From Ashes of Scandal to His Embrace novel Chapter 68

He scratched his head, looking a little awkward. “Is it not okay? Never mind, forget it.”

“You can’t sleep in the same room, but you can stay in the one next to Jasper’s.”

Laurinda didn’t say any more, and Irvin didn’t ask. Just knowing he’d be right next to Jasper made him happy enough.

After dinner, Laurinda took her medicine and scooped up Coco, heading upstairs. She stopped at the landing, glancing back at the two of them in the living room, still playing chess. Her voice was calm. “No later than nine o’clock.”

“Okay!”

Jasper, totally focused on the chessboard a moment ago, perked up and answered with the bright eagerness of a little kid.

To Jasper, nothing mattered more than Laurinda. Whatever she said, he listened.

Irvin checked the time. Jasper really was just a kid, so a nine o’clock bedtime made sense. He nodded.

“I’ll keep an eye on him.”

Laurinda watched the two of them, both acting like kids, then turned and headed upstairs without another word.

As soon as she stepped into her study, she heard something buzzing in her desk drawer. She set Coco down, walked over, and opened the drawer to find a phone. She glanced at the screen and saw a number she hadn’t seen in ages. She answered.

“Layne, what’s going on?”

She hadn’t used this phone in forever. Ever since her last injury, she’d left the special task force behind. She never thought anyone would call this number again.

“Here’s the thing,” Layne said. “Criminal Investigations just got a weird case. Three people have gone missing during the investigation. The suspects left behind a few clues. We were hoping you could come and help us figure them out.”

“Sure.”

Laurinda agreed right away. She hung up, grabbed her car keys from the drawer, and headed downstairs.

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