Chasing His Kickass Luna Back
Chapter 0348

I think, furrowing my brow. “No,” I say, shaking my head at first. “There isn't anyone.”

Officer Martinez raises an eyebrow. “Are you sure?”

For a few more moments, I just think, my eyes fixed on my lap. But then, it finally occurs to me. Gianna and Daniel.

I take a deep breath, meeting Officer Martinez's gaze. “There are two, now that I think of it,” I explain. Choosing my words carefully, I explain my history with both Gianna and Daniel to the officer; starting with Gianna's sabotage of my marriage to Karl, and ending with Daniel's sabotage on live TV.

Both of them have it out for me for different reasons. Gianna wanted my husband, my title, and my life; and she almost got it. And Daniel? He wanted to win the cook-off. Both of them are possible suspects, but Daniel is the most obvious.

Maybe he was disgruntled after having his title taken away and wanted to get back at me. But it doesn't fully explain the arson and the other events leading up to the cook-off, unless he knew of me beforehand and wanted to take me down ahead of time.

But why me in particular? Why not go after any of the other contestants?

Officer Martinez jots down notes as I speak. “I see,” she finally says, setting her pen down once I've finished. “We'll investigate this matter thoroughly, Abby. In the meantime, do you have any evidence that could link either of these people to this?”

I shake my head, feeling a sense of helplessness now. “No, nothing concrete,” I admit, my voice dropping. “All I have is the footage.”

There's a silence, and I meet the officer's gaze again. She looks stern, but also understanding. “I just had to bring this to your attention,” I continue, feeling hot tears beginning to prick at the backs of my eyes. “I can't let my restaurant—my livelihood—suffer because of someone's vendetta.”

Officer Martinez nods sympathetically. “I understand your concerns, and I'll do my best to look into this. Rest assured, we take any potential tampering of evidence seriously. If we find any leads, we'll contact you.”

“Thank you so much, Officer Martinez,” I say, standing. “You have no idea how much this means to me."

The officer smiles, standing, and nods. “Abby,” she says, “I saw your interviews around the cook-off, and I agree with you; women have it tough in this world. Trust me, I know. It took a lot of blood, sweat, and tears for me to get to the point where people like those two bozos out front take me seriously, and even now, it's still an uphill battle.”

“Really?” I ask, raising my eyebrows.

Officer Martinez nods. “Yes. That's why I want to help you,” she says. “Women should stand by each other. I'm standing by you, Abby."

Her words bring tears to my eyes. I quickly blink them away, holding my hand out. “Thank you, Officer. I mean it."

“Best of luck to you, Abby,” Officer Martinez says as she takes my hand and shakes it. “And keep your chin up.”

I leave the police station with a mix of hope and anxiety whirling around inside of me. Officer Martinez's words echo in my mind, a source of newfound determination. I feel like I have an ally in all of this, which was sorely needed after it felt as though everyone just thought I was a crazy person.

This investigation could be a turning point for my restaurant and my reputation, but I can't shake the feeling that I'm treading on dangerous ground. If it's true that this is sabotage, then my investigation alone could put me in danger.

And now, more than ever, I can't help but wonder if I would be safest returning to Karl's house to ride out the storm.

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