“Good,” Lizzy said. “So, if this case connects, we’re looking at a whole other ball of wax.”
Yeah, and Darek was looking at a whole lot of trouble. Last he knew, his clothes were at the bottom of a creek. Hopefully, they’d rotted away a long time ago and gotten carried away by the undertow, but the millstone was probably still there, along with the painted symbols, unless time and mildew had made them illegible. He knew one thing for sure, though. Emily’s blood was still on that stone, and if it was ever found, just a mile through the woods from where her body was found, the case would be reopened, and the nearby Camp Victory would be investigated.
Lizzy let loose a breath of frustration. “I was so sure you were going to be stoked about this. After dinner last night, I thought we realized we work better together when we get along.” She stormed away and left Darek there with Max, whose mouth was gaping, his eyes wide with accusation.
When she was gone, he kicked Darek’s chair. “You dog. You two had dinner last night? Are you sure it was your wife you fucked?”
“I’m sure. It’s not like that with me and Lizzy.”
“Please, you can’t tell me that there’s no passion there. She just stormed out of here like she wanted to punch you in the face.”
“Yeah, punch me, not fuck me. Look, I know you hate Megan, and I have to admit, I’m not crazy about the way she treats me sometimes, but when she treats me well, she treats me really well.”
“You sound like every battered woman who comes through those doors, my friend. That’s what’s fucking pathetic about that attitude.” He looked back to the door where Lizzy had burned her trail. “Look, man. If you two have a thing going, it’s your business. Seriously. I won’t interfere with it, and I don’t even blame you, considering how I feel about your wife, but don’t lie to me, okay? I’ll always have your back.”
Darek let out a groan. “I’m not fucking her. I’m not saying I haven’t pictured her naked, but let’s face it, I’ve pictured most attractive women naked. And if I did happen to break my fucking vows and do anyone but my wife, you’d be the first to know.”
“So, what was it like? Picturing her naked?” He gave Darek a cheeky grin, and Darek threw a pencil at him.
“Like you don’t know.”
“Oh yeah, I’ve thought about it,” Max admitted. “Do you think she’d go out with me?”
The idea of his partner having her pissed him off, but he forced a smile. “Keep your dick to yourself, bro. She’s a good girl, and you’re a heartbreaker.” He didn’t want the guy pulling his usual fuck and dump and making problems for him and Lizzy. They had enough on their own.
“What are you, her brother?” He held up a fist. “Gonna make me fight you for her?”
“I’m protective of her. Besides, she’s too much woman for you. I have a feeling she’d eat you alive.”
“Who are you kidding? She’d eat us both alive.” He chuckled as he walked away.
Before Darek could gather his thoughts, he was called into the chief’s office. When he walked into the small room, Lizzy was there with him.
“You’re partner here has requested permission to look into this old case. I’d like you to cooperate.”
“Yes, sir.” He knew it wasn’t a request, but an order. His perfect morning had now turned into his worst fucking nightmare.
18
Darek
Darek hoped to catch Bay at his office since the asshole didn’t like for anyone to call him. His receptionist, who looked Darek up and down and even licked her lips in the process, told him he could go up and wait outside. He could only assume the receptionist being downstairs in the lobby was so she wouldn’t be a witness to whatever debauchery her boss was involved in. Bay hated prying eyes.
When the elevator opened to Bay’s private lobby, Darek walked out and saw a young girl. She couldn’t have been more than sixteen, but she was dressed like she was twenty-five.
He took a seat on the couch while she smoothed down her sleek hair in the mirror. She spun around and stuck her breasts out as her eyes trailed up and down his body. He couldn’t help looking, too, especially when she walked over and sat beside him.
“I’m Mia,” she said, her voice thick like honey.
“I’m Darek. Good to meet you. You know Bay Collins well?” Surely, the guy wasn’t fucking this little girl, but with Bay, one could never tell.
Mia giggled. “He’s my brother-in-law.” She put her arm across the back of the sofa around him.
Before Darek could continue his questioning, Bay opened the door to his office, and his eyes burned on Darek and Mia.
“Mia!” He snapped his fingers, and the girl put a whole lot of distance between herself and Darek fast. “What do you need?”
“I… I wanted money. I’d like to buy a new handbag, but I’m a few hundred short.” She gave him the sweet and innocent act, but Darek knew better.
He glared over at Darek and then opened his wallet. “Get yourself something decent to wear while you’re at it. You look like a slut. Doesn’t she, Detective Blake? She looks like a proper little tramp.”
The girl’s eyes widened, and she suddenly found interest in the floor.
“The skirt is a little short,” Darek said.
“I bet if she were to bend over, you’d see everything she had.” He gave a pointed glare to Mia, and she took the money and hurried into the elevator.
Bay turned his attention to Darek. “She’s a huge pain in my dick. Her nineteenth birthday is in another few weeks.”
Darek knew that was his way of saying he wasn’t doing anything illegal. He wondered what her sister thought of sharing her husband with so many others, including her sister.
Bay was unapologetic. “So, what did you come all the way down here for?”
“I wanted to tell you about an old case that crossed my desk this morning,” Darek said. “One my partner is hell-bent on linking to the latest one. I told you that this new murder was bringing shit up from the past. Too many coincidences to ignore, Bay, and now, I have to watch every fucking step because my partner dug up an old, similar case, hoping to find a clue. She thinks it’s a copycat, or that maybe Otis Gough wasn’t the right man after all.”
“So, the first thing you do is come to my office?”
“You’re a lawyer,” Darek said. “I might have had to seek legal counsel over my mother’s latest fall at the nursing home. I’ll cover my bases somehow. Don’t worry. I thought it was better than calling.”
“Right. Keep me informed, and don’t mention it to the others. I don’t need them in a panic, making stupid moves. I already feel like a fucking babysitter.” He raked his hand through his platinum hair and then his dark stubble.
“I saw what you did for Tad. That was nice. The guy needed to get away from that lifestyle.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Bay said. “I’m not a nice person. I don’t do things to be nice. I do things with an agenda. Like giving my hot little sister-in-law money. She’s begging for it.” He gave Darek a wink.