Autumn only ever answered the easy questions-she looked cooperative, but never let anything real slip.

Jason kept going. "Mrs. Walker, when was thest time you saw Ben?"

Autumn paused, then shook her head. "I honestly can''t remember. It''s been ages. With the pregnancy, I forget everything these days. But yeah, it''s been a long time."

She wouldn''t give him a date. Jason slid a photo across the table-Autumn and Ben at a café. “How about this day? You met Ben here. What did you two talk about?"

All of this-every photo, every detail-came from Rowan.

Ever since Rowan realized Autumn might hurt Anastasia, she''d started keeping tabs on her.

Seeing Jasone in so prepared, Autumn''s confidence wavered a bit. She tugged her shawl tighter and said, "Yeah, I kind of remember. But what we talked about? No clue. Just old friends catching up, you know? Reminiscing, talking about life, nothing special. Detective Lucas, are you saying I can''t even meet an old ssmate for coffee?"

"It''s not like that. Please don''t take it the wrong way," Jason said. "I''m just doing my job."

Autumn shot back, "Ben''s dead. What does he have to do with the kidnapping? And what does any of this have to do with me? I don''t have any beef with the Salstroms. Mrs. Salstrom''s my friend, for crying out loud. These guesses, these usations-this is how you guys investigate? Isn''t this just picking on people?"

Jason didn''t flinch. "From what I know, Mrs. Walker, your rtionship with the Salstrom family isn''t exactly squeaky clean. What about Julie? I''m sure you know her well. Why don''t you tell me about that?"

That one made Autumn freeze. She knew there was no hiding it, but she wasn''t about to make it easy for him.

“That''s personal. I don''t owe you any exnations—”

She didn''t get to finish. Mr. Walker''s voice echoed from the hallway. "Detective Lucas, my wife is pregnant and not feeling well. If you''ve got more questions, let''s take this outside."

Jason nced at Mr. Walker and knew the case just got a lot moreplicated.

Hank shot Jason a nervous look. This was Mr. Walker, after all. Offend him, and their careers could be over before lunch.

Jason wasn''t about to push his luck. He didn''t have enough evidence anyway- couldn''t even bring Autumn in for questioning if he wanted to.

"Mr. Walker."

Jason

nodded, calm as ever. "This morning, someone came forward. He confessed to killing the four men who kidnapped Elysian Technologies'' CEO, Anastasia. He also imed Mrs.

the whole thing alker nne

i''m just follo Owing protocol, asking a few questions."  sfnaa9f Get full chapters from find(?)ovel/fnaa9f

"Of course, Detective. Do your job." Mr. Walker''s face darkened. "But my wife''s

not well-can''t you cut us a little ck?"

"You''re reading too much into it, Mr.

Walker," Jason said,pletely

unfazed, "I just had a couple of

questions. If Mrs. Walker isn''t feeling

up tort''lle back another time. Sorry for the trouble."  s

He had no interest in a private chat-he was on the clock and he''d do things by the book.

Hank barely dared to breathe, his heart pounding.

Jason gave Autumn and Mr. Walker a nod and left, Hank hurrying after him.

Back in the car, Hank let out a shaky breath. "That was intense. Jason, did we just

go toe-to-toe with Mr. Walker? I''ve got a bad feeling-like our careers might be toast."

"Even if they are, we''ve still got to finish this case."

Jason started the engine and pulled away from the curb.

Hank said, "You never used to touch Salstrom family cases. Now, if the Salstroms

are involved, you''re the first one on the scene."

"This case is just too interesting. Don''t you want to see how it ends?" Jason smirked. “But if you''re scared, you don''t have to stick around."

"Who''s scared?" Hank sat up straight. "Not me. I''m just a small fry. I''m worried

about you, Jason. You''ve got a future. Blowing it on this isn''t worth it."

Jason''s voice turned thoughtful. "Maybe blowing it wouldn''t be so bad."

Hank looked baffled. "What''s that supposed to mean? Who wants to see themselves crash and burn?"

Jason didn''t answer. He and Monica

had never patched things up. He knew she hated his job hated that he was never around. Maybe losing it all would be the best thing he could do for her.  s