“Why would she discuss Brody to Battise?”
Even through the haze of booze and pills, Erin realized she couldn’t very well tell her husband what Battise had implied. That she had been Brody’s customer. It might remind him of other promises she’d made and broken since. “I have no idea. Swapping love stories with a new boyfriend? Who knows what goes through a convict’s mind.”
“Battise did say he wants to meet with me.”
“Don’t do it, Luke. If he’s following up on something Jori said, it can only mean he’d like to make trouble for you. Maybe she wants to make trouble. Now that she’s out of jail, maybe she wants revenge. And she’s screwing a cop to get him to help her.”
Luke frowned. “I wonder. You ever think about Brody?”
“Of course not.” Her high, veering sharply toward itchy-twitchy, made her voice sharp. “Why would I?”
“What if Brody hadn’t died?” He was watching her now, still a little jealous after four years whenever his cousin’s name came up. “He sure had the charm.”
She ran her nails up the nape of her neck, trying to distract herself. “He was engaged to Jori.”
“He said he’d broken it off with Jori that last night.”
“I was there, if you recall.”
Luke’s expression turned grim. “I recall a lot of things.”
Erin popped up from her seat. “Oops. Almost forgot my meds. Pour me another glass of champagne while I get them. I ordered room service to bring more up.”
Luke followed her. “You shouldn’t mix alcohol with your medication. You know you’re vulnerable.”
“I know. And I don’t, usually.” She avoided his gaze. “It’s just that my knee hurts like hell. My orthopedist says I tore something in that last race and may need surgery. Still, I had to look beautiful for you tonight, didn’t I?”
She kicked up a leg sporting a five-inch heel held in place by a tiny rhinestone strap. “I do this for you, sugar.”
Luke grabbed her foot and kissed it just above the strap. “Did I ever tell you you’re the most beautiful woman I ever saw?”
“Every day, baby. That’s why I married you. Now let me take the edge off and show you just how much I appreciate you.”
*
“That’s right, Dad. A state trooper named Battise wants a private meeting with me. He was here with Jori Garrison. How the hell should I know? They just showed up at the wedding together.”
Luke moved his cell phone from one hand to the other as he pushed open the door. “Nobody ever heard of him until he made the papers this week as a one-legged hero. Now everyone’s talking about him. What I want to know is who the hell this Battise guy really is.”
Luke moved out onto the balcony just outside his suite, not wanting Erin, who appeared to be asleep, to overhear his conversation. The air was frigid, smelling of snow, but he couldn’t wait until morning to get a few answers from his father. He didn’t rattle easily. But the mention of Brody had unnerved Erin. Now he was worried, too.
So far, however, his father sounded like an adult dealing with an overwrought child.
“So, you do know him? How? No, I’m not overreacting.” He hated that soothing let-me-take-care-of-this tone. “Oh, really? Then did you know he’s asking questions about Brody?”
Luke smiled as he held the phone away from his ear. That had gotten a rise out of his old man. Brody continued to be a sore spot for his father.
When the expletives on the other end of the phone subsided, Luke was more calm. “Like I said, Jori must be thinking of protesting her verdict. That’s the only thing that makes sense. If that’s it, maybe I should talk directly with her. No, I know I can’t appear to be backing down on a verdict that’s part of my tough stand on crime.”
Luke began to regret making the call.
“You say that, Dad, but you don’t mind me owing favors across half the state for other considerations. How is this different?”
More political advice he didn’t have time for.
“No. Of course, there’s nothing more for the state police to learn about Brody’s death. Why would I try to hide anything from you after all this time?”
For the first time his father paused to think. Good. He’d called him for some of his bedrock cut-your-losses advice. What he’d gotten so far was nothing close to that.
“No. I don’t want you anywhere near this, you hear me, Dad? Handle it wrong and it could blow up in my face.”
Luke ducked back into the main room of the suite, his ears, nose, and fingers tingling from the cold. “I was hoping you could fill in a few blanks for me. But since you can’t, I’ll take care of this. I have resources, too. I am your son. Right. Right. I just thought you should know. Yes, I’ll keep you informed. Good night.”
Luke punched END and tossed his phone on the sofa. He might just have made a mistake.
*