Strictly Yours by Sheryl Nantus

Author:Sheryl Nantus
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Published: 2016-05-02T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

“I don’t know,” Nathan answered.

It was the harsh truth.

“You could revise your statement and include the details. But that’d lead to the company and so on if we wanted to investigate this man further,” Nathan added.

“Let me think on this a minute.” Charles closed his eyes. “I’m still taking this all in, and I’m not exactly at my best. Excuse me.”

“Take as long as you need.” Nathan leaned against the wall. “I’m in no rush.”

Someone dropped a tray outside the closed door. The metal clanging grated on Nathan’s ears, but he didn’t move, didn’t want to interrupt Charles’s introspection.

He’d want the same respect and silence to make his own decision.

Finally Charles shook his head, slowly and carefully. “I’m sorry. It’d open too many doors. I’m not ready for that.” He bit down on his lower lip and grunted. “I might never be.” He caught Nathan’s eye. “You understand. I care for her but when it comes down to it I can’t expose myself for her.” He sighed. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be,” Nathan said. “I understand.”

He wasn’t lying. If he were in Charles’s place, he wasn’t sure what he’d say back.

But now he knew they couldn’t use this crime to get Lucas Tanner.

And that left precious few options.

Nathan nodded. “Thank you for talking to me.”

He moved toward the door to leave.

“Officer.”

Nathan turned.

“Please tell her I’m sorry. And I’ll miss her horribly.” Charles looked directly at Nathan. “I’m not strong enough to do this. But you—you take care of her. In every way you can.”

The tone left no room for discussion, reminding Nathan of the tough lawyer laying out the basic facts in court.

You’re a cop. You have a duty. Protect her.

Nathan gave a curt nod, his stomach rolling.

As he walked out the doors and headed for the parking lot, he mentally ran down the issues presented.

It was easy to look at Tanner as the only suspect. But he knew from experience things weren’t always as they seemed.

They needed to be certain of their facts.

Initial problem—was this attack aimed at Jen, Charles or Hooded Pleasures?

Let’s look over Charles again. Let’s make sure we’ve got the right target.

Nathan dug in his pocket and found a few coins. He dropped them in the lap of a sleeping homeless person huddled in a doorway.

Maybe someone found out Jen had been visiting Charles and didn’t like it.

Maybe one of his ex-girlfriends.

Maybe one of his competitors looking to get some dirt on Litten.

Maybe—

He shook his head, dismissing the idea and clearing Charles as the target.

As he’d stated to Charles—it didn’t make sense. Blackmail would be more likely if they wanted to put the boots to Charles more than just physically. They could ask for money, information, use him somehow.

Demanding he quit seeing Jen effectively terminated any chance they had to control him.

Nathan kicked a crushed soda can down the street. He stopped and picked it up before dropping it in the nearest trash receptacle.

Jen next.

Tanner looked better and better for this.

He at least warranted a closer look, if for nothing else than to clear him.

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