Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
CASH
It’s strange to be elated and pissed off at the same time.
I have been wanting Kindred from the moment I laid eyes on her and she opened that mouth of hers.
When I did the same, I ended up making her mad by sticking my foot in my mouth.
I want to kick my own ass for not being more blunt from the start, but dating and women had never been on my radar until she and I saw the potential for a whole other life.
The filthier I talked, the more she melted.
It did what no one else could do to her: leave her speechless and blushing.
I’m still thinking about her laid out on her desk.
I’ve had that fantasy many times. I'd gone over to check on her and take her lunch along with shoes I grabbed when I was at her place getting things she needed.
After I got things sorted out, I then got a ton of her belongings moved from her place over to ours.
I don't think she realizes I'm pretty much getting everything that belongs to her.
It's why I knew I'd be able to get all the Christmas and wedding items she'll need.
I also gave Tinsley my credit card and told her to go to town with getting Christmas stuff and having it taken over to the house and set up.
That way I can keep digging into who is fucking with my girl.
I didn’t think the call records would get me much.
It’s much too easy these days to spoof phone numbers.
Now what I can do is trace where the call was coming from.
Well, I can’t. Obtaining warrants and other necessary approvals takes time.
I don’t have time, not when it comes to Kindred and her safety.
She’s been so busy today I think it all might have slipped her mind. It hasn’t slipped mine, and I already have an idea of who might be behind this. I only want to make sure I’m correct before I go pointing fingers at the new deputy.
That said, these things had started before she was assigned to New Hope. Which would be smart on Beckett’s part, if she did it before her name came on the radar. The thing is, her name has already been on it since she told me who her brother was.
Now I'm waiting to hear back from the sheriff's office. I want the details on how she came to be here. For the time being, I can keep an eye on Beckett, but I still need to keep possibilities open. I also need to understand her motive.
If she knows the truth about her brother and that I killed him, why not come for me? I suppose she could do that through Kindred to get to me. I took her brother from her, so she'll take Kindred from me? Is Beckett that far off the rails?
All the shit that went down with her brother was classified, so I’m not sure how she would have even gotten ahold of that sort of information. Something really isn’t adding up.
I glance over at Beckett; she is bouncing her foot, bored. I don't know if she keeps asking about the break-in at Kindred’s because there isn't much else to handle around here or because she's fishing for information. Is she trying to feel me out to see if I suspect her?
"Do you know how formal the wedding is? I'm not sure what to wear," Beckett asks.
"Not a clue." I have a bunch of suits in the back of my closet.
"Are you going to stay mad at me?" Beckett stands and leans up against her desk.
"You were careless with your service weapon."
"A person was running toward me while we had two people in custody."
"Detained," I correct. "So that means you wave your weapon around? Mind you, there were other options at your disposal." A stun gun would have sufficed.
"A giant crowd was forming. That girl of yours thinks she runs this town and can just rush into a crime scene." I don’t miss the way she says that girl of yours when referring to Kindred. As though she ate something bitter and wants it out of her mouth.
"It wasn't a fucking crime scene."
"Because you didn't arrest them. As you should have."
"You think what you're saying is proving your point when you're only digging your grave deeper. A crowd was forming. Annoying, nosy people, and there you are waving a gun around." I have to bite back harsher words.
Fuck me. When I glance up at her rare silence, I see her eyes are filled with tears. "That's not how things are done. Both of them should have been arrested."
"Beckett."
"Katie, why won't you call me Katie?"
"We're not friends. We're colleagues," I remind her. "Here's the thing."
"You're firing me."
"No." Not today. Not when I think she might be behind this shit with Kindred.
I'll keep her ass close. The tears in her eyes clear, and I see the relief has her shoulders and chin dropping back down.
"But you need to think long and hard about staying here in New Hope.
You don't care for the way I do things. This might not be a fit for you. "
"I don't understand how it is for you. I read up on your time in the Army and as a Ranger. You don't have any strikes against you. Only medals." She smiles. "You got one for trying to save my brother."
That's what she believes. My service history is half bullshit. Ethan’s is as well. He’s still a Ranger.
“If you think my service was so great, then why don’t you trust what I’m telling you?
” Beckett purses her lips. “Say it.” Not sure why she’s holding her tongue now.
In fact, she talks far more than she should, and I’m not saying that to be a dick.
Kindred is always saying girls flirt with me.
I have no clue what she’s talking about, but could Beckett be doing that?
“I already told you. I think when it comes to this town, you’re biased.” That chin of hers juts up again. Everything she does irritates me. Ethan had been eyeing her up, and not for the same reasons as I had. I haven’t filled him in on how she’s connected to us.
I want to send her out to patrol. Oftentimes when it comes to policing, it’s about simply being around.
I drive around with that purpose alone. I can’t do that.
I don’t trust her in any which way. Not with Kindred and not with this town.
All of the people here mean way too much to me to put their safety at risk.
The door to the station pushes open, and in hops Tinsley with her older brother right behind her.
“Mission accomplished,” she announces. “I made Christmas explode all over your house. What’s next?” Tinsley rubs her hands, wanting another task. The cheerful expression on her face falters when she sees Beckett.
"You got anything else for us?" Tim asks.
"You all haven't had enough?" I’m not surprised they got done so quickly. Tinsley is a ball of energy. Every time I see her, I wonder if my daughter with Kindred would be the same. If we have all girls, I'll have my hands full.
"The pay is too good to turn down." Tim shrugs.
"After seeing your place, I'm starting to think you're rich." Leave it to a kid to blurt shit like that out.
