Page 15 of No Cap

There I was, checking out this woman in her short shorts, tank top, and boots, and she was having the worst day of her life.

But goddamn, there was only so much a man could take.

I was going on a four-month dry spell, and obviously it was affecting my work now.

Maybe I needed to look up an old friend…

The boots stomped, and I looked down at them.

They were encasing a thick leg, and it was jiggling with each tap of her boot.

Muck boots.

Why was she wearing muck boots?

“Are you even listening to me?” she asked snidely.

I looked up at her face to see her staring—no, glaring—at me.

“I’m sorry, did you say something?” I asked.

Because had she said something and I hadn’t listened, that would be par for the course tonight.

“No, she didn’t,” Garrett offered helpfully.

Angry girl whipped her head in his direction. “And who are you?”

“I’m Garrett Carter, this one’s brother,” Garrett explained.

“Hmmph,” Angry girl said. “Can you tell me what’s going on here?”

That’s when my stomach sank.

Half an hour ago, Keda’s mother said that she needed to call Keda’s best friend, Hollis.

But she’d been too distraught to call.

Therefore, I’d been the one to call.

And now the woman was standing there, and I had to tell her that her friend had just taken her own life.

Fuck.

It’d be a lot easier if Amazon just sent me one of everything they have.

—Hollis’ secret thoughts

HOLLIS

“Hey, Denita!” I sang as I answered the phone. “How’s our girl?”

There was a long pause, and then, “Sorry, honey, but this isn’t Denita. This is Detective Quincy Carter with Dallas Police Department. Denita asked me to call you.”

My stomach sank.

Not even the deep, rumbly, beautiful sounding voice on the other end of the line could control the panic that started to roll through my heart.

“Is Keda okay?” I rasped, terror leeching into my voice.