“I want to go out of here,” she whispered.
“Okay.” Ben stroked her head, trying not to let his anxiety show. When he’d come by during the week to visit, she hadn’t been interested in doing the things they usually enjoyed doing together. She didn’t want to play in the park, go for ice cream, or hang out at the mall going on rides and buying sparkly jewelry and clothes. Instead, she clung to him, holding his hand as they walked around, her body plastered against his side. Whenever he sat down, she curled up on his lap and pulled his arms around her. She didn’t even want to talk, and his Daisy loved to talk. But she hadn’t been as agitated as she was now.
“You get dressed, and we’ll head out.”
“Please, Daddy.” Her body shook, and she shuddered in his arms. “Take me out of here now.”
His throat tightened and he had to force out the words. “What’s wrong? Did Gabe…” He couldn’t say it, didn’t want to hear his biggest nightmare had come true, because if it had, there was no law he wouldn’t break to avenge his little girl.
She shook her head, and he released the breath he didn’t even know he was holding.
“Please,” she whispered.
“Sure. We just gotta put some clothes on you. We’ll go for a ride somewhere.” He detached her fingers and looked around the tiny room for some clothes.
“I don’t want to go for a ride. I just want to sit with you.” Tears trickled down her cheeks and Ben thought his fucking heart would break. He wanted to take her away from Vegas, but if he walked off the job, he would have to go into witness protection and that meant leaving Daisy behind unless he could sort out the custody issues before he left.
“Anything you want.”
He found some clothes and got her dressed before he carried her out of the house. The next few hours went by in a blur. He picked up a prepaid phone, drove around until he found a safe, quiet spot to park overlooking the city, and settled Daisy on his lap. She listened to the radio with him until finally fell asleep. Ben gently placed her on the back seat and covered her with his jacket, before giving Jack a call on his secure line.
“I’m not going to make it tonight.” Ben leaned against the vehicle, looked out over the peaceful, residential neighborhood spread out below him.
“I haven’t heard from you all week,” Jack said. “You haven’t filed those reports you promised me. What the hell is going on?”
“I’m real worried about my Daisy being in the house with Gabe.”
Jack gave a sympathetic murmur. He had a wife and two girls, one of who was the same age as Daisy. “I did the basics on Gabe for you. No criminal record. Not even a parking ticket. He’s got a valid driver’s license. Pays his taxes. Last job was as a cement mixer for a construction company. No current employment. I hit a roadblock internally when I tried to dig deeper. Some kind of clearance issue. There’s nothing else I can do.”
“Fuck.” Ben thudded his fist against the wall. “What about the social worker? Did she stop by the house?”
“Daisy is at the bottom of the list because there is no evidence of abuse—no reports from doctors, teachers, coaches, or neighbors. They are totally overworked, so she’s got a low priority.”
“Something’s wrong with her, Jack.” Ben scrubbed his hand over his face. “She wouldn’t talk about it. And things with the crew are getting way the fuck out of control.”
“I wouldn’t know since you aren’t filing any reports,” Jack snapped. Ben braced himself, pretty damn sure he knew what was coming next.
“I’ve been cutting you some slack over the last year because I know it’s a matter of life or death for you every day,” Jack continued. “But the higher-ups started getting concerned when they heard about things going down involving your crew and we weren’t hearing about it in your reports. We’re worried about you, Ben. I’m worried.”
“Forget about it.” His hand closed in a fist. “I gave you more than enough evidence to convict the top bosses and the department wouldn’t act. If they hadn’t dragged their feet for the last year, those bastards would be in jail, and the families would be on self-destruct. Now the bosses are dead and we’re starting from square one. You think I have time to write reports? And because I don’t, you question my loyalty? You tell me you can’t help my kid even though the reason she’s unprotected is because I’ve spent ten years of my life on this assignment? No fucking way.”
“We’re pulling you out,” Jack said. “We think you’re in too deep, and this stuff with Daisy is compromising your ability to do your job. Our recent conversations have had more to do with her than your work. You’re putting yourself and the investigation at risk.”