Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 121728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
“And you care about this woman, Sadie, because of Sloane?” Crew’s eyes locked with his. “Or because of your sister?”
“Both, to be honest. I remember being just as frustrated and feeling as hopeless as Sloane does now when it came to Amelia. As we both know, drug addiction affects more than only the addict.”
“Do you think finding this woman will help alleviate some of the guilt that’s been weighing on you?”
Damn. Had it been that obvious? He thought he’d hidden it well. Apparently not.
Decker dragged a hand along his bearded jaw. “I don’t know if it will or won’t. But if I can help keep Sadie from dying…” When Crew considered him for longer than expected, Decker offered, “Do I need to bring Sloane out to ask you for this favor, instead?”
With his jaw tight, Crew sucked on his teeth. Finally he answered, “No. But I can’t pay anyone on the task force to look for her.”
“Not asking for that.”
“But if anyone sees or hears anything along the way, that’s different.”
“That’s all I’m asking. When I told Sloane I’d search for Sadie, I didn’t know the Demons would stick me at Pizza Town. That kind of put a kink in my plans.”
“Sloane’s into kink? Now, I’m really jealous,” Crew said on a laugh, but his humor quickly disappeared when he asked, “Have you got any leads at all yet?”
“Yeah. She might be hooking up with T-Bone, one of the Demons’ prospects.”
Crew sneered, “That fucker from The Peach Pit.”
“Yeah, that’s the one. Quite the fucking gentleman.”
“He hurt Mel.”
“Sure as fuck did.”
“And she’s hooking up with him?”
“Sadie’s at the point in her addiction where she’ll do anything for her next fix.”
“Including selling herself,” Crew concluded.
“Maybe worse.”
“Fuck,” Crew bit off.
“My guess is she won’t be on this Earth much longer if we don’t find her soon.”
“You, you mean. If you don’t find her. Someone sees or hears shit, we’ll pass it on to you.”
“Understood.”
Crew went on, “But if someone wants to help you look off the clock, that’s on them.”
“Again, I hear you loud and clear. What I want to do is text everyone the pics of Sadie I got from Sloane. One when she was healthy and one of her more recent. As long as you’re okay with that. We need to keep an eye on the camera feeds, especially the ones at The Peach Pit since T-Bone’s working there, but also have whoever’s listening to or transcribing the wiretaps to keep an ear out for her name.”
“That’s easy enough.”
Decker was relieved Crew was on board, for the most part. “I’m also going to send those photos to our BAMC brothers since we all work in law enforcement. The woman could get picked up anywhere for soliciting or drugs or whatever. She could land in one of our police departments.”
“She probably has already and we just didn’t know it. What about rehab?”
“I don’t know. We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. I told you the reason why Sloane was living in that roach motel. I doubt she has more dough to waste on another stint in rehab if Sadie will just walk away from it again.”
“Unfortunately, everyone can’t be helped,” Crew said flatly.
“You’re right. Everyone can’t be helped. But that won’t stop Sloane from doing everything in her power to help her sister. Whether those actions end up being fruitless or not.”
“She just needs to be able to live with herself knowing she did everything possible,” Crew concluded grimly.
“You nailed it. And I’m going to do everything I can to help her do that.”
“Well, look at you, Mr. White Knight.”
“That’s our job, right? To slay the enemy and protect the innocent?”
Crew rose from the couch and headed toward the kitchen with his empty beer bottle, whacking him hard on the arm as he passed. “Isn’t that cute you think so? Reality isn’t quite so chivalrous. Some of us are just trying to get through the day like everyone else.”
“Just like a broken clock, even Colin Crew manages to be right twice a day,” Decker called out to his retreating back. The task force leader flipped him the bird over his shoulder in response.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Before Decker could even drop his hand after pounding on the seedy motel door, it swung open.
“Took you long enough, fucker,” Rez said, stepping back to let Decker in. “I’m starving. And my pizza’s probably cold by now.”
“Boo fucking hoo. Like you’re going to actually eat the pizza.”
“Of course I am. Can’t let a good pizza go to waste!” He shut the door after Decker stepped inside.
He glanced around to find the place was no better or worse than the motel where Sloane had been staying.
Rez slid the flat box onto the dresser and lifted the lid. He released a long, low whistle. “Now that’s a fucking pizza.”