Free Victoria by Laura Marie Henion Page B

about telling him the truth, she knew the faster she convinced him he could trust her, the faster she could put Bret behind bars.
    "No, I had an early visitor this morning. Tod came by and had a cup of coffee. He had some upsetting news for me. I really don't want to talk about it, Bret."
    "You sound upset, honey. Maybe talking to me might help. Tell me you're free for lunch and we'll talk then."
    Hesitating, she debated about pushing off the inevitable. Knowing she made a promise to assist in the case, she had no choice but to meet him. Perhaps she could even use this meeting to her advantage.
    "Okay, I'll meet you around noon at Phill's.” As the words left her lips, she acknowledged her innate ability to fall into her role. It was a big chance she was taking but hopefully it would reap great results.
    "Yeah, I love that place. Noon it is and I can't wait to see you."
    "Me, either.” Victoria hung up the phone.
    There was no turning back now. Phill's was the local cop hangout, and if she were to convince Bret that she was interested in him, ready to choose him over her family, then she needed to show him off, make their relationship known. There was no better place than Phill's.
    Again, her phone rang, and this time it was Celina.
    "Girl, I have been trying to get you all morning. Did you sleep over at Bret's place or what?"
    Victoria felt sick again, knowing she had to lie to her best friend, but Warren had warned her, and she wasn't one to make mistakes.
    "No, I didn't, but we did have a great time. I'm meeting him for lunch today, as well."
    "Oh, that's fantastic! Maybe by tonight you'll be getting some,” Celina teased.
    "Listen, have you checked your voicemails? Is your cell phone working? Because your brother, cousins, and uncle have been trying to find you. They're worried about you, and I think I may have made matters worse."
    "How so, Celina? What did you tell them?"
    "That you had a hot date last night."
    "Oh no, Celina, I have to go. I'll call you later. Victoria placed the receiver back on the base. The chaos had already started. She checked her cell phone. She was so upset this morning after talking to Tod, she'd left in a rush, never bothering to turn on her cell phone. She opened it and saw twenty-one messages. “Shit!"
    "That's right. ‘Shit’ about sums it up."
    Startled, Victoria looked up to find her cousin, Andy, standing in her office door, wearing his sheriff's uniform.
    "What are you doing here, Andy? Is everything all right?” She rose from her desk.
    "You tell me! Don't you check your phone messages, check in, or something?"
    "I just did. I hadn't realized my phone wasn't on. What's the emergency?"
    "Family meeting by Uncle Jack's boat in the marina—eleven o'clock sharp."
    "I have a lunch date at noon. Will this take long?” She knew exactly what the meeting was about and scared out of her mind to show up for it.
    "With Bret Collins? What the hell are you thinking, Tory?” Andy rested his hand on his gun holster.
    "Don't start with me, Andy. It just happened, that's all.” She then looked at the flowers, wondering who sent them.
    "Are those from him?"
    "No, they're not. I don't know who sent them. There's no card.” Her phone began to ring.
    "Do me a favor and tell everyone to stop calling me. I'll be there at eleven, but this better not be just about Bret and me."
    Andy gave her a disgusted look at the way she said ‘Bret and me,’ like they were already an item.
    Her uncle and cousins were probably so pissed off right now, it wasn't even humorous.
    "Just don't be late. I'll see you there.” He immediately called his Uncle Patrick on his way out of the building.
    Victoria took a deep breath, hoping that with each one, the pain in her chest would disappear. She sat down at her desk and focused on her work the best she could until ten forty-five, and she headed out the door.
* * * *
    "I told you never to call me. I'll call you when I need something."
    "I know that, but I'm worried. I