All She Wants for Christmas by Adrienne Giordano

Author:Adrienne Giordano [Giordano, Adrienne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Steele Ridge Publishing

* * *

Time to go.

Reid stood, grabbed a few twenties from his wallet and tossed them on the table. “Let’s hit it, ladies.”

Mags tilted her head up at him, her eyes a cross between WTF and where-do-you-think-you’re-going?

He’d tell her where. Or rather, where she was going with him following. He wanted Brynne’s shit back and his wife in a good mood on Christmas. If that meant pissing Maggie off, eh, wouldn’t be the first time.

He waved Brynne from her chair, but kept his focus on Maggie. “We’re—as in all of us—gonna check this out. You’ve got someone with the same last name buying those boots and a partial print. Not rocket science, Mags.” He spun his index finger. “Saddle up.”

Brynne, apparently fully on board, hopped from her chair, hooked her purse on her shoulder, and jerked her head. “I agree with Reid.”

Good girl.

Maggie, with her bland, nothing-face he’d seen her use on insolent teenagers, didn’t look so enthused. Seriously? She was going to break his balls about this?

“First of all.”

Yep. Breaking balls.

She wagged a finger between Reid and Brynne. “You two? Staying put. This is a law enforcement matter. Second—”

“Whatever it is, Mags. Let’s talk on the way.”

He headed for the door, Brynne hot on his heels. As well as Maggie knew him, he knew her just as well. If she got dug in, he was screwed. If he kept talking he’d bulldoze her right into letting them tag along.

They reached the sidewalk where blazing sun, a seventy-degree day, and “Jingle Bells” streamed from overhead speakers. The music was the pretty boy’s idea for creating a festive, welcoming atmosphere. Leave it to Grif, master of the schmooze.

“Reid,” Maggie said. “Hold up.”

He pointed Brynne to the truck while he faced off with Mags. “Police matter. I know.” He kept his voice low, out of Brynne’s earshot. “But my wife is half-whacked over these boosted gifts. It’s our first Christmas being married and she’s set on it being,” he made air quotes, “special. It’s a total pain in my ass. Do I think it can be special without the damned presents? Sure. But Brynne? Not having it. She wants what she wants and I’m gonna get it for her. So give me a goddamned break with the playing by the rules lecture. I’ve heard it a hundred times and I’m not moved.”

Maggie gave him the head shake. “I hear you. And I understand.”

“Here it comes.”

“I’m sorry. You know I can’t take you with me.”

He folded his arms, imagined the biggest valve he could find holding his temper in check, but the pressure, the insane throbbing at his temples? He’d be lucky if his head didn’t blow clear off. “Mags, give me a break. Please.”

“I’d love to. But, look at it this way. If I let you tag along and we find all of Brynne’s belongings, any misstep will get the case thrown out and our suspects go free. You know this. Just last week, I had a thief skate. Defense attorney argued Blaine didn’t have reasonable grounds to search him.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.