Stranger in Town

CHAPTER 41





I didn’t know what it felt like to be the president of the United States, but when I arrived at the police station, I imagined it must have been similar to what I was feeling. Cops, feds, and office staffers stood outside, waiting, a look of disbelief on their faces. Noah Tate sprinted toward the car before it lulled to a stop, pulling the back door open. He gripped his little girl with both arms, pulling her toward him. Olivia’s mother waited, cautious, a tissue clutched in her hand. I imagined the difference in her daughter from age six to age eight was staggering. But they were home, and they were safe. Nothing else mattered.

Olivia exited the car slowly, unsure at first. Mother and child didn’t run to each other, they walked—as if in slow motion. Tears dripped down Kris’s cheeks every step of the way. When she finally reached her daughter, she kneeled and held her for several minutes, neither wanting to let go.

Kris whispered something in Olivia’s ear, and Olivia nodded. Then Kris walked over to me.

“I don’t know how to thank you, Ms. Monroe,” she said. “I never believed I’d see my daughter again.”

It wasn’t something I felt I could take credit for, so I used the moment to shed light on something else.

“You can thank me by putting Olivia first,” I said, “from here on out. Don’t allow anyone to come between the two of you.”

She nodded, understanding my meaning.

After the initial commotion died down and I made the rounds, Cade waved me over. We went outside. In the last hour, Eddie had passed away. No one seemed to care. Not anymore.

“So, I guess they’ve got a solid lead on the company Eddie Fletcher worked for,” he said. “The company runs some kind of child trafficking operation—everything from babies to teenagers.”

“I hope it gets shut down.”

“Yeah, me too. You headed home today then?”

“I’m not sure yet. I guess so.”

“We make a good team, you know?”

I winked.

“Are you offering me a job?”

He shrugged.

“I’m sure the chief is dying to hire a feisty woman without any legitimate law enforcement experience.”

Cade put his arm around me. “You know what I mean.”

“I feel the same way. I’ve never liked working with a partner before, but it’s different with you.”

He squeezed my shoulder and then let me go. “If you’re ever not dating someone, you know where to find me.”

I leaned in, kissing him on the cheek. “Maybe I will.”