A pause. “I just need a minute more.” Her voice cracked.
He gritted his teeth, picturing the tears streaming down her face. “Take your time,” he called. Then he turned around and growled, “I want to wring that motherfucker’s neck.”
“Which will get you nowhere fast,” Boone said.
“Except for feeling better,” Asher mumbled, obviously loud enough for Rhett to hear and chuckle.
Another knock came at the front door before it opened and the chief entered. He gave Boone a long look and a nod at Rhett before turning to Asher. “Is Remy all right?” he asked.
“Rattled, but okay.” Asher glanced toward Tony as he began fingerprinting her coffee table. Asher didn’t even want to consider what might have happened if she’d been there tonight.
“All right, that’s good,” Hank said. He scanned her loft, assessing the damage, then sighed. “Where is she?”
“Bathroom,” Asher replied.
Hank nodded, then frowned at the mess. “Any idea what someone would be looking for?”
“No idea.” Tension rippled across Asher’s shoulders. He moved to the wall and leaned against it, folding his arms. “Fanning’s dead. Why is Violi still here, breaking into Remy’s place?”
Hank rubbed his chin. “Is it possible this has nothing to do with Violi and this is simply a break-in?”
“It’s possible,” Boone said, “but also highly unlikely. Violi has been in contact with Remy a few times. That’s too coincidental for my liking.”
For Asher’s too.
Hank nodded again and then shoved his hands into his pockets, tapping his boot against the hardwood floors. “Let’s say we go with the Violi theory. There’s gotta be something there that you’re missing. Breaking in here had to serve a purpose. What is it?”
“Scaring her,” Rhett said.
“Yes, but why?” Hank pressed. “Why would Violi go to these lengths to scare her? What could it possibly get him?”
Asher began pacing in front of the coffee table, where there was a clear path, unable to stand still any longer. His fists clenched tight, the desire to protect Remy surging through him. “That’s the very thing I keep asking myself over and over again.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Why is this bastard sticking around and tormenting her?”
“Because Fanning was married to his sister?” Rhett offered.
“Which has nothing to do with Remy,” Asher stated.
Boone frowned.
When no one had the answer, heaviness filled the room.
Until Hank broke the silence. “Keep at it. You’ll get the answer. You boys always do.” He moved to the bathroom door and knocked. “Remy? Can I come in for a minute?”
The door slowly opened and Hank vanished inside. Asher started at the door, his chest rising and falling with his heavy breaths. “Someone was in this goddamn apartment. Touched her things. She could have been here.”
A firm hand came on Asher’s shoulder. “And we’ll find out who and why,” Boone said.
Not soon enough.
The bathroom door opened again. Hank came out with wet marks on his shirt. Remy’s tears. Asher closed his eyes and breathed deeply. He wanted Violi to feel those tears, every single one of them. The taste for vengeance slid through Asher’s veins, and his ears pounded.
Hank’s steady voice opened Asher’s eyes. “I’m aware this is a hard situation for you because it’s personal.” He cupped his shoulder, squeezing tight. “But you need to keep your emotions out of this one. Figure the case out, get it solved, and that’s the best way to protect Remy.” He leaned in and his gaze firmed. “I don’t want you anywhere near Lars Violi. If you want to question him, Boone takes the lead there. Am I understood, Sullivan?”
Asher instinctively wanted to rebel against the order. “Yes, sir.”
“Good.” Hank dropped his hand and his gaze swept over
Rhett and Boone. “Update me once the crime techs have finished and if anything develops there.”