aren’t you telling me?” He picked up an apple from the fruit bowl and sat on the stool, his gaze not leaving her face.

A vase in hand, she arranged the roses, added water and carried them to the middle of dining table. She lowered her head and inhaled their fragrance again, then bit her lower lip and gave him an innocent smile. “I love roses. Thank you.”

“I’m happy you do, but I’m not buying that smile. Spit it out.”

She rolled her eyes and sighed dramatically. “Burgess was here.”

Eddie choked on a piece of the apple and coughed and sputtered, “What?”

She explained. The more she talked the more pissed he became. He got up without saying a word and went to pick up the tablet. The ice in his stomach didn’t start to thaw until after he watched the footage twice.

“Nice side kick,” he said calmly when he wanted to call Briggs and demand an explanation, yell at her for taking chances. Why the hell had she left the house and confronted the guy?

“I chickened out.” She started for the kitchen and, like a moth to a flame, he followed.

“You handled the situation the only way you could, but still that’s no excuse. You should have called me.”

“If I had your cell phone number, I would have.” She removed beef patties from the fridge and placed them on the counter. “I called Captain Briggs.”

“I wonder why he didn’t mention anything to me.”

“That’s because I told him not to.”

Eddie scowled. “Why not?”

“You’d have driven home like a maniac and gotten into an accident or something. If you haven’t noticed, you get all uptight and anal when you shift to your protector mode.”

He didn’t even bother arguing with her because she was right. “Where’s your phone?”

“Right there by my computer.”

He walked back to the living room and picked it up and brought it to her. “I’m going to text you my numbers—office, cell and home.”

She cocked an eyebrow.

“So you’ll never have an excuse not to call me during an emergency. Oh, and I’m cooking dinner tonight. Barbecue. Get a glass of wine and put your feet up. Number please?”

Few minutes later, he started the grill, which was on the patio, while she sliced vegetables then sat back and watched him while sipping wine. Jimmy and Sam joined them, and when the food was ready, Amy went with the three children to invite the two officers. It was a festive group that ate dinner together on