Secrets Never Die (Morgan Dane #5)(95)

“Aaron was looking for Evan,” Morgan said.

“That’s what we think.” Harvey clicked his pen closed. “The arrest warrant for Evan has been pulled, and I’ve scheduled a press conference for this evening to make a public announcement. Evan has been completely cleared.”

“Thank you.” Morgan smiled. “Do you know if Joe Martin was involved or was the whole plan concocted by Aaron?”

Harvey shrugged. “The Albany cops interviewed Joe. He denied knowing anything about Paul’s murder, and we haven’t run across any evidence that implicates him. For the moment, we believe Aaron acted alone.” Harvey nodded at Sharp. “Sharp suggested that Aaron might have been unhappy that his father was released and took back control of the company.”

“I doubt you’ll find proof either way,” Morgan said. “Joe must have an army of lawyers to hide his businesses behind shell companies.”

“I’m sure he does.” Harvey stood and stretched. “Thank you for your time.”

Lance walked him to the door. “Are you going to run for sheriff?”

“Hell no. The department is a mess. Colgate’s office and files are complete chaos.” Harvey jammed his hat on his head. “At this point, the county will be hard-pressed to find anyone willing to run for the office in November.” He pointed to Lance. “You could run.”

“Hell no.” Horrified at the thought, Lance echoed Todd’s response. “I do not have the patience for bureaucratic bullshit.”

“I hear you.” Harvey adjusted the brim of his hat and left.

Lance closed the door and returned to Sharp’s office.

“I’m starving.” He rubbed his empty stomach. They’d missed lunch.

“Pizza?” Morgan’s voice lifted in hope. “We can take it home and eat an early dinner with the kids.”

“Sounds good.” Lance had a few missed meals and bedtimes to make up for. He wanted to spend the rest of the day binge-watching cartoons and cuddling with the girls.

“Do you want to come home to eat with us?” she asked Sharp.

“No, but thanks. I promised Olivia I’d drive her down to Albany to pick up her car.”

“You seem happy about that.” Morgan’s smile widened.

Sharp actually blushed. “Yeah. Well, she’s all right.”

Lance thought about teasing him, then reconsidered. Sharp deserved some happiness. His boss had not had a special woman in his life for a very long time, and Olivia seemed perfect for him. Sharp left Morgan and Lance to lock up the office. They were leaving through the front door when Lance’s phone rang. “It’s my mom.”

He answered the call. “Hey, Mom. Morgan and I were going to stop and see you on our way home.”

“Now, that’s silly,” his mom said. “After all you’ve been through, you should both go home and get some rest. I am fine.”

“I haven’t seen you in a week.” As busy as he’d been, Lance missed her.

“You’ve called me every day,” his mom pointed out. “Go home to your family. Spend time with Morgan and the girls. Do something fun. That’s an order.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Lance ended the call and relayed the conversation to Morgan. “Sometimes I forget that under her mental illness is a smart, tough woman. She’s a survivor. I need to remember that.”

Morgan took his hand. “Well, it seems she will be more than happy to remind you.”





Chapter Forty

“After we pick up my car, you have to follow me.”

“Why?” Sharp glanced at Olivia, who sat in the passenger seat of his Prius. She’d covered up the bruise on her cheek like a pro, but its presence still bothered him.

“I’m taking you to dinner.”

“Shouldn’t I be taking you to dinner?” he protested. “I got you into this mess. I almost got you killed.”

“Nothing was your fault,” she shot back. “I’m a big girl. I walked into the situation knowing the score.”

“Neither one of us really knew the score.” He exited the interstate and made his way to the parking lot where her Prius still sat. The night before, they’d spent hours being questioned at the local police station. Neither one of them had been in any shape to drive. A cop had taken them home.

“Thanks for setting up the meeting for Joe and Tina.” Sharp was headed there later that evening. He didn’t trust Joe one bit, and he would not let Morgan and Lance meet him without backup.

“You’re welcome,” Olivia said. “I hope it brings Tina some closure.”

“I suppose I owe you another favor.”

Her smile was just a little wicked. “I’ll add it to the list.”

He dropped her at her car, then followed the white Prius.

She drove through the streets as if she were used to them. Ten minutes later, she drove into a neighborhood of tiny, nearly identical one-story houses. She parked in front of a white house with red shutters. Olivia opened her car door and stepped out of the vehicle.

Sharp met her on the sidewalk.

“This is my parents’ house.”

“Oh.” Surprised, Sharp brushed a hand through his hair. He hadn’t met a woman’s parents in . . . more years than he wanted to count.