“Hey, I heard your client leave. You want to grab a bite to eat? I haven’t eaten in hours.” She rambled casually, but when she saw my expression, she snapped her mouth shut and came closer. “Are you ok, Lex?”
“Hell no.” I handed her the picture and waited for her reaction.
“This is Arys.” She let out a low whistle. “He cleans up pretty good. Where did you get it?”
“He’s my new target, if I decide to take the job.”
“You’re kidding.” Her eyes never left the aged image in her hands. “You didn’t say no?”
“I didn’t know how. Jez, he left her for dead. I couldn’t very well tell her the truth.” I sighed and held the file folder open for her to drop in the picture. “She left a bunch of dirt on him that I really don’t want to know.” Besides, everything was already hidden in my memory now. I didn’t really want to access it.
“But you’re going to read it anyway.” There was no question in her tone.
I nodded. “She paid me to. She also said she’d understand if I don’t take the hit. And of course, there’s the whole curiosity aspect.” I shrugged, and we fell silent.
After a moment of eyeing me, Jez cleared her throat. “Do you think there’s anything in that folder that will change your mind about taking the hit? I mean, it may very well solve your little energy bonding problem.”
I met her dark, golden eyes and found no trace of humor within them. She was dead serious.
“You’re an evil woman, Jez.”
“So I’ve been told.” She produced a set of car keys with a loud jangle. “Let’s go eat. I’ll buy.”
Chapter Twelve
The radio DJ spoke of sunshine ahead for the rest of the day with a chance of showers overnight, perfect sunroof weather. With it slid wide open, I cruised the streets with the summer breeze in my hair. The scent of rain was light on the air, hours away yet.
My bag, with Cat’s unread file, sat on the passenger seat. I had yet to work up the gumption to read even the first page. I just wasn’t ready yet.
Not only that, but I was on my way to see Raoul. First things first. He’d left half a dozen messages on my home machine after finding my cell phone voicemail full. Nothing linked him to either murder, but he was having kittens over the whole thing nonetheless.
I still wondered if he wasn’t being melodramatic or putting on some kind of act. He wouldn’t normally come undone, but I suppose if my exes were dropping like flies, I might be worried, too.
Somebody had it out for him, though, and I wanted to know why. That seemed like a better question than whom. A number of people could have a grudge with Raoul, and they would most likely be completely justified in it.
All too soon, I stood on Raoul’s front step and crossed my fingers in the hope that he would have stepped out. The door swung open unexpectedly, and a large hand jerked me inside before I could blink.
My wrist stung where he grasped it, and I glared up at him until he let go. I rubbed the sore spot and frowned. I don’t react well to being manhandled.
“I don’t want anyone to see you here. They would probably just think I’m going to murder you and have the police here in a heartbeat.” When I just gave him a suspicious look, he added, “I didn’t kill anyone.”
“Well that line is sounding more convincing every time I hear it, but if Belle is going to be your key alibi, consider it an open and shut case.” I wrinkled my nose at Belle’s heavy, lingering perfume. “Is she gone?” I couldn’t sense her physical presence, but I had to be sure.
“Yeah. I asked her to leave before I called you.” Raoul ran a hand through his disheveled hair. He looked tired. The dark circles beneath his eyes indicated he hadn’t been sleeping well.
“I want to help you, Raoul, but we’re running out of time here. No more games. Tell me who you think is doing this.”
“Alexa!” The growl that spilled from between his lips made the fine hairs on my arms stand on end. “I don’t know. Why are you so insistent that I know who is doing this?”
I studied him long and hard before replying. He met my gaze, unflinching and bold. I couldn’t count how many times over the years we had stared at one another like that. Too many.
“I just get the feeling there’s something you’re not telling me. Why would anyone do this? Why not just kill you and get it over with, if they have it out for you so bad? Why go to the trouble of ruining your life first?”
“I’ve been asking myself that very same thing. I do not know,” he said between tightly clenched teeth. “But, I’d sure like to get my hands on them.”
I paced the length of the living room and then paused to examine some photos on the mantel. “If the killing continues, you’re going to end up in prison. Or dead.” Most of the pictures displayed a much younger, human Raoul with his family. He didn’t see them much anymore. He was pretty touchy on the subject.
I knew he was being less than honest about something, but I couldn’t place a finger on what. He may be telling the truth about his innocence in the murders, but I was sure I smelled a rat.