Chapter Seven

Cullen

I WAITED UNTIL Helena had backed out onto the street before locking up and making my way to my truck. I took a bit of a detour so I could grab wine, then figured I’d grab dinner as well before heading home.

I pulled into my driveway and Cricket opened my door before my foot hit the first step of my porch.

“Cricket,” I growled.

“Calm your tits. I saw you coming,” she sassed. “No one can murder me with you a foot away.”

I rolled my eyes as I walked past her and into the kitchen. I heard her close the door and reset the alarm. “I picked up dinner.”

“Oh, thank you, I’m starving. You have nothing good to eat.”

“I have a lot of good things to eat.”

“Correction. You have nothing bad to eat.”

“Well, there is that,” I said, unpacking the grocery bags.

“How’s Helena?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lied, sliding a bottle of wine over to her.

“You know I would never ever betray your confidence.”

“There’s nothing to betray, Christina. I had to run over to the other house because John had a question about a wiring issue.”

She narrowed her eyes. “If I call John right now, what would he say?”

“That I ran over to the other house—”

“—because he had a question about a wiring issue.” Cricket interrupted, then let out a quiet huff.

“Not that you have his number.”

“I have his number,” she countered.

Shit.

“Why do you have his number?”

“Because I used to work for you, remember? I have all your subs and general contractors’ numbers.”

Fuck, shit, fuck.

I shrugged. “Call him, then.”

She studied me. “No, I don’t think I will. You’re allowed your secrets.”

“There are no secrets,” I hissed.

“Hm-mm, sure there aren’t.”

“Open the wine, Cricket.”

She gave me a sly grin and grabbed the corkscrew. With this current crisis averted, we sat down to eat and the rest of the night passed without incident.

* * *

Helena

The next afternoon, I had just sat back at my desk after lunch when the phone on said desk rang. “Helena Bridges.”

“Ah, hi, Lieutenant,” Ray, our receptionist said. His real name was Donovan Raymond, but because he was close to retirement and did just enough to get by, the guys had started to call him ‘Raycliner,’ because he was the ‘laziest son-of-a-bitch god put on the earth.’ He pretty much rode a desk nowadays. “There’s a woman at reception who wants to speak with you. She refuses to give her name but says she might have information regarding your investigation.”

“Did she say which investigation?”

“No.”

I wanted to slam my head against the desk in frustration. “Can you give me any more information about this woman?”

“Like what?”

“Does she look like a lunatic?”

“Ah, no,” he said, lowering his voice. “She’s hot as fu…ah, well, she’s very nice looking.”

“Helpful, thanks,” I grumbled. “I’ll be right up.”

I made my way to the front and frowned. Ray was right, whoever this woman was, she did not look like a lunatic. She was beautiful. Blonde, dressed like she had money, right down to the Louis Vuitton handbag, and she smiled the second she saw me.

Then she frowned. “Are you the person in charge?”

“Depends.”

She bit her lip. “Is there somewhere private we can speak?”

“Ray, is there a conference room open?” I asked.

“Ah, sure, two is open.”

I nodded my thanks and waved my hand. “Right this way.”

I led the woman down the hall and into the room, and the second I closed the door, she let out a quiet squeal and clapped her hands. “Oh my god, you are the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen. Way better than your photo. No wonder my brother is totally in love with you.”

My eyes widened of their own accord, and I sighed. “Cricket?”

Fully taking her in, I could finally see the resemblance, but she was much fairer than her brothers, and her eyes a lighter blue.

“The one and only,” she confirmed. “Sorry for all the subterfuge, but I just had to meet you because Cullen is being a butt and not telling me anything.”

“Telling you anything about what?”

“Oh, please. If you know my name, then he’s told you about me.”

“Roman—”

“Said nothing and I know he said nothing because I called him before I came over here.”

I sighed, waving to a chair. “What can I help you with?”

“That’s good, look concerned,” she said, taking a seat, her back to the window. “If we look like we’re having a nice chat people will think we’re fraternizing.”

