Uncovering Officer Smith (The Discovering Trilogy #2) by Sheena Hutchinson

quitter; if there is motivation, he will find a way.
    “Fucking traitor. You were like a brother to me,” Jared seethes.
    “I told you I had to. I was going to pay you back!”
    “I can’t even fucking believe you.” He spits on him. We check their IDs. April’s husband is Jared Hoffman—I guess that’s her new last name. My April Landau is gone; she’s April Hoffman. But then again, she was never my April, was she? It’s a conflict of interest, but I can’t help it. I take Jared off the bench and into an interrogation room.
    I don’t even have to get him into the cold metal chair before he starts talking. “He was like a brother to me; I can’t believe he would do this.”
    “Do what, exactly?” I slip into the metal chair across from him.
    “He stole money from my business, my father’s business.”
    “How—”
    Jared cuts me off. I don’t even need interrogation tactics; this guy just wants to spill.
    “The best part? He gave it to his ex-girlfriend for bail and she fled!”
    I almost choke on my own tongue. “What?”
    “Oh, just wait until Stacey finds out. She’ll kill Eric for me.”
    “You really don’t want to be talking to an officer of the law about killing people.”
    “Then you don’t want to let me out of these cuffs, because I will wreck him. Do I get a phone call?”
    “You’re not under arrest—Just yet.”
    “He’s not going to press charges; he’s too much of a pussy.”
    “We’ll see about that.”
    “I just can’t believe he would do this to me. I trusted him.”
    “So, tell me how this happened.”
    “He’s been in charge of the books for a year or so, now.” He sighs as if reminiscing about things he can’t change. “I mean; he ran the business for months, so I figured a promotion was in order. I never thought… this.”
    “How did he do it?”
    “He took an entire job’s check and deposited it into his own account.”
    “What do you do again?”
    “Construction.”
    “ Hoffman Construction?” It all makes sense now. I see their trucks everywhere. The business has doubled in less than a year. They built the dorms at North Commons, and then they fixed up the community library. Their signs litter the front lawns of hundreds of Angelican’s homes.
    “Yes, its not about the money. It’s the stealing – the lack of loyalty. I would have given it to him if he had asked.”
    “Then why would he do this?”
    “He’s ashamed.” Jared turns his head away. “As he should be – Nicole.” He mutters the name with distaste.
    “Nicole?” I repeat.
    “His ex-girlfriend—Real piece of work, that one. How she has the nerve to call him after all these years…”
    “Didn’t you mention a Stacey before?”
    “That’s his current girlfriend.” He nods at the shock on my face. “Yeah, I know – fucked up, isn’t it?” He shakes his head again. “He had the nerve to say April was no good for me. I can’t even—”
    “Why would he risk so much for an ex?” I didn’t expect to ask that question aloud.
    But he responds. “I guess you can’t control who you love.” He meets my eyes now; really meets them. “I know you .” His handcuffs jingle as if he was trying to point. “You were the cop that arrested April.”
    “Yes.” My eyes drop. I can’t meet his stare in case he can read my expression.
    “She first kissed me that night,” he whispers as if reminiscing.
    Holy crap. I didn’t realize just how close I was to having a chance with April. What if I hadn’t released her? “She’s your wife now, right?”
    The smile spreads its way across his face slowly but it’s authentic—A smile of pride and proof that hard work pays off.
    “Yes.” He loves her. That’s all I need to know. The chair is shoved back as I stand and leave the room.
    Matt is standing behind the two-way mirror. He’s talking with Chief Carson. Frank is interrogating the thief in the room beside us. He appears to be… crying. We can’t hear what is being said