Page 31 of Operation Daddy

Sammie swiped his eyes and took a broken-sounding breath—like a kid who had been crying for too long. “It’s good to see you too.”

July smiled as if they would all soon be good friends. Fletch wanted to die. “Sammie got fired. That’s why he’s been crying so much. This is the only place he’s safe enough to let it out.” July paused and looked thoughtful for a second before continuing. “Sorry to tell your business like that. This is my fiancée. I’m used to telling him everything.”

Light-blue eyes moved between them. “You’re getting married?”

There was no inflection in the question. If Sammie was upset, he wasn’t showing it.

July bounced a little. “Yes. I’m so excited, I could just die. We’re having a big wedding in Hawaii. Oh my gosh, you should come.”

Sammie’s gaze slid to Fletch. A small smile lingered on his lips, as if he found the situation humorous. “I don’t think I can do that but thank you for the offer.” He wiped his face on his blankie. “When is your wedding?”

“Two weeks.” July held up two fingers, looking every bit as thrilled as he claimed.

Sammie took July’s hand. “Is this your engagement ring? It’s so sparkly and pretty.”

July nodded. “Daddy did good.”

In spite of the situation, Fletch still beamed with pride. Hearing July call him Daddy never got old.

“What did you do at your last job? Maybe we can help.”

Before Sammie could respond, a shadow fell over them, and everything inside Fletch screamed for him to shove July behind him. The dogged detective was there. If Banks hadn’t been standing beside him, Fletch would have already tackled the guy.

“I don’t know if you remember me, Juynad, but I’m Detective Bailey. You can call me Dutch. Everyone does.”

Fletch focused on Banks, wondering what the betrayal was this.

Banks wore a kind smile. “Dutch is here as a very closely watched guest. He’s only here to talk.”

To Fletch’s surprise, July greeted him like an old friend. “Hey, Dutch. Do you want to sit with us?”

Dutch glanced around. He rubbed the back of his neck as if he had never been more uncomfortable in his life. After a second of looking around, he sat. His gaze slid Sammie’s way. He lifted his chin in a quick acknowledgment, as if he tried to still look like a tough guy sitting cross-legged on the floor with a guy in a onesie and another wearing a hodgepodge of costumes.

Fletch almost laughed at his predicament. If he pulled any stunts, ole Dutch wouldn’t leave this place, and he had to know it. Fletch grew a little more curious by the moment.

“What brings you by?”

Dutch’s gaze landed on Sammie again for a second, as if hesitant to speak with a witness.

Sammie made a dismissive gesture. “Act like I’m not here. People like me are invisible to people like you anyhow.”

That seemed to give Dutch pause—as if he had been personally challenged. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Sammie popped a pacifier into his mouth and started stacking blocks.

Dutch shook his head and focused on July again. “I’m guessing you know Rex has disappeared.”

July was good at playing innocent. “Why would I know that? I don’t leave my bubble.” He thumbed over his shoulder in Fletch's direction. Fletch assumed he was the bubble.

Dutch eyed July as if searching for lies. “Anyhow, with him in the wind, your missing person case has been canceled.”

“Oh. I didn’t know that was still a thing I needed to worry about.” July sounded genuinely surprised.

Dutch nodded. “I didn’t tell Rex I saw you. Something about him has always made my eye twitch. Every time I saw him, my skin crawled for some reason, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. When I saw what he did to you, it was an aha moment. That’s what itched at my brain. He likes power a little too much. I guess I see now what he does if anyone challenges that authority.”

Since that was pretty much exactly what had happened, Fletch couldn’t argue with Dutch’s gut. He imagined Dutch was damn good at his job. After all, he had found July… twice.

July chuckled. “That’s him all right. Is this some kind of formal questioning or whatever? As much as I loathe Rex, I didn’t make him vanish. I got free and I’m finally living the life of my dreams. I’m not looking back. That nightmare is part of the past.”