Page 14 of Night Moves
“I think it’s cute.”
He groaned. “Maybe when we were kids, but we’re all adults now. And we own a business where the last thing you want is for your clients to think you’re cute.”
Natalie laughed. “Drake said you all worked in law enforcement. What branch were you in?”
“Portland Police Bureau. Patrol officer for five years until I had to join the company business.”
“Had to join?”
“I guesshad tois the wrong way of saying it. Our dad needed a kidney transplant. Aiden donated one of his. He was ATF at the time. Meant he went on a lot of dangerous raids. We all worried that he might lose the remaining kidney on one of them. We agreed forming an agency together would keep him safer.”
She loved learning about this family, not only to take her mind off Kirk, but because they seemed to really care about each other. “Sounds like your family is very close.”
“Yeah.” He stared out the front window.
If she knew him better, she might ask what was putting the pensive look on his face, but that was too personal. Odd, when she would’ve asked Drake if he were sitting there.
Erik didn’t move a muscle but continued to stare ahead. Maybe he was thinking about his family. She might’ve declared them a normal family at one point in her life, but normal wasn’t a concept she embraced anymore. Not with so many families that she dealt with who didn’t have the traditional two-parent home. Many were working through their problems, and, with a little help, were starting to thrive.
The closest she’d come to understanding family was with her sister, Gina, but her brutal murder four years ago ended that. When Gina died, so did Natalie. Inside. And along with her concept of family, every ounce of her ability to love disappeared. Now she sought vengeance for Gina. That’s what kept her going outside of her work.
Should she tell Drake about her connection to Gina? Seemed like the right thing to do, but the detective she’d talked to and brought leads to regarding Gina’s murder discounted her because she was a relative. He said she was too close. Clutching at straws, he said, and he dismissed her.
Now that she knew The Clipper’s identity, she wouldn’t let this team dismiss her. She’d found a strong lead tonight, very strong, and she had to pursue it. How, she didn’t know, but she would. After she got the children settled in bed, she’d talk to Drake, see what he was thinking, and decide what she would do.
Eric’s phone chimed, and he grabbed it from his pocket. “Email from Clay. Police are at Gentry’s House.”
“Oh, good.” She let out a long breath of relief. “Does he say if they arrested him?”
“No. They just arrived.”
The lights flickered on inside the cabin and glowed steadily through the windows. An outside security light on the corner of the cabin burned bright, but from this distance, she still had to squint to make out the building. The log cabin had a front porch and a green metal roof. She thought it might be something even more rustic, maybe in a state of disrepair, but the building looked inviting.
Listen to her, thinking about a cabin in the woods as inviting. What was she going to think next? There were animals, mosquitos, and critters out here, for crying out loud. Just the kinds of things she avoided, mostly because she had no experience in the wilderness, and the creepy darkness left her feeling unsettled.
“Looks like Drake is about ready for us,” Erik said, his focus now pinned to the building.
Drake bounded down the steps to march across the clearing, his flashlight swinging side to side. He had a sure stride and confidence in his step. Man, oh man, she found that attractive. She had no idea why, but she’d always had a thing for the bad-boy type. The opposite of her in every way. Not that she knew he fit the bad boy stereotype, but his comment about calling others out on things made her think he might be one.
They say opposites attract. Maybe that was why she kept her gaze pinned to Drake’s every move as he closed the distance. She certainly found him intriguing.
Erik opened his door, and Drake bent down to look at her. “We’re good to go. I want all of us to head in at the same time.”
“No problem.” She made sure to not stare at the way the fabric of his shirt pulled tight against his biceps.
“Three adults means a kid per person,” she said.
Drake frowned. “Not quite that easy. I want my hands free. Might need to go for my gun.”
“No worries,” Natalie said, though his comment brought up all kinds of worries. “I’ll wake Willow up. She can take my hand and walk, and I’ll carry Sadie. That leaves Erik free to carry Logan.”
“Works for me. Let’s move.” Drake stepped back and looked at his brother. “I’ll get Logan for you. Kid’s car seat takes an engineering expert to figure out.”
Natalie smiled at his exaggeration, slid out, and opened the back door. She stifled a shudder at the cooler temperature and released Willow’s seatbelt. “We’re here, kiddo. Can you hop down so I can reach Sadie?”
Willow rubbed her eyes and looked around. “Where’s here?”
“Drake’s cabin. You’ll like it.”
