4. Harper #3
“Yeah,” I agree. “That’s probably the smart choice.”
“But not the one you’re going to make?”
“I’ll try to make it,” I say, making him grin again.
“You know prison is full of people who say the exact same thing, right?”
“Yeah, but I mean it.”
He raises a brow at me. “If you ever get arrested, you’ll fit right in.”
I grin and ask, “So how’s work been?”
“Busy. There’s always someone breaking laws.
The small-time shit keeps us busy enough, but it’s all the organized crime that I really worry about.
DeMarco’s guys have been causing trouble, growing bigger and bringing in cartel drugs, the Italians have such a stronghold in the city there’s no way it’ll ever be dismantled, and don’t even get me started on the Russians. ”
“What’s going on?” I ask. “Anything new?”
“No, just the usual. Missing people we know they’ve killed, drugs we know they’re selling, and all of it right under our noses and impossible to prove.”
He scratches at the stubble on his jaw and sighs. “I really wish criminals would take a day off every once in a while. They’re productive little fucks in the worst way possible. Why don’t they procrastinate more?”
“I know, right? They’re such go-getters.”
“I’m being serious,” he says.
“No, you’re not. You know as well as I do that greed is a powerful motivator. They always want more. That’s why they say no rest for the wicked.”
“When’d you get to be so smart?”
I know he’s teasing, so I tell him. “It’s a very recent development.”
“Nah,” he says. “You’ve always been brilliant. I never could let my guard down around you because I knew you’d catch every single detail of everything I said.”
“That sounds really stressful and not all that much fun.”
He shrugs. “I was trying to make it work.”
“What about now, though? Do you still feel that way around me?”
I see his grin before he says, “Hell no, now I just tell you to stop hounding me because I don’t have to worry about you not letting me into your bed. This is way easier.”
“So happy I could help you out.”
We share a laugh and talk for a few more minutes, but when he checks his watch, I reach into my bag to hand him some money for the coffee.
“Don’t you dare,” he tells me. “It’s my treat. It was good to see you again.”
“You too, Dev. Be careful,” I tell him, knowing how dangerous his job can be.
“Mandy will kick my ass if I’m not.”
The smile he gives at the thought of his wife has me reaching out to briefly squeeze his arm. “I’m so glad you’re happy,” I tell him. “I love seeing you like this.”
“Thanks. I didn’t know it could be this way, you know?”
“Yeah,” I say. “I mean, that’s what people always say. I’m not talking from real-world experience here.”
“It’ll happen. Somewhere out there is a guy who’s going to knock Harper Reed on her ass. Watson is great, but he needs a dad.”
When I fake a dry heave, he laughs. “You see what being a dad has done to me? I’m a hopeless, corny romantic now.”
“It’s a good look on you. Let me know if you hear anything that you can pass along,” I tell him when he stands up to leave.
“You know I will. Take care of yourself. No more wine.”
I smile and tell him bye before sitting back and finishing my latte.
Pulling up my phone, I scroll through the notes I’ve been jotting down about DeMarco, trying to piece together what I know, questions I want answered, research I need to do.
Basically it’s me word vomiting into my Notes app, and when I grow tired of it, I sit back and let my mind wander to Ev.
I can’t help but be curious about what he’s doing.
I’m guessing he’s not still at the grocery store sniffing peach butts.
Although, it’d be hilarious if he was. My guess is he’s working.
A man like him probably doesn’t take days off.
It’s hard to relax when you have a giant stick up your ass.
Smiling to myself, I finish my drink and then get back in my car.
The plan was to go home, but I somehow find myself headed back to my office.
Once I’m at my desk, I immediately start searching for Ev’s address.
After twenty minutes of trying every avenue I can think of, I let out a frustrated breath, because what was supposed to appease my curiosity has just opened it right the fuck back up.
No personal property is associated with Ev’s name.
The only thing that comes up is his office address.
I briefly think about asking Devin to run his name for me, but then I think about his newborn daughter, and I can’t do it.
He once told me that every search is logged on their computers.
If he starts poking around, it’s going to leave a trail, and if he gets caught, it could mean his badge.
I’d never forgive myself if he got fired because of me.
He doesn’t deserve that, and I refuse to ask it of him.
Frustrated and wishing I’d just gone home instead of making this detour, I grab my bag and turn off my computer. If I’m going to be miserable, I’d rather do it with a large greyhound snoring in my lap.