Part 19 (1/2)

Chapter Eleven.

The Bold Truth Tag I can't stop smiling. She still wants me.

Just as I'm about to leave the office, a detective from Ash's case steps off the elevator.

”Detective Marks, I wasn't expecting you,” I murmur in bemus.e.m.e.nt. ”Did you catch the guy?”

”Not exactly. He did break into Ms. Branderwood's storage facility, and he stole or trashed everything she had. Is she still staying at your place?”

f.u.c.k.

”Yeah. I'm not letting her out of my sight.”

”Here's the thing. The target is no longer just Ms. Branderwood. We found these,” he says while handing me several photos locked inside evidence bags.

There are pictures of Trip and Ash taken from afar from her old place. Trip's eyes have been blacked out, his mouth has been burrowed through, and there are crossed-out marks over his body in every picture.

”We also found this,” he uneasily releases while handing me a baby doll inside an evidence bag. The eyes have been gouged, the mouth has been ripped out, and the head is disconnected. The sickening part, he's wearing a s.h.i.+rt with a picture of Trip.

”f.u.c.king s.h.i.+t,” I release as my hands tremble.

”I know. This guy is beyond f.u.c.ked up. In cases like these, I have to notify both parents. Ms. Branderwood said I could share anything with you, so I'm hoping you'll do the same for me.”

”Yeah, of course. What do you need?”

”Well, she's sort of silent on the matter of the child's father. It's possible this guy might be the one doing all this, considering the new target. I went to rundown the name of the father, but I couldn't find a man in this area by that name. I'm hoping you can help me locate him. If he's not the suspect, he at least needs to know someone is targeting his kid.”

He knows his name.

”I don't even know the dad's name, but I'm sure I can help if you give it to me. Her best friend is on my speed dial. I'm sure he can help.”

My stomach flip-flops. I've wanted to know the name of this b.a.s.t.a.r.d for months now.

The detective smiles appreciatively.

”Great, it's Shannon Pierce.”

I tilt my head curiously, and then I shake it.

”Shannon Pierce isn't a guy. That's one of her friends - a girl friend. What's going on?”

He frowns, and then he makes a note of what I've said.

”What's going on is Ms. Branderwood is hiding something. Whatever it is, it could end up getting her hurt if the father is indeed the suspect. Care if I come over tonight?”

”Yeah, sure,” I mutter, now losing the euphoric cloud I was on.

Tag My moment of excitement has been soured now. I was ready to get home to Ash, finish what we started, but now I just want answers.

Why in the h.e.l.l would she lie to the cops about the father of her child? I realize she's protecting the b.a.s.t.a.r.d, but that's crossing a line.

The detective follows me down the drive, and Ash is smiling with Trip in her arms when she opens the door to see me. Her moment of happiness ends when her eyes fall on the detective following close on my heels as we both near the door.

”Hey,” she says softly as my arm wraps around her waist. ”What's going on? Did something happen?”

As.h.i.+ara ”I can't believe this monster is now after Trip! Who in the f.u.c.k is this obsessed with me?” I whimper, and Tag holds me to his body as I restrain my tears, happy they're not cascading down my cheeks.

Trip is lying in his pin, sleeping peacefully, unaware of the madman out there after us both.

”Ms. Branderwood, about the person you told us was your child's father, we know that's your friend-your female friend.”

I swallow hard, and Tag's grip tightens on me.

Please not in front of him.

”I'm sorry. At the time, I just panicked. I didn't want him involved.”

”Is he a violent person?” the detective asks.

”No, of course not. He's a great guy.”

”A great guy?” Tag scoffs. ”A great guy would be here for his son. A great guy would be here for you.”

Exactly. He's a great guy, dumba.s.s.

The detective clears his throat a little when he senses Tag's anger on the matter, and then he turns back to me.

”It's possible he could be the suspect. We need to find him. At the very least, he should know what's going on.”

”He's not your suspect,” I quickly object. ”And he's perfectly aware of the situation.”

”And he's still not here?” Tag snarks. ”Yeah. Great guy.”

I roll my eyes, and then I see the detective not impressed or pleased with my answer.

”I need to speak with him, Ms. Branderwood. I'm sorry, but you're going to have to give me his true ident.i.ty.”

”If this is about the guy who attacked me, he was short. I told you that. He's very short. Trip's dad is incredibly tall.”

”Ms. Branderwood, please don't make me ask you again,” the detective mumbles, exasperated.

”I can't. I can't right now. It's not him, and I promise he's aware of the situation surrounding his son.”

He tightens his lips, and then he tilts his head as he stares at Tag. I get sick as his mind wraps around the thing Tag hasn't figured out. He purses his lips, and then he walks over to stare down at my son.