Wicked as Lies (Wicked & Devoted 3)

“You called the cops?” her ex shouted in accusation, like he was shocked she would do that to him.

It had to be the drink talking, because if he’d been sober, he would have known she would never put up with his crap.

She yanked the door open. “I don’t want you in the house and you shouldn’t be driving.”

“Cunt! I’ll be back…and you’ll be sorry.”

“That’s enough, buddy,” a cop snarled as he cuffed Cash. “You’re coming to the station.”

“What? No. Fuck that. Fuck you!” He struggled to no avail as one cop took him away. Another exited his vehicle to assist.

As the sounds of his struggles dimmed, Hallie stirred again, this time seeking food in her sleep. The cop remaining on her porch flashed her an understanding smile. “I’m Officer Mills, ma’am. My wife is breastfeeding our newborn, too. You need a few minutes?”

“I think so. She’s past due.”

“I can wait. Then I’ll need to ask you a few questions. Until then, I’ll go, um…help with him. You know this guy?”

“Ex-boyfriend.”

Mills nodded. “I’ll let the others know.”

Tessa shut and locked the door. Did that matter with a front window now wide open? Sighing, she turned off the potatoes. Dinner would have to wait. Quickly, she fed Hallie, her head spinning all the while. How the heck was she going to board up that window with dusk coming so quickly? Hell, she didn’t even own any tools. Wasn’t that what she had a landlord for?

Once Hallie seemed sated and had given her a good burp, Tessa set the infant in a jumper seat, quickly changed her shirt, then opened the door again to find Officer Mills. There he stood…along with the man who had been next on her list of people to call.

“Colonel Edgington. You’re here?”

He gave her a fatherly smile. “I know most of the guys at the station, and they know you work for me. Can we come in?”

“Of course.”

“While Mills asks you some questions, I’m going to figure out how to patch up the window.”

“Thank you so much.” Tessa would be forever grateful if he could figure out how to keep her safe tonight so she could get it repaired tomorrow.

The colonel patted her softly on the shoulder, then headed into the kitchen and down the hall, to the first bedroom on the left.

Ten minutes later, Mills had asked her all the questions he had and was apparently satisfied with her answers. “That’s all for now, Ms. Lawrence.”

“I appreciate y’all coming so quickly.”

He nodded, looking decidedly uncomfortable. “You didn’t hear this from me, but I doubt the charges will stick. When I stepped outside so you could feed your daughter, one of the other officers told me your ex is the nephew of a city councilman.”

So the local wheels of justice were selective and the system was two-tiered. Tessa closed her eyes against rising defeat. “So he’ll be out by tomorrow?”

“If they lock him up at all.”

Just then, Tessa glanced across the open space to see the colonel standing there, listening. “Don’t worry. I’ll help you out. I’ve got an idea.”

Zy sat on the stiff sofa of his budget, all-suites motel off the side of the freeway, absently watching a college basketball game and grimacing at the scent of leftover Chinese takeout when his phone rang.

He lifted the device. The colonel. He should have guessed, since Trees had already called about thirty minutes ago. Those were the only two people who called with any regularity these days. What did that say about his social life?

With a sigh, he answered. “Evening, sir. I’m fine. No more effects from the concussion, and the stitches are healing up.”

“Good to hear, but that’s not why I’m calling. I—”

“Wait. Before we move on, I’ve had dozens of hours to sit alone and replay that mission in my mind. I have some questions.”

“All right. Hit me.”

“Everything seemed right on schedule, and then suddenly it wasn’t. I don’t know how Emilo Montilla and his thugs figured out they weren’t alone or knew exactly where to find us, but that mission went south for a reason.”

The colonel sighed. “I’d like that answer, too. It was a shit show, despite the fact none of you did anything to compromise it. But now Walker is seething at Bryant for yanking him out and aborting the whole thing. Trees was a wreck for two days. And until your banged-up body heals, I’m short an operator. But the only explanation that makes sense is they had eyes somewhere we couldn’t see.”

Zy didn’t like it, but Edgington was right. In the dusty town they’d had to skirt to reach their compound? Along the long, bumpy dirt road to their hideaway? Any of that was possible. He just didn’t like not knowing.

Twenty minutes later, Zy was out the door, speeding on his black Ninja through the inky night toward the address Edgington had given him. But beyond telling him to pack up and check out of his motel, the man had been short on details.