Page 71 of Roughing
“I know. You are, and you’re one of the reasons we’ll get this guy off the streets.”
“I ignored what was right in front of my face and made assumptions.”
“You’re learning.”
“I swore it was Gordon. I let my stubborn beliefs cloud my judgment. And I’d been considering going for my PI license, but maybe I don’t have the right stuff.”
“Don’t sell yourself short. You’re naturally inquisitive. You’re good with a computer, and you care about people. You can learn the rest. You’d be a damn good PI. Don’t let anyone tell you differently.”
“You’re my biggest cheerleader.”
I snorted. “I don’t think I’ve ever been referred to as a cheerleader before, but I thank you for the sentiment.”
“You’re welcome.” Her smile was genuine but laced with worry. Maybe I was off the hook for whatever she’d been pissed about earlier. I hoped so.
“Something’s happening.” I pointed toward the building two blocks down. We couldn’t see much, but there were more cars and a commotion near the front door of the Uni.
“I wish we’d brought binoculars. The first rule of surveillance is don’t forget the binocs.”
I nodded, distracted by the ruckus and squinting in an unsuccessful attempt to see what was going on. Multiple vehicles blocked our view.
“Wait, is that him?” Someone was being escorted down the sidewalk and to a waiting police car. Several uniformed cops surrounded him as they led him away. In a few seconds, he was in the car, and they were gone.
“That was him. I need to help find Trelika,” Michella said excitedly. Before I could stop her, she leaped out of my SUV and ran toward the Uni.
Her quick escape caught me off guard, and I was several steps behind before I gave chase. Carla appeared beside me as we sprinted down the sidewalk. She was pissed, but I wasn’t concerned about her. I was concerned about Michella. Desmond had been removed from the premises, but Michella would be in big trouble if she interfered in an investigation and compromised a crime scene. I knew this because I’d seen it on TV.
I was fast and Michella was no match for my speed, especially considering the impractical shoes she liked to wear. I caught up to her just as a couple policemen moved to block her way. I grabbed her around the waist and clamped her to my side. Carla halted next to us, panting from the exertion. Most likely, in her position, she didn’t chase down bad guys often.
Before either of us had the opportunity to chew Michella’s ass, the stunned expression on her face made us both look that direction.
“Oh my god.” Michella ceased struggling to free herself and collapsed against me. I was as stunned as she was. Trelika staggered out the door with a police escort on each side. She looked worse for wear, but she was alive, if not somewhat rough compared to the perfect, fashionable woman I’d last seen.
“My baby! Where’s my baby?” she cried out. “I need to go to my little girl and let her know I’m okay.”
Beside me, Michella dialed her phone and reached Heidi. “They found her alive. Yes. She’s okay. Hang on.” She turned to the policeman warily watching her. “Can you please let her talk to her child? She’s on the phone now.” His stern expression faded, and he nodded with a ghost of a smile. He took the phone and delivered it to Trelika.
She spoke for a few minutes with tears streaming down her cheeks before handing the phone back to him. She waved weakly at us. “Thank you, oh, thank you so much.”
Both Michella and I smiled back as they escorted Trelika to a waiting ambulance.
ChapterTwenty-Five
STARTLING DECLARATION
~~Michella~~
Professional Hockey Player and Girlfriend Thwart Serial Killer and Save His Latest Victim.
This headline was embarrassing. We did no such thing. If anyone should get credit, Heidi should, and Carla. Briggs and I did what had to be done. No more, no less. Carla didn’t agree.
But dealing with my recent celebrity was the least of my problems.
I faced a dilemma—whether to be true to the pledge I’d made to myself or to let Briggs off the hook. If I compromised my convictions once, would I do it again? I’d accepted Gordon’s apologies and excuses over and over. I’d promised no man would ever control or deceive me again and still be in my life.
But here I was. In a huge conundrum with a man who was nothing like the others I’d dated in some ways but similar in others.
Be true to yourself.