I took the seat facing her. “We’re not fraternizing.”

“ I know that, and you know that, but other people might not.”

I tried not to smile. It was hard because Cullen’s sister was adorable, but I made it happen. “Ray said you had information about the investigation?”

“Oh, no, that was a lie. I mean, other than my brothers didn’t do it, which I’m sure isn’t news to you, but I get that you have to do your thing and investigate. Sorry, I’m not a liar, not typically, anyway, but I had to tell that small white lie because I needed to meet you.”

“Cricket, I cannot discuss this with you.”

She grinned. “Sure you can.”

“I really can’t.”

“You’re discussing it with Cullen.”

“I’m not,” I lied.

She frowned with a huff. “Wow, the two of you are really good at sticking to stories.”

“ Or , we’re both telling the truth. I mean, I don’t know what your brother has said, but I haven’t spoken to him or anyone else for that matter about this investigation, other than my superiors.”

She settled her elbow on the table, and her chin in her palm. “Yes, he says about the same. About not talking to you, but he punched Cameron—”

I gasped. “He punched Cameron?”

“Right in the nose,” Cricket confirmed.

“What? Why?”

“Do you really want to know?”

“I don’t know, Cricket, you seem to know a whole hell of a lot about what’s going on here. Do I want to know?”

“Okay, let me preface what I’m about to tell you with this. My brothers are the most awesome humans on the planet.”

“Okay.”

“But they are all totally obsessed with boobs.”

I rolled my eyes. “Just spit it out.”

“Cameron may or may not have mentioned that you have, well, and girl, you cannot hide them, obviously, you have a great pair, so Cullen popped him one because he mentioned how great they were in your uniform.”

“Holy shit,” I breathed out. “When did all of this happen?”

“The morning they met you.”

I flopped back in my chair. “Wow.”

This explained why Cullen had been so standoffish.

“Wow, indeed.”

I composed myself, all the while trying to control the warm fuzzies swimming through my insides. “I’m not entirely sure what to do with that information, Cricket. It’s really not relevant to this investigation.”

She shrugged. “I just wanted to see the woman who has made my big brother so flustered.”

“Cameron?” I played dumb.

“ Cullen ,” she corrected, narrowing her eyes. “But nice try. Boy, you’re pretty good at this game. I’m better though, and nothing gets by me.”

“I’ll be sure to keep that in mind.” I tapped my fingers on the table. “If you don’t have any actual evidence you can give me, Cricket, I really need to get back to work.”

“Girls’ night?”

“I’m sorry?”

“Girls’ night. With the girls. Navy, Maisie, a few of the club women. Would you like to join us?”

“I would love to, however, that would be a massive conflict of interest, so I’m sorry, I’ll have to decline.”

She wrinkled her nose, and right there, I saw Cullen in her. I could see why he was her favorite, and why they were so close. “Oh, shit, right. Well, that is so lame.”

“Maybe when this is all over, if you don’t hate me, we can revisit this.”

“Why would I hate you?” She scoffed. “My brothers are innocent. Navy says you’re the most awesome chick on the planet, and that you always do the right thing, ergo, you’ll find out they didn’t do this, then you and Cullen will bone, get married, and have lots of babies. We will all fall in love with you and have lots of future girls’ nights.”

“Jesus,” I whispered. “I don’t even know the man.”

“It’s okay.” She waved her hand. “I’ve decided. Just let it happen.”

“Right, Cricket, you continue on with your fantasy, and I’ll get back to work, okay?”

“Oh, sure. Great. I’m going to storm out of here, now, but it’s only for show. Remember that. I already adore you.”

And with that, she pulled the door open, slammed her bag against her body, and with a, “Thanks for nothing, Lieutenant!” stormed out the door.

The second she was gone, I closed it again and called Cullen.

* * *

Cullen

My phone buzzed on my desk and since I was alone, I answered it immediately. “Hey.”

“Uh, hi yourself.”

