Expired Getaway (Last Chance County #7) - Lisa Phillips Page 0,23
wanted. And got herself in trouble for it. At least it seemed that way when he factored in the man chasing her. The fact she’d fled the hospital, wounded.
Secrets. Lies.
Sydney didn’t need that in her life.
She’d needed her mother. Every day. She still did and would each day to come. But that wasn’t what Bridget wanted.
“Where has she even been for six years? And why come back now.”
Basuto lowered his mug from his mouth. “Let’s go find out.”
Aiden blinked. He swallowed a mouthful of his coffee, finally able to drink without wanting to throw the mug at the wall.
No, he still wanted to do that.
He was moving from angry to surprised, which consisted of a huge swatch of feeling like a chump. One who’d been duped, ending up on kid duty while she’d waltzed off to do whatever she wanted. Still, he hadn’t seen that in her eyes. Or on her face.
She’d been surprised to see him, sure.
Coming back wasn’t about reconnecting—not for her. Maybe she’d had no choice and didn’t want to see him or Sydney. Too much pain and she couldn’t deal.
Aiden grabbed his coffee and followed Basuto out of the room.
It was past two in the morning now. If he didn’t get home and sleep, he would be useless on shift tomorrow night. Because there was no way he would miss Sydney getting up in the morning. Eating oatmeal together—only because they’d had donuts once this week already. Packing her stuff to spend the afternoon at Maggie’s while he worked, since she had another week off school.
“You look wiped.”
Aiden shrugged. “Not like I’d sleep anyway.”
The sergeant eyed him. “You can stay as long as you like, but I’ll get someone to cover your shift tomorrow. Don’t come in for a day.”
He wanted to say thanks, but figured he would only end up breaking down again. Looking like an emotional wreck. On the outside.
“What did you mean, ‘find out?’”
“I mean run this woman’s name. See what we can find.”
Basuto typed. It was like pulling up to reports of shots fired, not knowing what he would find in that second before it loaded. Or the night he’d been called to assist the lieutenant—currently the chief of police—to get Mia back. Now she was the lieutenant’s wife. They were happy. Life had moved on, no matter how dark it had been that night.
So many of his colleagues and friends had fallen in love and paired off over the last few months.
That wasn’t going to happen to him. There was a female in his life, and she would be the only one there until she was in middle school at least. Maybe older. Dating wasn’t remotely on his radar. Life always seemed to get in the way, so what was the point?
Now Bridget was here. For however long that was going to be. No. There was too much negativity in him. He needed to beat back the anger. The rage. Figure out how he’d managed to get everything about the past so wrong.
No matter what amends he made for his actions it would continue rearing its ugly head in his present. What was the point in trying to have a healthy, respectful, loving relationship in the middle of all that?
“Kathryn Weston.”
“Who is that?”
Basuto hit “enter” and glanced over. “The ID that Officer Frees found while she was unconscious. The name she was checked into the hospital under.”
His whole world turned a revolution yet again. Faster than it should have. Aiden was nearly knocked onto his butt at the sensation. “That’s her name?”
Basuto stared at the screen. “Look at this. The ID is less than three years old, Colorado driver’s license issued in Denver. No record.” He typed faster than Aiden could absorb. “Social media accounts on the big sites. Look at this one.”
He clicked and a post of photos came up. Basuto scrolled through them.
“These are fake.”
Aiden leaned over. “Like photo manipulation?” They looked fine to him.
“I would bet money she never posed for these.” Basuto stabbed a finger at the monitor screen. “Those women she’s standing with? I don’t think Kathryn Weston was even there when their picture was taken. She was added later.”
“I can’t tell.” As far as he could see, it looked legit.
“It’s subtle, but they’re fakes.”
“Huh.”
“Why would Sydney’s mother need a fake ID and fake social media accounts?” Basuto turned in his chair. “Unless she wants more than just you to believe she’s dead?”
“Her father? He’s dead. That man killed him tonight.” Aiden sank onto the nearest