Page 63 of Sinful Empire (Mount Trilogy 3)
My insides are shredding—old loyalties versus new. Regardless of what happened and why, telling the cops isn’t going to help. Justice is delivered differently now. At least, it will be if he ever comes back.
I squeeze my eyes shut as the same question bounces through my brain like a pinball. Where is he?
“I’ll leave my card in case you remember anything,” the cop says, and I can’t read his tone.
Am I a bad liar? Can he tell?
“We’ll be sure to call, but in the meantime, do your damned jobs.”
My dad’s farewell sends the officers out of the room as I attempt to piece together the rest of what happened. I open my eyes, fixing my gaze on Temperance. I need to talk to her alone, but I don’t think my mom is going to let that happen.
“Are you okay?” I ask her.
My COO nods. “I’m fine. I come from strong stock. It would take more than a whack to the head to end me.”
“Your brother . . .”
Her eyes narrow meaningfully. “He’s looking into things.”
Is that what Lachlan is doing too? Is that why he’s not here?
Temperance glances down at my naked left hand and then meets my gaze. “Anyone else you want me to call?”
“Do you have my phone?” Another memory slips into place. I was going to call Lachlan when everything went dark.
“No. Do you remember where you lost it?”
The implications of not having a phone have never been quite so dire. Without my phone, I can’t contact my husband. I don’t know his number.
“The rackhouse. I had it there,” I tell her, panic rising.
“No one said they found it, but I can call anyone you want.”
I bite my lip. “I . . . I appreciate the offer. But I really need my phone.”
Temperance nods, understanding dawning on her features. “I’ll ask the firefighters. Maybe they found it and kept it as evidence, and forgot to mention it.”
“Thank you.”
“What else can I do?”
“You can leave her alone to rest,” my dad says, his voice gruff now that he’s chased away two cops. Apparently, his respect for Temperance has worn off quickly.
“Dad, stop. Temperance is my COO. She’s amazing. Be nice.”
“COO?” His head jerks toward her. “Thought you were a secretary.”
“Stop,” I say, my voice weakening. “I can’t handle this right now.”
“David, I need more coffee,” my mom says.
“But I just got you—”
“More. Now.”
My dad grumbles and turns to leave.
Mom gives me an apologetic look. “Sorry, honey. He’s been worked up.”
