“Oh. I don’t think he remembered.” Officer Dean frowns. “He stepped out in a rush for a meeting.”
“Can we wait for him in his office?”
She practically bats her lashes and has this guy eating right out of her hand. I have to fight back a smile.
“Well, you’re not supposed to, but…”
“Oh, you’re right.” Maisy sighs. “I just wanted to surprise him.”
The officer softens. Pushover. “You know what? Go ahead. He’s been stressed lately and I think it’d cheer him up.”
Maisy lights up. “You’re a gem, Officer Dean. Thanks.”
We leave the front desk behind and I lean close to murmur in her ear. “You’re like a dangerous little honey trap.”
“I’m saving the honey all for you,” she says with a sly grin.
Richard’s office sits in the corner of the building with big windows overlooking downtown Ridgeview. It’s cushier than anyone would expect, even for a chief. I peer around while Maisy keeps an eye out for her dad.
A large polished mahogany desk sits in the center with an expensive leather chair. There’s a family photo on the desk. I pick it up and the corners of my mouth tighten. It’s from the trip both our families took to California. I’m in it, right between Maisy and Holden with our arms all linked around each other. We’re grinning with sunburnt faces while Richard and Jacqueline stand off to the side. My mom is on our other side, but my dad isn’t there. Instead of looking at the camera or his wife, Richard’s gaze strays surreptitiously toward Mom. She’s looking his way, too, peeking out of the corner of her eye while she tucks her hair behind her ear.
My heart thuds as I stare at the old photo. There’s no way. I refuse to believe the hints of what I’m seeing, forcing my mind to shy away from the whispers of memories scratching at the edge of my awareness, that back up what my gut is telling me. Times the two of them would take us on outings. No. No fucking way Richard and my mom had a thing.
Swallowing hard, I put the photo down. It’s the only one on the desk. For someone who wants to seem like a family man, he doesn’t have anything else to remind him of them in here. The rest are photos with the mayor and with other prominent members of Ridgeview society. It’s easy to guess money ties each of these men together. Favors. Bribery.
This is what Richard sold his soul for.
Muffled footsteps approach through the closed door. Richard comes in and his cheeks turn red when he realizes he’s not alone. He rushes toward Maisy.
“You—I’ve been so worried!”
Before he reaches her, I step between them and shove him against the wall. “Don’t touch her. You don’t have the right.”
Maisy calmly shuts the door. He fights against me. Despite his broad stature, I’m stronger, easily able to keep him in place.
“Why are you here? What do you think you’re doing?”
Richard’s face reddens more as he struggles to free himself. He goes for his holster, but I cut him off, twisting his arm.
“Were you just about to pull your weapon on your daughter and another civilian?”
“Civilian?” He barks out a harsh laugh. “With the whispers going around town about you, I’m sure you’ve probably done something to warrant an arrest.”
“I thought you’d be happy to see me, Rich. No love lost for your old friends’ son?” My lip curls and my fingers dig in harder to his designer three piece suit. I move to grab him by the throat. “I guess you did have me shipped off and figured I’d disappear so you didn’t have to look at me to remind you of your sins.”
His lips move, but he can’t get any words out when I tighten the chokehold. His eyes bug out.
“Fox.”
Pushing out a breath, I ease off from squeezing the life from Maisy’s dad. He puts on a show of coughing and fighting me. It’s futile. I’m bigger and stronger from the years I’ve spent keeping in shape while he sat behind a desk and enjoyed steak dinners with a side of cash under the table. Knowing he won’t crack me, he appeals to her.
“Maisy, what is this? I told you to stay away from this boy. You’re standing there while he assaults me? Sweetheart, look at me.”
She won’t. In my peripheral vision she keeps her gaze locked on me, remaining silent while he becomes increasingly agitated.
“Maisy!” Richard blusters. “Answer me, damn it. I’ve been lenient since you left the house, but this is too goddamn far. You need to come home. Your mother and I—”
“I just have one thing to say, Dad. Arthur Jones.”