Unauthorized Affair (Unauthorized #1)(45)

“Photocopies of all the evidence are in here.” He flipped each piece of paper over until he found it. A photocopy of a piece of notebook paper with the words Clifton St. written on it.

Hunter stared at it. He started talking without looking up. “Stay in here. I have a phone call to make in the next room. If Sadler comes out, you come in and tell me right away. Don’t let him near you.”

Jen nodded, fear filling her. The snake was in their safe house. Their not-safe house.

She paced in front of the couch and watched the door to the office as Hunter disappeared. She listened to the rise and fall of Hunter’s voice behind the other door, wondering who he was talking too. And what would happen now? Would Sadler be arrested? Who arrests a cop?

Finally, Hunter came out. “Chief Carver is unavailable. I talked to Assistant Chief Powell. He’s sending two uniforms over here.”

“Are they going to arrest him?”

“I don’t think so. I think he’s going to be placed into protective custody. The assistant chief wants to interview him. And then he’ll make a decision. We need to get Ivy and Ryker out of there, in case he goes haywire.”

“I’ll call Ivy. Ryker will follow her.”

Hunter nodded.

Jen opened the door. “Ivy, I need you.” To her, her voice sounded cracked and anxious. She shut the door quickly and prayed Sadler would stay inside.

Ivy came out, worry stamped on her face, and Ryker followed her. Hunter shut the door behind them and bustled them all down the hallway. “Everybody into the bathroom. Jen will explain. Don’t come out till I give the all-clear.”



***



Three hours later, Jen strained her ears for the sound of Hunter’s car pulling up outside. She’d been listening for hours, while she read and summarized evidence as best she could. Sadler had been furious, but had handed his gun over and left with the uniformed officers without a physical confrontation. But then Hunter had left. And now Jen felt vulnerable. They had two guards, but Savoy could already know they were here. He could blow the place up or something.

Finally, she heard it. She ran to the side window and saw him get out. He looked tired. But still so handsome. Her heart leapt at the sight of him and she ran to the door.

He hugged her as he came in. Jen relished the touch, especially since he would only do it if they were alone. “Where’s Ivy and Ryker?”

“I’ll get them.” Jen ran to the kitchen. “Hunter’s back. Come on.”

When they were all settled in the room, Hunter told them what had happened.

“He swears it wasn’t him. He says the only person he’s ever given the address to was Chief Carver, with all the rest of our files. And he swears he’s not related to Savoy.” Hunter turned to face Ryker. “He says you are.”

“I am,” Ryker said. “But you knew that. I made sure you knew that.”

Jen and Ivy looked at each other, eyes wide. Jen could tell by the shocked look on Ivy’s face that she hadn’t known this either.

Hunter nodded, weary lines etching his face. “Yes, I did know that. Sadler is trying to say that you must be the cousin, and you must be the one who handed over the address. He passed a lie detector test saying he didn’t do it.”

“I’ll take one.”

Hunter studied him. “I believe you Ryker, but it might help our case if you do take one. Tell me how you are related to Savoy again?”

“He’s my mother’s uncle.”

“So you are his what? Grand-nephew?”

Ryker nodded. “But my mother hates him. I’ve never met him, never talked to him. Never even seen anyone from that side of the family. My mother would never allow it. I didn’t even recognize Coleton on sight. I wouldn’t recognize any of them on sight.” Jen relaxed a little. This was a lot of words for Ryker, but she believed him. Besides, he wasn’t planted in 1997.

“Hunter, when did Sadler join the police department?” she asked.

Hunter cleared his throat. “December of 1997.”

Ivy muttered something under her breath.

Hunter turned to her. “What?”

“I said, he’s been in the department for that long and he’s only a Sergeant?”

Hunter nodded. “I’ve always thought that was one reason he was so bitter. Like he’d been passed over for promotion time and time again.” He took a deep breath. “Because Sadler passed the lie detector, he got his gun back. But he’s been reassigned out of undercover.” He looked at all of them in turn. “And we are going to move safe houses right now. Gather your stuff.”


Jen turned to the evidence room. Everything in there was most important to her. She wanted her life back, and there had to be something in there that would get it back for her.





Chapter 24





That very night, in the new safe house, the frenzy of activity began. Hunter wanted every piece of evidence read and cataloged and cross-referenced. He had Ivy move her computer in and log everything into her new program. Jen and Ryker summarized documents and items from the house and read them to Ivy. Hunter looked at the overall picture and matched items to crimes the police department already had at least some knowledge on, then he cataloged crimes that seemed completely new to them. They needed something big.