The Harper Family: Colliding Paths (Wattpad Version)

Clarification

Brady

After Ricardo stopped by and saw Dixon with me, I knew I would have to explain things. It was terrible enough that things progressed further with Dixon. I didn't need additional issues with Noland.

Ricardo lied to Owen Harper about not feeling well to meet me. Since I had the day off, it would allow me to explain things.

We met at a diner near Lakeshore since it wasn't near Oakridge or Saintwood. It was a bit of a drive for us. But it was better than people discovering our connection. Ricardo almost blew it when he stopped by my apartment. Luckily, he didn't.

I sat in a booth across from Ricardo while we ate breakfast and drank coffee.

"What's going on with you and Dixon Harper?"

I chewed my food and swallowed it. "I offered to talk to him about his brother. I didn't realize he's related to the Harpers until he told me after we hung out a couple of times."

"So, why didn't you distance yourself when you found out?"

"Because I like Dixon."

"Brady, he doesn't even know the truth about you and thinks your name is Brody."

"I know, but I can't help it." I leaned toward Ricardo. "Every fiber in my being is screaming at me to take care of Dixon. He's everything I want in someone."

"His family is part of this case."

I sat back and looked at Ricardo. "I'm aware."

"It won't make Noland happy if he finds out about your involvement with Dixon Harper."

"No one knows who I am or what I look like. They don't know me as Brady Westlake."

"What if Dixon finds out?"

"I don't know." I shook my head.

"I suggest you figure it out before he does. We don't need our cover blown. It's bad enough Odin suspects me."

"How's that going?"

Ricardo looked at me with an unamused expression. "Don't ask."

I chuckled before turning serious. "Something's been eating at me since yesterday."

"It wouldn't happen to do with a particular Harper boy, would it?"

I raised my brow. "No."

"Okay."

"Dixon flipped out when a customer came into the restaurant."

"Why?"

"I didn't get that far. I noticed a guy sitting alone in plain view of Dixon."

"Do you think Dixon knows the guy?"

"That would be my guess. So after you left and I took Dixon to get his car from the restaurant. I waited and snuck into the restaurant through the kitchen. I checked the receipts from the time frame and found a credit card receipt of Albert Bates."

"Are you sure it's the same guy?"

I dug my phone from my pocket, tapped the screen, and handed it to Ricardo. "Yeah, it's the same guy."

Ricardo looked at the information on Albert Bates. "Okay, it gives the basic stats of Albert."

"Keep scrolling."

Ricardo slid his finger up the screen until he stopped. "What the...?

"It seems Mr. Bates has a few skeletons in his closet."

Ricardo lifted his head and handed my phone to me. "How did you figure out he had a rap sheet?"

"Something seemed off about him. The way Dixon acted drew my attention to him. But I need confirmation."