Page 76 of Deadly Conflicts

“You could’ve opened them and said I ordered it,” MacIntosh pointed out. “Why didn’t you?”

“Because that’s unethical.”

MacIntosh chuckled. “You are a stickler for rules, young lady,” he said. “While it’s true that anything we look up can’t be used for investigative purposes by law enforcement, that doesn’t mean we can’t bow to our own curiosity.”

Mandy was floored. “Are you honestly giving me permission to unseal these?”

MacIntosh nodded. “I’m kind of curious to see what’s going on myself.”

“Do it,” Jake said, tapping the top of Mandy’s desk. “Do it now.”

“Chill out, drama queen,” Mandy said, typing on her keyboard. “It’s going to take a second.”

“There,” MacIntosh said, pointing. “Open that one first.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s red,” MacIntosh replied. “That’s bound to be where the real dirt is.”

“You’re my favorite judge ever,” Jake said.

MacIntosh chuckled. “I do have my moments, don’t I? Let’s see what we’ve got here, shall we? I have a feeling we’re about to get very … enlightened.”

“That would be a nice change of pace,” Jake intoned.

ALLY FELTmuch better by mid-afternoon, and even though Jake left for work she was happy with her decision to stay home. She needed time to think, and it wasn’t about the big life events she thought she needed to dwell on but the smaller ones instead.

Jake loved her. She didn’t doubt that in the least. She felt it every time he looked at her. She absorbed it every time they kissed. She had no idea why she’d become so manic about marriage all of a sudden, because until a few days before she was more than happy to let Jake take his time and do things on his own timetable.

Well, mostly.

In truth, Ally was ready to get married. She was also ready to start a family. Avery’s arrival started a clock ticking in her heart. She didn’t know how many kids she wanted – although the idea of having a large family like the one she grew up with appealed to her – but she knew she desperately wanted to be a mother. She had plenty of time, though. She wasn’t even thirty yet.

When it came down to it, Ally knew how she’d gotten so far off track. It was Vince. He was purposely manipulating her. She couldn’t figure out why, though. How could making her feel insecure about Jake’s love possibly benefit him?

Someone knocked on the front door, drawing Ally out of her reverie and forcing her up from the couch. The hangover would’ve been a lot worse if Mandy hadn’t stopped her from ordering that last pitcher of margaritas. She owed her friend a big “thank you” next time she saw her.

Ally opened the door, expecting to find the UPS man or postal delivery carrier with a package, but instead she found Vince.

“What are you doing here?” Ally was incensed.

“I’m not here to fight, Ally,” Vince said, holding his hands up in a placating manner. “I’m here to apologize.”

“Great. You’ve apologized. Have a nice life.” Ally moved to shut the door, but Vince wedged his foot between the door and the jamb to stop her. “Stop it!”

“I need you to forgive me, Ally,” Vince said. “I’m not leaving until you do.”

“Fine. I forgive you.” Ally didn’t mean it, but she was desperate to get rid of him. Now that she knew he’d been following her – and in the light of day she realized there was no other explanation – she couldn’t bear the sight of him.

“Can I come in?” Vince asked, a plaintive expression on his face. “I just want to talk. I swear it.”

“No.”

“Ally, we’ve been friends for far too long for you to just shut me out of your life like this,” Vince said. “It’s not fair.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, Vince,” Ally countered. “We’ve never been friends. Not even a little.”

“Ally, that’s not true.”