Читать книгу One Mile Under - Andrew Gross, Andrew Gross - Страница 21

“I want you out of town,” Wade said, his jaw twitching, his chest heating up with frustration and anger, everything about him suddenly different.

This whole thing had hit a whole new level of seriousness for him now. A combination of being threatened by this crazy girl and the fear of what might happen to her (or him!) if she continued on. His conversation on the phone last night had made it clear. I’ll handle it, he’d promised them. I’ll make it go away.

He knew he’d better damn well deliver.

“You’re not taking this anywhere.” He pulled the photo back to his side of the table and crumpled it into a ball.

“You think I’d be dumb enough to put my only one down in front of you.” Dani leered at him. “I have more.”

“Then I’m telling you, as the head of this investigation and as someone who cares about you, Dani, I want them all handed over now.” He reached across and grabbed the envelope out of her hands. “You’re going to get out of this town for a while and let me do what I’m paid to do. In the meantime”—he took her roughly by the arm—“you’re coming with me.”

“What do you mean, I’m coming with you?” She tried to pull herself away. He clamped on tighter. “Wade, you’re hurting me!”

He dragged her into the station house and then through a door in the back where they had four holding cells.

“Are you crazy …?” Dani glared at him, trying to writhe out of his grip. “Get your hands off me, Wade! You’re doing what—throwing me in jail? This is insane. You can’t stop me from talking to people. You’re sitting on something. Just like you did with Mom.”

“I’m putting you somewhere where I can make sure you’re not interfering with my investigation until your father comes, or whomever the hell else I can get to talk some sense in you and take you out of here. Trust me, it’s for your own good.”

“My father? On what charge?” she demanded.

“I don’t know what charge! Obstructing an official investigation. Illegally obtaining government property. On the charge that it’s for your own damn good, Dani. Whatever I can think of that holds you here for a couple of days.”

“Are you nuts? Wade, please, how long do you think that’ll last?”

“As long as it takes to call your dad and get him to come out here.” He pulled her into the area where there were four holding cells. None of them were occupied.

“I’m not gonna stay here, Wade.”

“You damn well are going to stay here! You’re over your head here, Dani, and I’m doing this to protect you, not hurt you. Whether you know it or not.”

“Protect me?” He pushed her in an open cell and closed it with a clang behind her.

“Yes, protect you, Danielle,” Wade said, breathing heavily now.

“You’re making a mistake here, Wade. Not about me, but about Trey. And Rooster. And whoever that car belongs to.”

“Maybe so.” Wade walked away and hung the key on the wall. “But I’ve made ’em before. Sooner or later, one’s bound to catch up to me.”