“Yes, well,” he leaned closer so no one could overhear him, “I hate to do this at such an indelicate time, but I’m not here for personal reasons. General Wessex is most insistent that you relinquish your father’s things so we can continue our investigation.”
General Wessex, whom she had been arguing with a few hours ago, was in charge of the communications division. Even her father answered to him. No one liked him. He was rude and looked down his nose at everyone. As if the stars on his shoulder made him better than everyone and he could treat others like dog shit.
Payton felt her hackles go up. “As I said, my father is not dead, so you don’t need his things. The police are doing their part of the investigation.”
Major Diesel gave her a look that reminded her of Alex. That patronizing ‘oh the poor little woman’ look. “I understand you’re distraught, and please know the military will do a full investigation, spare no resources, but we need his things. Your father was in possession of military documents that need to be returned.”
Like hell would she hand anything over to the government, even one she called a friend. Not that her father had any work papers in his car. “Why is the military bothering with an investigation if it’s being ruled as an accident, Major?” she asked instead. Making sure to use his title. Right now he was a military man and not her friend.
Simon didn’t even blink this time. “That is the belief, but we still intend to do a full investigation. Don’t worry about anything; I’ll take care of everything.” He gave her a reassuring smile that made her want to scream. Why was everyone trying to keep her out of investigating her own father’s case?
She plastered on fake smile. “Thank you, Major. That makes me feel better.”
Simon flinched, no doubt hearing the sarcasm in her tone. “It’s nothing personal, Payton.” He actually looked sad that he was asking her, but she wasn’t going to feel bad for him. It still felt personal. Like everyone was against her.
Simon’s eyes trailed down to the envelope she held clutched to her chest. “If that is one of his personal effects, I can take it off your hands.”
Payton held it that much tighter to her. “No, Simon, this is something of mine, but you can tell General Wessex, when the police have finished investigating Daddy’s things, they can have anything pertaining to government work.”
She was purposely being difficult about this. She could just give him her dad’s things, but it was just giving more evidence to someone else and cutting her out. If everyone was so hard up to get it, maybe something pertaining to the case was in it. She needed to make time to go through it.
“Thank you, Payton. I’m sure he’ll be pleased to know.” Like hell he would. “Again, I’m sorry about your dad. We’ll find him.” His smile was tight and strained. Much different than when he first saw her. “Good day.”
“Oh, Simon,” she called after him when he was a few steps away. He turned back to look at her. “You will keep me apprised of your progress.”
“Of course,” he assured her. “I expect the same, Payton.”
Payton nodded. Simon was a good man and only doing his job. She couldn’t fault him for that.
Chapter 7
Alex felt like the biggest dick in the world. All Payton wanted to do was help her dad, and he kept trying to push her away. He’d been harsher with her than he’d meant to be, but she just didn’t seem to grasp the danger she was unknowingly walking into. On the drive over, he’d terrorized himself wondering what would have happened to her had she been there when he’d fought the giant. He would have crushed her like a grape.
How would he have explained that to Nick when he was found? ‘Sorry about your daughter, but she just wanted to help with the investigation.’ No, Nick would have murdered him.
Eventually she’d realize he’d done all this for her own good. Nick would actually thank him for keeping Payton out of danger.
“What did you say to her?” Colin accused, walking into the room with a glower on his face.
Colin had always been Payton’s champion when Alex pushed her away. “Exactly what I told her before. We don’t need her help.” And he wasn’t going to apologize for it. He’d tried to be nice about it more than once.
“Well, I think we do,” Colin contradicted.
“Colin, this isn’t something she should be involved in.”
“And what exactly is that? You still haven’t told me.”
Alex looked down at the flash drive Payton had given him. All the answers were on this little insignificant device. He opened his mouth to tell him, when someone walked into the room. Alex didn’t recognize him, but Colin did if his stiff posture was anything to go off of.
They stood there in silence watching the man who hadn’t seemed to notice them as he walked into the chief’s office. Alex tucked the flash drive into his back pocket and observed.
The two men spoke for a few minutes. The chief didn’t look happy about this newcomer entering his office. Alex couldn’t hear their voices, but both men looked tense. After a few minutes, the newcomer left the room.
The man looked irritated as his eyes moved around the room then fell on them. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know anyone else was in here.” His face transformed into friendly. “Colin, I didn’t know you’d be here. How are you?” He approached them with an easy smile like he had every reason to be there.
“Things could be better, Major,” Colin replied evenly.
“Of course.” The major turned to Alex. “Major Diesel.” He held out his hand.