Vengeance (Crossing Lines Book 3) by Barbara Winkes

Author:Barbara Winkes [Winkes, Barbara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2022-08-02T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Hampton’s invitation came as a bit of a surprise, given that our recent interactions have been quite frosty. I’m even more surprised to realize his wife isn’t home.

“You’re okay with ordering in?” he asks as we sit down in the living room.

“Sure. I’m curious. Is this an intervention of one?” I try to keep my tone light, non-accusatory. We still have to work together, and we’re still friends—I hope.

“No, just a couple of friends hanging out after work. Would you like a beer?”

“Yes, please.”

“Be right back.”

He brings a couple of bottles—my favourite, I realize—and a take-out menu from the kitchen. We both choose, and he makes the call. When that is done, an awkward silence settles between us, until we both speak at the same time.

“I’m sorry,” he starts.

“I don’t want this to be a recurring subject,” I say at the same time. “We’ll keep work and home life separate best we can, but it was Rachel who invited Kendall. So far, it’s working. We get to know what she knows.”

“It sounds good in theory,” he admits.

“You’re not convinced. I’m not supposed to keep an eye on her anymore. She’s my wife. She’ll be in when and if we need her, nothing more. Things have changed.”

“You have taught me a lot in the time we’ve worked together.”

“Thank you?” If it sounds more like a question, it’s because I know that won’t be all, and I’m not sure where he’s going with this.

“I mean it. I always thought you were one of the sharpest most level-headed people in the field. That’s why I can’t understand.”

“I just tried to explain.”

“And the fact that a man was shot in front of you, days after your wedding, doesn’t bother you?”

“What kind of question is that? Kendall didn’t shoot him, nor did she order anyone to do it.” I’m uncomfortably reminded of Detective Carter’s questions regarding Dolan and Kendall’s reluctance to give me a straight answer. Regardless, I know for certain that she’s not connected to Peck or whoever sent him.

“She’s in over her head, Robyn, and she’ll always be. Comes with the territory. Perhaps the Mancinis can run a business that looks clean on paper, but they will always be connected. The circumstances surrounding Dolan’s death are still odd.”

“Oh, come on. I thought we were past that.”

“What if this whole thing about a third player is just a distraction?”

“That’s the theory as far as I’m concerned. Kendall doesn’t believe in him either. Just some smokescreens from the Biancos.”

“What if it’s not the Biancos behind those smokescreens?”

The doorbell rings, and he gets up to get the food, leaving me to ponder what exactly he means by that. He doesn’t trust Kendall. She has doubts about him. Pity, they’ll just have to live with the fact that because of me, they’ll be in each other’s lives in some way. Kendall has her hands full. She spent the last few years grieving both of her parents and battling homophobia and sexism thrown at her from both “friends” and foes.

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