“If she’s here in Tampa, then Tampa PD gets the collar unless Larry has his men take it. If we do it, she’ll use Pratt as the reason the team focused on her instead of the evidence at hand where she is concerned. We have to dot our I’s and cross our T’s. Especially since she blames Pratt for her mother’s death.” Sgt. Brocard informed everyone in the room.
Pratt walked to the door hurriedly. “Excuse me.”
“Fuck!” Highlander stood up and walked towards the door.
“Give her a few minutes, Lt. Let’s clear up the questions that Trident will have first.” Sgt. Brocard suggested to Highlander.
Larry and Gene exchanged glances then both men stood up, shutting the door to get everyone’s attention. All three men spent the next half an hour talking to the room about Jennifer and her mother. When everything was said and done, Ian stood up and walked to the door.
“Devon, get everyone’s orders, check with the wives on what they want for lunch and call the order into Donovan’s. Highlander, I’m going to go outside and talk to your wife.”
Ian walked outside to see Pratt sitting in their get together area, sitting in one of the lounges, petting his dog Bo.
“He likes you, but then again, he likes anyone who gives him belly rubs, when he’s not in work mode.”
Pratt looked up and gave Ian a weak smile. “He’s a good dog. Loves to play fetch it seems.”
Ian chuckled. “Yes, he does.” Ian watched Pratt for a few moments, petting his dog, as he sat in the lounge chair opposite them. After a few moments, he leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees. “Do you trust your husband?”
Confused by the question, Pratt stared at Ian for a beat. “Of course. I wouldn’t have married him otherwise.”
“Do you trust him with your life?”
“Of course. I wouldn’t have married him otherwise.” Pratt repeated.
Ian nodded, then went for the kill. “Then why do you question his trust in you?”
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
“At the apartment, you went to the SUV after your panic attack in the hidden room. Then again, you came outside, sitting here playing with my dog, when your stepsister was talked about. To me, it looks like you don’t trust your husband or his judgement.”
Pratt kept staring at Bo during that statement while she got her words together.
“All my life, because of my hearing loss and my weight struggles, I’ve been told I’m nothing, a nobody. My parents, even after their divorce treated me like I was a disgrace or an embarrassment to them. I went on to college, thinking they would be proud of me after graduating with honors. Nothing I did was good enough.”
“Okay.”
“When I got married, it wasn’t because either of us loved each other. It was an arranged marriage. Jon needed a wife on his arms that would make it seem like he was a family man to assist with his promotions in the Corps. Once he had several years under his belt, the Senator would start grooming him for life in politics.”
“Arranged marriage? Thought that was outdated.”
Pratt laughed. “Technically, yes, but certain social circles, no. While my parents aren’t billionaires, they are pretty well off thanks to investments my father made during his military years and beyond. Gets them into the country clubs and stupid shit like that. Always thought the women my mother and sister associated with were several nuggets and fries short of a happy meal.”
Ian laughed, nodding his head. “My parents would agree with you.”
Pratt smiled at Ian as she continued to pet the dog absentmindedly. “Needless to say, Jon and I divorced after the many affairs he had, one including my sister, Maria. I left, taking my son, Cody, with me. I became even more of an outcast to my parents over it. Jon married a stripper he knocked up and I moved in with my brother, Dominick.”
“Knocked up a stripper? Talk about idiotville.”
“Should see her too. A baboon’s ass is better looking. Only reason she was a good stripper was the Botox to the lips trying to get those Angelina Jolie lips and the huge fake ass tits.” Pratt put her hand out in the front of her chest to give Ian an idea of how big the boobs were.
“Waste of money and boobs!”
Pratt laughed heartily, nodding her head.
“But, Laura, that doesn’t explain why you lower your head and cower like you did both times. I’m sure you’ve done it more than two times.”
“I’m ashamed.”
