Either way, it had been over a week since the strange interaction had occurred, and there’d been nothing more on that front since. So his focus tonight needed to remain one hundred percent on Scottie and making sure she really was okay.
“All right, so if tonight’s shining star wasn’t the same guy from the other nightorDustin McVey, who was he?” Lucky didn’t let him even try to articulate an answer before jumping back in with an added, “More importantly, why the hell did he go after Scottie?”
“That, I do know,” Chase sounded as confident as he felt. “Name’s Tommy Gallo. Apparently, his wife and daughter are former residents of the shelter, and the abusive prick thought he could force Scottie into telling him their current address.”
“Jesus.” Lucky blew out a breath. “Does Scottie even know where the wife and kid moved to once they left the shelter?”
“She doesn’t have a clue, but she wouldn’t have told him, regardless. Scottie said the woman and her daughter were at the shelter one day and the next…they were gone.”
A slight pause filled the phone’s speakers before the other man spoke up again.
“You know…rumor has it Sloane runs some sort of underground relocation system out of Liberty House. Maybe that’s what happened here.”
“Underground system?” Chase frowned. “You mean she does stuff like gives them new names?”
“New names, new town, new jobs…” Lucky trailed off. “Basically, she’s like WITSEC but without all the bureaucratic bullshit.”
An underground relocation system designed to help abused women start a new life away from torment and fear? Damn. Chase felt even more respect for Sloane than before. And that was saying something.
“Anyway, Gallo’s behind bars, and from what Knox said before he left the scene, the guy won’t be getting out any time soon.”
Travis Knox was a detective with the SPD who, over the course of the past year, had proven himself not only an asset to Eagle’s Nest but also a trusted ally. It was pure luck that he responded to tonight’s call, but Chase had to admit he was damn happy to know Knox was the one handling the case.
“No bail?” Lucky sounded surprised.
“It’s not a done deal until he’s arraigned in the morning, but Travis doesn’t think it’ll happen.” The decorated detective had better be right. “Said even without Gallo’s priors, the man admitted to intentionally cutting the power to the shelter’s security gate, which, is programmed to automatically open in the case of a power outage to prevent the residents from being unable to leave in an emergency. So he’s not only being charged with trespassing and assault but also destruction of private property.”
“Well, I guess, at the very least, you know he’s locked up for tonight. Hopefully that will bring Scottie a small sense of comfort. Speaking of…how’s your girl doing with all this?”
“She says she’s fine.”
“You don’t believe her?”
“Would you, given her history?” Chase referred to Scottie’s past dealings with her stalker.
He’d shared that part of Scottie’s past with his teammate solely for the purpose of ensuring her safety from any and all possible threats.
“Probably not, but you can’t force her to talk about it if she isn’t ready.”
“I know.” He fucking hated it, but he knew. “She did agree to let me sleep on her couch tonight. I’m hoping she’ll sleep better knowing she isn’t alone.”
Lucky waited for a beat before offering up some unsolicited advice. “From my experience when all that shit went down with Ellie…the best thing you can do for her now is to just be there. Make her feel safe and listen if and when she is ready to talk.”
Chase’s mouth lifted in a sideways smirk, remembering how hard and fast the other man had fallen for the woman who was now his wife. And how over-the-top protective Lucky had become when it became clear Ellie had a target on her back.
“Look at you, getting smart in your old age.”
“Bitch, please.” Lucky scoffed. “I’ve always been smart. Hell, everyone knows I’m the brains of this whole operation.”
It was funny because it was true. Still, Chase couldn’t resist giving the tech genius a hard time.
“Whatever makes you sleep at night, brother.”
“Oh, I sleep just fine, trust me. Especially with my sexy wife lying next to me wearing nothing but a?—”
“La, la, la, la, I’m not listening!” Chase loudly interrupted the man’s moment of oversharing. “Christ, man. I donotneed to know what your wife wears…ordoesn’twear…to bed.”
Lucky’s sudden laughter filled the phone’s speaker, instantly easing some of the tightness in Chase’s chest. Which, he assumed, had been the man’s goal.