The door to the room opened and Byron cleared his throat.
Lifting my head, I wiped the tears angrily away from my face. “I’ve seen shit like this for years and it’s never bothered me before.”
He took the seat across from me. “I know. My brother was shot in an armed robbery call. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever witnessed.”
How the hell could he compare Hadley’s situation to that? “Speaking of witnesses, why aren’t there any? Someone had to have seen something.”
“We’re working on it. They were in the middle of nowhere when it happened. There’s nothing we could find that would suggest foul play.”
Growling, I pounded a hand on the table and stood. “Everything points to that,” I shouted. “They weren’t where they were supposed to be and they ended up dead. If your people can’t figure this shit out, I’ll do it myself.” Storming to the door, I slammed it open and walked out, only to run right into Felicity and Nick.
Felicity’s eyes went wide and she gasped. “Blake?” she cried.
Nick tensed, recognition flaring in his gaze. I was the one who took Hadley from him, and now she was gone forever. All that was left of her was the crystal I had fisted in my hand.
“I know you cared about her,” Byron called, “but there’s nothing you can do. She’s gone. Killing yourself over this case will only make it worse.”
I glanced over my shoulder. “I don’t care. Something’s not right and I’m going to figure it out. I’m not letting this go.” Without another word, I turned and headed for the exit. But I wasn’t alone. Nick’s footsteps pounded heavily behind me.
“Hey,” he ordered. I ignored him and walked out into the parking lot to the black SUV I’d rented. “Hey, I’m talking to you,” he shouted angrily.
Stopping at the car, I jerked around, fists clenched at my sides. “And I’m telling you to leave me the fuck alone.”
He held his hands up. “I’m not trying to start shit. I just want to know what’s going on. They haven’t told me anything because I’m not family.”
I scoffed. “What’s there to say? Hadley’s dead. She’s fucking gone!”
His eyes blazed. “Don’t you think I know that? She might’ve chosen you, but I’ve known her a whole hell of a lot longer. That’s why I want to help.”
“You, help me? That’s a joke, right?”
“Call it whatever you want, but you said it yourself, something’s not right. I can feel it in my bones. She was supposed to go to the hotel, not head north. Why the fuck was she heading out of the city?”
I threw my hands in the air. “Fuck if I know, but I’m going to find out.”
“And I’m going to help you,” he offered.
“No, you’re not,” I snapped, getting into the car. “I work alone. What I do is dangerous. It’s not like the figure skating bullshit you do on the ice.” I didn’t even hear his retort because I slammed the door in his face and tore out of the parking lot. I wasn’t going to rest until I found out what happened to Hadley.
Blake
“Are you doing okay?” Logan asked. “Robert told me everything. I can’t believe this shit.”
I gripped the steering wheel so hard, my knuckles turned white. “It’s like a fucking nightmare I can’t get out of. I had to get wasted just to get through the night.”
“I understand, brother. Hadley was an amazing woman. Where are you headed now?”
“Burnsville. I’m going to see what I can find. I just want to know what happened, and the fucknuts here seem to be satisfied with calling this an accident.” I was only ten miles away and the closer I got, the more I felt the weight of her loss.
“Is there anything I can do? Your resources are probably limited, being away from home.”
“I brought my laptop, but I was too drunk last night to do anything. Do you mind tapping into the satellite feeds and see if you can find any kind of video of what happened? I need to see the accident.”
He typed away on his computer. “On it. I’ll give you a call back.”
“Thanks.”
We hung up and I concentrated on the road. Burnsville was a small, Sleepy Hollow type of town. It was so miniscule, no one had ever heard of it. The crash site was easy to spot with all the flowers, charred ground, and yellow tape. I didn’t want to imagine Hadley’s life ending there, but it was staring at me, right in the fucking face. There was no goodbye, or one last touch. She was simply . . . gone.
As soon as I got out of the car, all I could do was stand there. My feet wouldn’t take me any closer. I thought I could handle it, but I was wrong. Dropping to my knees, I punched the blackened ground, over and over. The throbbing ache in my chest was almost too much for me to take.
Placing my hands on the ground, I closed my eyes and squeezed them tight, trying to hold back the tears. “I’m sorry, Hadley. I’m so fucking sorry.”
A car door slammed and the sadness turned to rage. Why couldn’t I have one fucking minute to think without someone interrupting me? Getting to my feet, I swiped at my eyes and turned around. “What are you doing here?” I growled, glaring at the inconsiderate cocksucker headed my way.
Nick sighed and approached cautiously. “I followed you. I told you I wanted to help. Plus, I think there’s some things you need to know.” His gaze landed on the charred ground and he froze. “I didn’t realize how hard it was going to be to come here.” Tears flooded his eyes and he cleared his throat, looking away.
I snapped my fingers in front of his face, drawing him back. “Focus! What do I need to know?”
“I was at the station this morning and Mr. Rivers was there. I overheard him on the phone saying he was leaving for a couple of days but he’d be back for the funeral. Why would he be leaving when his daughter was just killed?”
“Fuck if I know. He’s a busy man.”
His brows furrowed and he shook his head. “Too busy to grieve over his own daughter? No. It’s strange. He’s not exactly acting like a father who just lost his daughter.”
“What exactly are you saying?”
He shrugged. “I think you might be right. Something about Hadley’s death is wrong and I don’t like how everyone’s brushing it off as an accident. I heard some of the guys at the station say you’re one of the best undercover cops around. Is that true?”
Turning on my heel, I stormed back to the car and opened the door. “If I was, this never would’ve happened.”
“Then let’s figure this shit out.”
“Don’t you need to go take care of your sister and handle the paparazzi or something?”
His jaw clenched. “Stop being a dick and let me help you. I’ve known her for years and if I’m able to help in even the smallest capacity, isn’t it worth keeping me around?”
We stared each other down, but I could see the determination in his eyes. He loved her too. “Fine. Get in my way and I’ll break both your legs. Let’s see how you play hockey then.” I got in my car, and of course, fuckhead followed me to the motel; it was the only one in the small town. One thing was for sure, I wasn’t leaving until I had my answers.
“Are you going to be up my ass the entire time?” I opened the door to my room and Nick brushed past me.
“Have you heard anything?”
“No, I haven’t. It’s been three hours. Now calm the fuck down.” I slammed the door and sat back down at my computer.
Blowing out an angry breath, he ran his hands through his hair and paced. “I’m trying. I don’t see how you’re all calm about this.”
I glared at him. “I’m calm because I have to be. I can’t do my job being irrational and angry.” I wanted to be angry and beat the shit out of things, but I couldn’t.