I have kept a low profile when it comes to the wealth that I have. It is family wealth that was inevitably passed down from one generation to the next. I have donated a significant portion of it and continue to do so. The interest alone on it is insane.
After my father's death, I wasn't sure what I was going to do with all his shit.
I started selling properties off. Then when I met Kindred, I saw another purpose for it.
My father could go fuck himself. I endured him for years; I was taking my dues and turning it into a real family.
One that wouldn't have his last name connected to it.
"You can't say that shit, Tins." Tim shakes his head at her. "He was in the Army. Those guys have nest eggs when they come out."
"That’s bigger than a nest egg. I think the sheriff might be a golden goose popping out golden eggs.”
“I do have a few pickups you can do if you want.” I pull out a notepad from my desk and jot down the details of them and hand it over.
I don’t mind paying the kids to do some errands.
As they said, I have the money. Plus, giving them these little tasks will allow me to focus more attention on Kindred.
"Does Kindred know you moved her into your mansion?" Tinsley leans up against my desk, making herself right at home. There’s really no getting anything past her. She’s as sharp as a whip.
"She's moving in with you?" Beckett asks.
"Hey, this is townie business," Tinsley snips at her.
"How old are you?" Beckett responds with a sourpuss expression taking over her face.
"Fourteen." Tinsley holds up her fingers, wiggling them all before flashing four. "In case you can't count that high."
"I'll have you know I'll be moving here very soon."
Tinsley turns to her brother. "Are they just letting anyone move here now? We already got this one we're breaking in." She points her thumb toward me.
This isn't going anywhere good. “Here is the list.” It’s my grocery order and a few items I called in to local shops for gifts.
I already got Kindred a handful of items, but knowing this Christmas she’ll be waking up next to me, I want there to be a plentiful amount of gifts.
This is the first Christmas I have ever looked forward to.
"Got it." Tinsley takes the paper and practically skips out, leaving her ride and brother standing here.
"Sorry," he tells Beckett. "You're on her shit list. Good luck getting off of it,” Tim adds before following his sister.
"That was rude," she mutters under her breath.
"And that is what I mean. You think it doesn't mean shit that you're on her shit list. It does. It will spread." I leave out that it most certainly already has. People around here don’t take too kindly to strangers as it is. Sure, they deal with the tourists just fine, but that’s because they know they’re temporary.
"People are going to take what a teenager says seriously?"
"That one, yeah. This is a small town. You'll get yourself iced out."
"That's why you bend the rules for all of them.
" I can't do this with her anymore, and I'm done trying to explain it to her.
I'm sure whatever place she has found to rent will fall through in a few days.
I'll also be sending her back and saying Beckett isn't a fit for New Hope, but not until I'm sure it's not her fucking with Kindred.
It's disappointing. If I were to have a fellow officer in town, I would prefer her to be female so that she could handle more delicate calls if the need arises.
I don't bother to respond to her and get back to the important task at hand: going over the information that I have been able to dig up today on Beckett. With the holiday just a couple of days away, everyone is taking their time in responding to me.
What I can do is pull up the hardware stores in the surrounding towns and reach out, asking if anyone has bought red spray paint in the last couple of days.
That's how I spend the rest of my day, and get a couple of hits from a few stores who said they'll see if they can pull camera footage and receipts if they were paid with a card to get the name and get back to me. It’s not much, but at least it’s a start.
An alert goes off, letting me know Kindred has left Town Hall and isn't headed toward the mayor's house. I pull out my phone to text her. We had a deal, but as I start typing, a text from her pops up.
Cupcake: I'm headed your way.
That is followed with a slew of emojis. They start off sweet and I believe turn dirty, but I'm no emoji expert.
Me: I'll come get you.
I don't want her coming down to the station today, near Beckett. There is no reason for it.
Cupcake: I need to come there.
I shut down my computer and get all my shit together.
"You can head out," I tell Beckett, putting my coat on. I'm not quick enough. The trek from Town Hall to the station is not long. Kindred comes strolling in with a basket in her arms.
"I'm glad I caught you guys." She gives a warm smile.
How does she get prettier and prettier? I bet if she'd left New Hope and had gone to the city, those modeling casters, or whatever they are called, would have offered her millions to be on all those makeup and magazine covers.
I don't care what Beckett is saying; I'm not biased.
This is simply fact. "I got this for you. "
Kindred takes the basket over to Beckett, setting it on her desk.
“For me?” She sounds skeptical. I’m not. This is Kindred at the end of the day. Always thinking of others. Don’t get me wrong; she can be a brat at times, but she wears her heart on her sleeve, and it always wins out in the end. Most times, anyway.
"A little birdie, and mind you, there are a lot of little birdies in this town"—a small, sweet laugh leaves her—"told me that you're moving to New Hope, and I think we got off on the wrong foot. So this is my peace offering."
All the shit she had to get done today, and she made time to put a basket together. From here I can see it's filled with treats and trinkets from the shops all over town.
"Oh, wow." Beckett shifts on her feet, for once appearing awkward. "Thanks."
"If you need anything, you can always pop into Town Hall and ask. I tend to be around." Beckett nods. Now she's at a loss for words too? "I'll see you tomorrow at the wedding."
"Yeah, I see you too." Kindred strolls over toward me.
"How are you doing, handsome?" She places her hands on my chest, lifting to offer me her mouth.
I take it. "Cash," Kindred laughs when I finally release her.
I'm sure she only meant to give me a quick kiss, but if I have the opportunity, I'm indulging in her mouth for as long as I can.