Eat Crow (Cheap Thrills 6)

I met DB’s eyes and smirked until a small detail that could cause big problems occurred to me.

“Um, isn’t your daughter married to Hurst Townsend’s grandson?”

Dragging his eyes away from Kap, who was now staring at the property behind us, Ned raised an eyebrow. “Got two daughters and a son. Sadie’s married to Elijah Townsend-Rossi and about to have his baby. My son, Craig, is an officer in the Royal Navy, so we only get to see him when he has enough time to fly over, or if we get lucky and his ship comes into dock here. My other daughter, Cynthia, is a free spirit and is what I call a beautiful nightmare. She has a little boy named Wickham who takes after her, but my grandson’s still one of the best kids I’ve ever met.”

I was trying to remember if I’d ever seen or heard of her, but nothing was coming to mind.

“Hey, didn’t she come—” Kai said, stopping when Kap elbowed him in the gut. “Wow, look at the detail on that door.”

Both Judd and Ned looked at where the door was, but DB was done talking and made it known.

“Okay, we have a possible second location for King Kirkwood. I think we need to split up. Palmerstown can go to his main residence, and we’ll head to the second place. I’ll text the map to Judd to pass out to the Palmerstown officers so you can come help us if nothing turns up at his house.” DB stopped and looked around all of us.

“While you’re there, you’re not just looking for him and Lord. You’re looking for anywhere that you think Jordy Watts’s murder could have happened. The crime scene techs have gone over where Ashesh’s body was buried, but the wet mud is causing problems, so they’re free to assist if you can pinpoint a location.”

Then, looking at Judd, he held out his hand. “I want to thank you for what you’re doing for us. This has moved much quicker with your assistance, and today was a day I never thought I’d see in our town, but it helped to have your team working with us.”

Shaking it, Judd looked as pissed as we were about everything that’d happened. “Them putting the guy’s body on the boundary line between the towns opened a door for us, but there’s an agreement that dates back to the founders that joins the departments. I’d like to keep that agreement going for as long as I’m Sheriff, so we’re here if you need us.”

“And likewise. Now, let’s go and find him.”

Holding his hand up, Ned motioned over some of his men to wait a minute. “I’m headed to see Hurst and his family, but if you need anything, just shout.”

And that was it.

I didn’t want to let down my defenses and assume that finding Lord and King would be as easy as finding their father, especially after what had happened today, so I cracked my neck and starting walking toward my vehicle.

My phone had buzzed not long ago, so I took it out as I got into the cruiser and waited for Alex to get behind the wheel, seeing a text from Bex waiting for me.

Bex: Hey, so Ava and me have a ho-mance and wine. Get it? A ho-mance, like hoes and romance. Mace looks sad, though. I said he could join us and make it a ho-bro-mance, but he didn’t want to. Sad times!

Jesus, during all of this and what she’d gone through today, she was still able to make me smile and give me a boost. And just by a drunken text.

Texting her back to say I’d be a bit longer and that I hoped she was having fun, I texted Mace to say thank you for watching her for me.

Me: I’m not sure how the ho-mance came around, but thank you for keeping my girl safe. I hope you survive it.

Mace: Ava wanted to make sure she was okay and decided wine was the way to do it. I’m doing my best to listen out for anything, but that shit isn’t easy. They’re singing.

I was typing out a reply when Alex got into the car and started the engine.

“This is going to suck. I’ve got a feeling it’s not going to be as easy as their dad,” he muttered, falling into line behind the other cruisers as we drove out of the property.

“Garrett’s taking Dirk back to the station to process him, then he’s going to join us. I’ve got a feeling he’ll be doing some talking on the way there.”

“He sure as shit wasn’t saying anything except for throwing threats at us when we cuffed him.” Alex pointed out, then added, “Sorry, re-cuffed him.”

Looking back down at my phone, I hit send on the message.

Me: I hate to admit there’s a bit of jealousy in me that wishes I was there instead.

Mace: They’re discussing bananas now. I feel for you, man.

Me: Fuck’s sake.

Mace: She can’t even chew bubble gum and blow bubbles, it’s that bad. That’s gotta suck.

I groaned out loud, reading the message. Bex had an inability to put embarrassing things behind her, and I couldn’t even count the number of times I’d woken up to her moaning and pulling the cover over her head because she’d remembered one in her sleep.