Read Online Cache a Predator by Michelle Weidenbenner - Free Book Online

and gathered her in his arms, holding her and rocking her as she sobbed into his chest.
    He kept his voice low. “I’m sorry. I know you’re upset, but please, tell me why you locked her in her room and who was here. I want to understand. All that matters is getting Quinn back. Doesn’t that matter to you?”
    She beat his chest. “Of course it matters to me. She’s my flesh and blood. She’s a part of me. I’ll never forgive myself if something happens to her.”
    “What’s going to happen to her? What do you know? Tell me. Tell someone.” He took her wrists and tried to force her to meet his eyes, but she balled her hands into fists, shutting her eyes and turning her head from his gaze.
    He let go of her arms and broke away from their embrace, leaving her alone in a heap on the floor.
    The gates to his composure opened, and pent-up rage marched out. “I think the reason you want her back is she’s the only one who can make you feel good about yourself. How pathetic. She’s the parent half the time—always making you feel good, telling you how pretty you are. She tells you what you want to hear because she knows if she does, she’ll get your attention. You need her . Don’t you see how wrong that is? You’re supposed to be the parent. You were supposed to be watching her!”
    Ali buried her face in the crook of her arm, stood, and stomped out of the kitchen toward the living room.
    Brett followed, his voice rising. “She has to remind you of everything—which groceries to buy, to turn the stove off, to set your alarm. What happened to you? What robbed you of all your self-esteem?”
    She turned on her heels to face him. “Maybe it was you! Did you ever think of that?” She barreled past him and into the bedroom, slamming the door.
    He threw his arms up in the air. What had he done?
    He hadn’t bothered telling her the social worker was on her way. He didn’t want to give her time to get it together. It was better if they saw her the way he did—surrounded by her true colors. And smells.
    His cell phone vibrated. Clay. Brett answered and returned to the kitchen, settling in a chair at the table. The room spun as he forced himself to keep calm. He took two deep breaths. “Tell me something good.”
    Clay sighed. “I wish I could. I tried. I checked with the CPS director, but because you’re a cop they have certain protocols they have to abide by.”
    Brett clenched his jaw. “So it’s worse because I’m a cop? That makes all the sense in the world.” He shook his head sarcastically and with disgust.
    “Wait it out. Play their game fair, and you’ll get Quinn. It’s probably going to have to go to the judge first.”
    Brett’s heart sank. He figured this could take longer than one day, especially since it was getting late, but hearing his partner confirm it made it worse. He wiped his clammy hands on his pant legs. “The judge will never let me take her home. She’s the one who smacked me with the protective order and sentenced me to the anger management course.”
    “Yeah, but this is different, dude. Quinn’s a child. She can’t stay with Ali. Just stay positive. Your girl will be with you soon.”
    Brett sighed. “Wish I had your confidence.”
    “Want an update on what the scouts found?”
    “Sure. It’ll give me a diversion.”
    “A dick, but it didn’t belong to this morning’s victim.”
    Brett stood and paused. “There’s another?” He grabbed the broom out of the pantry and swept the floor with one hand, holding onto his cell with the other.
    “Looks like it. But we haven’t found him yet.” Clay snorted. “The coroner said it’d been cut off a few days ago—sliced off a dead man. There was embalming fluid in it.”
    “Seriously? That’s crazy.”
    Clay said, “We’re looking into the obits—men who died in the last few weeks. Medical examiner said that’s how long it’d been decaying.”
    “How many can that be?”
    “Exactly? Seventeen local deceased.