The Truths We See

Chapter 23

Officer Jarvis jumped when I knocked on his car window. He saw me and pressed a hand to his chest, took a couple of deep breaths, and put his window down. "Are you trying to give me a heart attack at nine in the morning?" he asked.

I shook my head with a fond smile. "Jimmy and I just wanted to talk to you." Kev's eyes shifted to look behind me before returning. "It's about Ben," I said quietly. My heart felt like it was on the verge of thumping out of my chest, and I felt so guilty about this, but I knew it was what had to be done.

Kev nodded and stepped out of the car. He was alone this morning, so he just leaned on the car. "Okay, let's hear it."

"Remember when I told you he tried to sabotage my board?" I asked, my voice shaky.

He nodded. "There's nothing I can do about that without evidence of some sort, really."

"I figured as much, but that's not where I was going with this." He gestured for me to continue. "Well, he knows what I know now." I felt Jimmy's hand tighten on mine and realized I hadn't exactly told him that part. "I'm worried Rob's going to destroy evidence if someone doesn't get to searching his office soon."

Kev sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "There's nothing I can do, Brenda," he told me with something like a plea in his voice. 

"Think, Kev!" I gripped Jimmy's hand harder. "There has to be something. He tried to follow me last night when I was heading home. He's disappeared. He told me to stop or he was going to make me stop investigating."

That seemed to capture his attention. "He threatened you?" he said at the same time as Jimmy. I grimaced, realizing there was more than one thing I hadn't told my fiance. My husband-to-be. 

That sounded so weird.

"He did, but that's part of why I need to find him. I don't really know what he or Rob will do, but I have a feeling that it was Rob's cousin David that tried to hurt me that time I came to you when I told you someone tried to prank me. He's a reporter here and is working with Rob and Ben. He's as unpredictable as any of them. It has to be his car that I saw."

Kev gave me a skeptical look. "I don't know him, but assuming that you're right, I can't do much personally."

I crossed my arms, letting go of Jimmy's hand, and gave him my best glare. "I'm beginning to think you don't want to help," I said in a challenging tone.

His eyebrows rose. "Of course I want to help. I helped you already! Remember those papers I gave you?"

"Right, the papers. The police report and the insurance policy. I'll give you the report, but the insurance? That wasn't a contract."

"I can't give you the contract!" His voice was raised and there was a little bit of desperation in there, too.

I couldn't blame him. But then, he doesn't know that Jimmy and I had been following him all morning, trying to find a good time to talk to him and saw him meeting up with Ben and Rob. I took a step towards Kev, my heart pounding, knowing I was passing the limits of how I should be acting towards a cop. "Maybe you could ask Rob for it. Since, you know, you're such good friends. Or maybe Ben. I'm sure my brother would give it to you. After all, he never says no to a good officer like yourself."

He blanched and stared at me. "What are you talking about?"

"How much do they know?"

"What?"

"How much do Ben and Rob know? I assume you've been talking to them. We did see you three being all friendly about half an hour ago."

His hand inched towards his gun and I knew my time was limited. "I don't know what you're talking about."