Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 146417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 732(@200wpm)___ 586(@250wpm)___ 488(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 146417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 732(@200wpm)___ 586(@250wpm)___ 488(@300wpm)
But he was about to be an actual homeowner. It was a first step in trying to move into real adulthood.
“I called you in because I want you to work on a case for me.” Tag handed over a file. “It’s probably nothing, but I got a call from an old friend and I promised him I would look into it.”
“I’m going in the field?” He almost never went in the field. He was a desk jockey. He was the computer nerd.
“Sort of,” Tag replied. “Though you won’t be going far. The client is here in Dallas. She works for a biotech firm, and she’s worried there’s some corporate espionage going on.”
He opened the folder and found a picture of a pretty woman, likely in her early to mid-twenties. She had brown hair and glasses, a ready smile on her face. She wore a white lab coat that hid her figure. But there was something odd in her hands. “Are those crutches? Did she get hurt?”
“She was in a car accident when she was a teenager,” Tag explained. “She can walk, but she typically uses a cane or braces. She’s a chemist and the daughter of a sheriff friend of mine. He’s worried about her. Says since she started working on this project some weird things have been happening. I want you to study up for the meeting tomorrow.”
He closed the folder. “Will do, boss.”
Likely it was nothing. He would look through some computers, make sure her house was secure, and then he would be right back at his desk. Right back to his life of playing video games and being everyone’s fun uncle.
It was starting to feel a little hollow. He was starting to crave responsibility.
It was weird.
He stood.
“And Hutch,” Tag began. “I’m sending someone out with you. I need you to take care of him.”
“You’re sending a bodyguard?” Sometimes he got paired with one of the guards. He could get deep into an investigation and focus so much on a screen that it was good to have someone watching his back.
“I want you to walk Kyle Hawthorne through his first time in the field.” Tag’s expression had gone distinctly serious.
Hutch stared at him for a moment. “You want me to take your brother’s stepson out in the field? Maybe you should pair him with Erin or Michael. Boomer isn’t doing anything this week.”
Kyle Hawthorne was Grace Hawthorne’s baby boy. Baby? Hell, Kyle was slightly older than Hutch and had recently gotten out of the Navy. He had a ready smile, but Hutch saw a bit of darkness in the man that made him worry. He knew all about darkness and the things it could make a man do.
“He can take care of himself.” Tag’s lips kicked up in an amused grin. “Mostly. But I do want you to look out for him.”
And if he got Kyle killed, Sean Taggart would fillet him.
Still, like Tag had said. It was probably nothing. “Sure thing.”
Famous last words. He hoped Noelle LaVigne was worth it.
He walked back out to his office and read through her file. Tomorrow he would go to work.