Chapter 13
Thirteen
Finn ripped open the station’s back door, his boots hitting the floor hard. Every step down the hallway carried three things: fury, betrayal, and the sting from his last phone call.
It had been from Craig, who was fuming over the possibility of Izzy being dragged back into the crosshairs. All because of Taryn Hayes.
Then, Amara, his by-the-book, most loyal officer, told him Drew had been calling her directly. And it was Taryn who’d pushed her to admit it to Finn.
Somehow, that woman hadn’t just gotten under his skin—she was working her way through his entire team.
He reached the door to the Batcave and ripped it open.
Taryn looked up from her laptop, calm as anything.
He slapped the manila folder he was carrying onto her desk. ‘You’re digging into Everlight, yeah?’
And there was that poker face. She didn’t even flinch.
Of course she didn’t.
Finn stood there, his pulse raging hotter than the road outside. ‘SW Rural Contracting. If you’re so set on chasing Everlight’s ghost, start there.’
He turned to walk out.
‘No.’ The word cut through the air, sharp and fast.
He stopped. ‘No?’ Was she asking for a fight?
‘I need answers, too.’ She walked around the desk, with fire in her eyes. ‘I see what you’re doing. You’ve been ghosting me in some lame attempt to avoid my questions.’
He narrowed his eyes at her. ‘You’re the one who came into this town swinging an axe, and now you’re surprised no one’s rolling out the welcome mat?’
‘I’m not here to be liked. I’m here to do my job. And now you’re expecting me to follow your lead? I’m not your lapdog, Sergeant.’ She crossed her arms in defiance. ‘If you want me to dig, you have to give me something first.’
‘This is me giving you something,’ he growled, tapping the file. ‘Don’t mistake cooperation for consent to my intel, not when you’re walking through my team, making my people question me.’
‘Am I? Or have they always been questioning you? Maybe I’m just the one who’s game enough to say it out loud.’
Didn’t that hit like a fist to the guts.
‘So, what’s it gonna be?’ Taryn stood toe to toe with him. ‘Are you going to answer my questions, or keep on avoiding me?’
Careful what you wish for, sweetheart.
‘You want answers? Fine. Grab your workbag and get in the troopy. And no complaints.’ He stormed down the corridor and back out into the heat before he changed his mind.
Sliding into the driver’s seat, slipping on the seatbelt, he had the engine idling as his fingers drummed with impatience on the steering wheel. He’d give her two minutes and then he’d leave.
But then Taryn walked out of the station, her bulky workbag over her shoulder, gripping that notebook like it held state secrets. He definitely wanted to read it now.
She might think this exhibition was all about giving her answers, but his plan was all about keeping his enemy closer, to find out why someone like her was out here.
And that file he’d thrown at her was a test, not just of her skill for finding information either, but how good she was at reading between the lines.
But her expression caught him off guard, and how her jaw was set to war mode. This time, there was no skirt to hitch as she climbed inside. Just boots, jeans, and a takeaway coffee cup she held with her teeth, slamming the car door, to sit there pretty as could be.
She clicked on her seatbelt. ‘Where are we going?’
Finn put the troopy in gear, and with his eyes on the horizon he said, ‘The Spinifex Highway.’