Alex saw red. Over his dead body.
Rushing over to push himself between Colin and Payton, he flipped Colin the bird when he heard him chuckle behind him. Payton looked startled having him in her personal space. “Payton, will you join us?” Alex asked more gruffly than he meant.
Her big doe eyes stared up at him, searching. For once, he didn’t try to keep her out. He let her see the vulnerability. Knowing if he didn’t, she would just do this on her own and be at higher risk.
“How do I know you’re here to help my father?”
What? Where did she get the idea he wasn’t? He loved her father. Had always treated him like family even though he wasn’t. Alex had been frantic since learning about Nick’s accident. Fearing for the worst. “Why would you think I wasn’t?”
“Since I’ve seen you, you’ve been trying to convince me it’s an accident when it’s anything but. I try to tell you otherwise and you brush me off like a speck of fuzz on your shirt. Telling me I don’t know what I’m talking about. It’s like you don’t care. How do I know you’re actually going to be looking for a killer instead of just playing at it to humor me?”
A fist squeezed his throat when he saw how upset Payton was over his crassness. He hadn’t meant to simply dismiss her fears. He’d just been trying to keep her calm. Not let on that he might know more about Nick’s accident than he did. Another thing he’d failed at.
“I do care, Payton. Very much. Your father became a father to me. I owe him everything.”
“Then why are acting like this was some random accident?”
“Without further investigating, I don’t know.” He choked on the lie.
“My dad’s car was intentionally pushed off the road, Alex. You don’t need further investigation than that. That’s all the evidence you need.”
Alex looked at Colin for help talking himself out of the hole he’d dug for himself, but Colin just stood there and watched the exchange. “There’s no conclusive evidence.”
Payton wasn’t buying it, by the look of hurt and anger in her eyes. “I’m not buying the bullshit you’re selling. And if that’s going to be your attitude about it, I’m better off on my own.” She started to brush past him, but he grabbed her arm to halt her from walking away.
He decided to go for honestly this time. “You’re right. Your father’s crash wasn’t an accident. After the break-in at his house, I’m even more convinced, which is why I don’t want you involved. That’s why I was trying to downplay it.”
“I’m more than capable of taking care of myself; I’m a—”
“Detective,” he finished her sentence for her, chuckling. “Yeah, I heard that part, and I’m sure you’re a hell of one too.”
Payton looked uncomfortable about his praise. “I haven’t heard any complaints yet.”
“So what’s it going to be then? Will you work with us?” He waited for her answer. His heart beat erratically while trepidation coursed through his veins. Torn between wanting her agreeance and at the same time dreading it.
“Yes,” she replied in a breathy whisper.
Now he not only had to find Nick’s would-be killer, he had to keep Payton safe and also at a distance. “Then let’s go.” He turned to head toward Colin’s car.
“There’s something I have to tell you.”
Alex froze. That didn’t sound good. “What’s that?” he asked looking over his shoulder.
Payton looked away, licking her lips nervously. “There’s nothing on the flash drive. It’s blank.”
No, that couldn’t be right. He turned fully to face her. “Are you sure?”
Now she looked at him, irritated. “Yes, I checked it after I…ah, borrowed it from you.”
Steal was more aptly put.
“I opened the folder, and it was blank.”
“And gave it back to me.”
She just shrugged. “I didn’t have a use for it.”
Alex reached his hand into his pants pocket, wrapping his fingers around the flash drive. He didn’t believe Nick would hide it in his room if it were blank. There was something on it. Something Nick didn’t want found. Alex just needed a few minutes on the computer to try and find out what.