Body Movers Read Free Page B

the
    outside world.
    Possible scenarios whirled through her mind. Had he
    stolen computer components? Or could this have
    something to do with his gambling problem? He was
    supposed to be on the wagon, but maybe he was running
    a bookie service or an il egal poker site. She held her
    breath and steeled herself for the bad news.
    The detective worked his mouth from side to side. “Guess
    it won’t hurt to tel you—it’l be a matter of public record
    soon. Your brother was arrested for hacking into the
    database of the Atlanta city government, specifically, the
    courthouse.”
    Panic blipped in her chest. “How much trouble is he in?”
    “A lot,” he said, his voice sober. “We’re talking a felony
    here. And records tampering and identity theft is high on
    the department’s priority list. Hackers are vigorously
    pursued and prosecuted. Accessing the records is bad
    enough, but we think he might have changed some things
    while he was in there.”
    Carlotta frowned. “Like what?”
    “We’re stil trying to determine the extent of the
    tampering.”
    She stifled the spike of pride that Wesley was so damn
    smart—this wasn’t the time to gloat.
    “We’re guessing that he might have been planning to sel
    the information.”
    Carlotta’s jaw hardened. If money was involved, that damn
    Chance Hol ander probably had something to do with it.
    That overgrown brat had been a friend of Wesley’s since
    they were boys and he’d made a lifestyle out of talking
    Wesley into doing things that always seemed to result in
    Wesley getting into trouble and Chance getting a good
    laugh.
    “This isn’t like Wesley,” she murmured, swallowing her
    rising panic. “He’s mischievous, but he wouldn’t break the
    law.”
    Detective Terry cleared his throat. “Wesley must have
    been a little fel ow when your father, er—”
    “Yes, he was.”
    “That has to be rough on a kid.”
    She nodded and averted her gaze. He had no right prying
    into their personal lives.
    “Who raised your brother?”
    “I did.”
    He seemed surprised. “What do you do for a living, Ms.
    Wren?”
    “I work for Neiman Marcus.”
    He gave her a thorough once-over, his gaze lingering on
    her legs. The cad. “I hear that’s a nice place.”
    She crossed her arms. “When and where was Wesley
    arrested?”
    “This morning, at his residence. I assume it’s your home,
    actually, since your name is on the mortgage?”
    Her heart accelerated. “You were in our home?”
    He nodded. “We traced his online activity to the house. I
    arrested him there and confiscated his equipment.”
    She covered her mouth. This couldn’t be happening.
    He gave her a little smile. “Don’t worry—we didn’t trash
    your place. That only happens on TV.”
    Carlotta narrowed her eyes. “You think this is funny?”
    His smile vanished. “No. Sorry. Does your brother live with
    you ful -time?”
    She tingled under his scrutiny and felt her defenses rise.
    “Yes, it’s his home, too. And for all that Wesley’s been
    through, I think he’s turned into a pretty decent kid.”
    He pursed his mouth. “He might stil seem like a kid to you,
    Ms. Wren, but your brother is an adult in the eyes of the
    law. And no offense, but he’s making bad choices that are
    going to mess up his life, just like your father did.”
    His words cut her to the quick. For the past ten years, her
    consuming goal had been to do what was best for Wesley,
    to teach him right from wrong, especially considering the
    criminal legacy their father had left behind. It seemed she
    had failed…miserably.
    She blinked back sudden tears. “What do you know about
    my father?”
    The detective’s face went stony. “I know that he made a
    living bilking people out of their hard-earned money while
    he lived like a king. And when he got caught, instead of
    facing his punishment like a man, he skipped bail and
    abandoned his children, one of whom seems on the verge
    of fol owing in his