“You sound tweaked, what’s wrong?”

“Had a little visit today,” Helena said.

“Shit, from who?”

“Your sister.”

“What the fuck?” I snapped, just as another call buzzed through.

I glanced at the screen and saw ‘HATCH CALLING’ pop up.

“Sorry, can I put you on hold a second?”

“Yep.”

I switched the call. “Hey, brother.”

“Just a heads up, Buzz has informed me that Cricket swung by the Fire Marshal’s Office today. She was in there for nearly thirty minutes.”

“Do we know why she was at the Fire Marshal’s office?”

“I’m guessin’ it’s because the lieutenant works out of that office.”

“Jesus fucking Christ, Hatch.”

“That about sums it up,” he said.

“Where is she now?”

“Home.”

“Meet me there?”

“You bet,” Hatch promised.

“Thirty minutes.”

“Got it.”

I hung up with him and switched the call back to Helena. “You still there?”

“Yes,” she said. “But I don’t have long.”

“Tell me everything.”

She filled me in on Cricket’s visit and while I was holding back being pissed beyond reason, Helena couldn’t stop laughing.

“Baby, this isn’t a laughing matter,” I said.

“But it kind of is,” she countered.

I let out a frustrated growl. “You could get in trouble.”

“I think she sold it,” Helena said. “She really should go into show business.”

“Helena,” I breathed out.

“She’s funny and sweet, and good god, she loves you four with all of her heart.”

I closed my eyes and rubbed my forehead, a headache quickly forming. “Well, all of that is true, but you need to know something about my sister. She’s bubbly and funny and all of the things you said, but she’s also a shark. She’s wicked smart and she reads people without letting on that she’s reading you. So as much as she wants to be friends with you, she’s also vetting you. You said it yourself, she loves her brothers and there’s nothing she wouldn’t do to protect us. But she shouldn’t have come to your place of work. I’ll talk to her.”

“If you talk to her, she’ll know I called you.”

“No she won’t. Hatch has a prospect on her, so he just called me to report in.”

She gasped. “He’s having her followed? That’s a total invasion of her privacy.”

“She knows all about it. It’s okay. She’s been having some trouble with an ex.”

“The one she’s pining for?”

“No. The one who decided to use her face as a punching bag.”

“Oh, no, that’s not okay,” she ground out.

“It is not. Which is why she’s got either a prospect or Buzz on her for a little while. She knows and she’s good with it.”

“She asked me out for girls’ night.”

I smiled. “That tracks.”

“It does?”

I chuckled. “I told you she’d adore you. The fact she invited you for girls’ night proves it.”

“I’ve never been invited out for girls’ night. Not by anyone other than Prudence. She just asked me to go for one the other day and said, ‘bring your side.’ I don’t have a side. She’s my only girlfriend.”

“No shit?”

“No shit. It’s been me and Pru against the world. I do better with guys than girls.”

“Well, women are probably jealous of you.”

“What? Why?”

“Because you’re hot as hell, don’t take shit off anyone, and can own a room of men.”

I heard her snort. “Um, wow.”

“Did you figure out tomorrow?” I asked.

“Oh, shoot, um, no. But I’ll make it happen.”

I grinned. “Correct answer, beautiful.”

“What can I bring?”

“A toothbrush?”

“Nice try, big man.”

“Figured I’d shoot my shot,” I admitted. “Just bring yourself. I’ll cook.”

“You cook?”

“I order a mean delivery.”

“How about I send you a list, and if you pick it up, I’ll cook?”

“Really?” I asked.

“Sure.”

“Marry me,” I begged.

She laughed. “As soon as I clear you, I’ll think about it.”

“Okay, baby, I’m gonna let you go. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Okay. Don’t be too hard on your sister. She’s just looking out for you.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“Really think hard,” she pressed.

I sighed. “Okay, honey, I’ll really think hard.”

“Thank you. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Bye.”

We rang off and I grabbed my jacket and headed out.