Carter laughs. “You don’t believe that do you?”
I shrug. “I don’t know much about his business. Never had a reason to deal with him.”
He shoves his hands in his pockets and plays with his keys.
It took all of sixty seconds of knowing the man to know what this habit means. He’s going to ask me to do something I won’t like.
“I was thinking,” he ventures. “You could go talk to Mr. Gardiner and take someone with you who could get a look at some of his files.”
He wants me to bring a friend to search the place right under Lawrence’s nose? I sigh. I’ve done crazier shit, but this is Lucy’s father we are talking about. What if I get caught? But then again, what if I found something that would help?
“I could, but none of that would be admissible in court.”
Carter nods. “I know. You’re right. Forget I suggested it. I’m not one to bend the rules, but this guy has got me so tied up in knots.”
“Why?”
He stares at me for a beat, and I think he’s going to tell me, but then he pulls his phone out of his pocket. “I need to go, I’m late for a meeting. Let me know if you learn anything new.”
He turns and walks to his car without another word, leaving me wondering what he’s not saying.
Carter has never deviated from the rules that I’m aware of. I’ve even heard some of the guys at MTS complain about it. So why would he be willing to in this case?
I shake off the curiosity gnawing at me. I’ve got enough to sort out. Like the fact it wasn’t Lucy’s dad who set me up, it was Ted.
How the hell did he get my hair to plant it on Randy’s body? I blow out a breath. That’s one question among dozens. Although I do have an answer to another question: Lawrence didn’t set me up.
But my gut tells me it’s only a matter of time before he tries something to get rid of me, especially if I’m with Lucy.
But I’m not with Lucy.
The reality guts me all over again. I thought after the way she hurt me, I could walk away, but damn, if I thought it was hard thirteen years ago, it’s impossible now. She’s on my mind every waking moment; if it weren’t for the distraction of the murder charge and the riddle of what the hell Lawrence is doing with the Havenwood hockey team, I’d probably still be at home, drinking too much.
Luckily, that’s not the case. I’d never get her back that way. No, if I want a future with Lucy, I have to be better than that, I have to deserve her—and I have to make sure her father doesn’t interfere. I’m still pissed that she went to her father for help. But if she would be willing to agree to never do that again, if we could come to an understanding, then maybe we could have a chance.
I have to help Carter nail Gardiner. I don’t care for his suggestion on how we’re going to do that, but hell, I don’t have any better ideas.
First, I have to warn Lucy about Ted. Since she won’t answer my calls or see me, I shoot off a text telling her what the detective told me. Hopefully, she reads it.
CHAPTER33
Cody
“You sure youwant to do this?” Rover asks as we pull up to the curb near the front gate of Lawrence Gardiner’s house.
“No, but I need answers.”
Rover shakes his head. “I still don’t understand why the FBI isn’t doing this.”
I sigh. “No probable cause. Besides, Gardiner would spot an FBI agent a mile away.”
Rover finishes his coffee and sets it in the cupholder. “Yeah, but what happens if Lucy finds out? What if we find something that helps the FBI? She might never forgive you, no matter how big of an asshole he is. This is her dad we’re talking about.”
He isn’t telling me anything I haven’t considered. If Carter is right and we find evidence, Lawrence may go to prison. But while Lucy might be mad at me at first, I’m hoping she’ll see this is the only way we can be together.
“I’ve thought this through,” I assure him. “Now let’s go. Ready?”
Rover lets out a breath. “Ready.” Then he exits the car and runs around to the back fence where there are no cameras.
