Ring of Truth (Devlin Security Force Book 2) by Susan Vaughan Read Free Book Online Page B

“It’s partly because I asked her.”
    “You just want the loot .” Cassie’s mouth was tight with emotion.
    “I want my life back. I paid my debt to society, but the FBI won’t let me move on. If I can lead them to the crown jewels, I’ll be free once and for all.” He could hold up his head instead of holding out a damn tin cup for crumbs.
    “Not my problem, is it?”
    “Cassie!” Mara knitted her hands together in supplication. “This is for us, for Mom. She could have Dad’s pension if he’s cleared.”
    “And if he isn’t?”
    “At least I tried.” Mara’s mouth was tight, her shoulders hunched. “Don’t forget you still owe me thousands for my half of this house. If I took you to court, that line you’ve drawn in the sand would be blown away. Is keeping me from Dad’s files that damned important to you?”
    Red faced, Cassie shook her head as if to clear her thoughts. “I didn’t think of the pension. This search, investigation, whatever—it better not hurt Mom. The key’s in the junk drawer.”
    A short while later, Cort followed Mara outside with one of the two file boxes. He enjoyed how her low-slung jeans fit her curvy butt. He wanted her but couldn’t afford to alienate her. He needed her. But no stopping the fizz of chemistry in his veins. And he liked her. She was feisty and smart.
    “You know I hate this, Mara,” Cassie said, her smoker’s rasp adding another layer of doom. “Opening up Dad’s last case. Cozying up to this, this—”
    Sparks flared in his veins. “Thief? Ex-Con? Those the words you want?”
    He shoved the two boxes into the truck bed and slammed shut the cap gate. When he saw her tears, the fear and pain, he reminded himself she was justified in her fear.
    On a deep breath, he calmed his expression, his voice, kept it even. “I promise to do all I can to keep Mara safe. She believes in your dad. If we can figure out who my father’s accomplices were, your dad is in the clear and so am I. So chill.”
    He climbed into the driver’s seat and breathed deeply in a rhythmic pattern—an exercise he’d learned in prison anger management classes—while he waited for Mara.
     
    ***
     
    Cassie reached for her sister’s hand. She had to try to talk her out of this misadventure. “If he has to keep you safe, what didn’t you tell me?”
    “He’s just the protective sort. I’ll be all right, Cass,” Mara said. “Mr. Devlin’s going to help us with the investigation.”
    How could Mara bear to go through this again? Her throat tight, Cassie shook her head. “Let Jones take the boxes. You stay out of it.”
    Mara’s eyes widened. “Now you trust him more than I do. I don’t plan to let Dad’s files out of my sight. If Cort took off on his own, clearing Dad would be a dead issue.”
    “He’s a good-looking guy. I saw the way he looked at you. You sure this isn’t—”
    “Whoa!” Mara held up her hands. “No way. You can back off on that one. He may be a hunk but I’m not going to be like Mom.”
    “Whatever. But what if you go on this wild goose chase and still don’t clear Dad? You don’t know what dangers you might be facing.” Cassie sniffed back her tears.
    Mara looked about to say something but only handed her a tissue and hugged her.
    Cassie mopped at her eyes and kissed her sister on the cheek. “You always were stubborn. Just make sure your methodical ways keep you safe.”
    Mara grinned. “I never even asked you about Livvie. How’s my fave niece?”
    “Your only niece, kiddo,” Cassie replied. The tension in her throat relaxed now they were on safer ground. “What can I say? She’s eight going on twenty. Wants a tattoo on her ankle. I’m hanging tough but I only hope Walt doesn’t cave under the wheedling.”
    Mara opened the truck passenger door. “Look it up on the Internet. Tattooing anyone that young is probably illegal.”
    Cassie heaved a sigh. The ash on her cigarette had grown nearly an inch and she tapped it onto