Page 86 of Protected By Duval
Or maybe snarled was a better descriptive word.
“I’ve got a picture of Anthony Coolidge.” Duval sighed. “It’s grainy as fuck. Black and white to boot. I don’t know how we’re going to get a decent identification out of this.”
“What about-”
“The asshole doesn’t have any kind of current identification with a photo we can use.” Duval was working up a full head of steam.
“Well, I know who you can see about that,” Jack smiled even though she knew that Duval couldn’t see her.
“Who? The Easer Bunny? Santa Clause?”
Jack saw Hayden’s knowing glance.
They might be ‘just women’ but apparently they were ahead of Duval in this sense.
“You should see a certain person who could help with images of people… a certain artistic person?”
West sighed. “Go see Noelle.”
Jack heard a soft smack of flesh against flesh and smiled.
Hayden’s smile twisted at the corners. “Don’t hurt yourself too much, Duval. Sometimes we all miss the obvious.”
They heard the distinct click of a door closing before West chuckled. “Okay, ladies. I’m going to sign off and write up my report.”
The phone call ended and Jack sighed. “Poor guy… he’s still coming to grips with it.”
“With…”
Jack saw Hayden’s curious look and smiled even more.
“Falling for someone.”
CHAPTER 14
NOELLE
She heard the familiar rumble of the engine in McCrae’s truck in the drive and she put down her pencil on the dining table where she was working.
She was barely out of her chair when a rocket blew past her toward the door.
“Ciela! Be careful!”
Her daughter stopped with her hand on the doorknob, turning her head with a flash of wavy hair.
“You need to look before you open the door, sweetie!”
Ciela’s shoulders sagged dramatically. “I know who it is, Mama! It’s a Ranger truck!”
Noelle couldn’t help but smile. Ciela had discovered McCrae’s job by accident. A story in the newspaper and a picture of the S.W.A.T team in action and Ciela had gone out to bring the paper in from the yard and saw the image.
As she’d held her breath, watching… waiting, Ciela had announced to the room that the man in the picture was ‘Mister King.’
Then she pointed out the other members of the S.W.A.T. team that she knew by the names she called them.
Just excitement.
Smiles.
