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Memphis turned back toward him. “You seem off.”
Hell.
“Where’s the skater?” Memphis asked in the next breath.
“Getting dressed.” Wrong response. Because Memphis’s eyes had narrowed. “She’s freshening up,” he clarified with a vague wave of his hand. “Just got back from viewing bodies. Her first time to get a trip to the lab. So you’ll understand if she’s shaken.”
Memphis strode close to Midas. Memphis was tall, but Midas still had him by a few inches. “Something you want to tell me about this case? Got something to share with the group?”
“Yeah, it’s a cluster.” He crossed his arms. “The two men who took Alina are dead, the cops keep eyeing me because they’re jerks—”
“They’re having an affair,” Memphis cut in to say. “Bad idea, if you ask me. Personal involvements always cloud things.” The words seemed to be a warning.
Midas did a double-take. “Who’s having an affair?”
“The two detectives. Joyce and Calvin. Saw the way he touched her when they went back in the building after you raced from the alley. You were right about them tipping off the reporters, by the way. I chatted briefly with one guy on the scene. You broke his phone. Remember him? That guy. He was pretty salty. And very chatty. Found out that Joyce was the one to call him. The detectives definitely want attention put on you.”
Footsteps padded toward them.
Midas glanced over Memphis’s shoulder. Alina was dressed, thankfully. Blouse back in place. Hopefully, her bra, too. Jeans on. Tennis shoes on her feet. But her hair was a bit disheveled. Sexy, but it definitely looked like she’d just taken a side trip to bed.
I did that.
And her cheeks were flushed. Her lips were also red and swollen from his mouth, and, hell, had he left a small mark on her neck?
Memphis sent him a knowing, sideways glance.
Midas fired right back with a don’t-say-anything glare.
“Thought you knew better,” Memphis muttered. “What happened to your rules?”
Seriously? Memphis had freaking married the woman he’d gone to protect years ago. Like Midas needed judgment from him. Thanks, but no thanks.
Alina stopped a few feet away and surveyed the men. The faint flush in her cheeks deepened. She shoved her hands into the back pockets of her jeans and rocked forward. Her gaze drifted over the group and lingered for a moment on Memphis. “You’re the man who brought the motorcycle to us.”
“Guilty as charged.” Memphis ambled toward her. He extended his hand. “Memphis Camden.”
Her hand came up to shake his. “Midas mentioned you. Thank you for helping me.”
“Haven’t done much yet. Just gave you a getaway vehicle and arranged for some gear to be brought over here earlier for you. No big deal. Besides, I’m hoping you can help me. I think your case might just coincide with another I’ve been working.” He released her hand and motioned toward Lane. “That’s Lane Lawson. He’s here in a…training capacity.”
“Training capacity, my ass.” Lane headed for Alina. He extended his hand. “Sorry for what happened to you.”
Alina shook his hand. “I—thank you.” She let go of him. “You’re both here to help? And just what other case is it that, uh, coincides?”
“Maureen O’Sullivan. The woman who was found dead recently. Broken neck. Knife through her heart. You know, the same MO that Midas’s father used on his vics,” Memphis responded in an oh-so-helpful asshole way.
Midas hurried to Alina’s side. As usual, Memphis wasn’t pulling any punches.
“Got those pics you sent of the two men who abducted Alina,” Memphis continued with a nod of his head. “Smart of you to snag them. We’ve got a new tech whiz who ran them through some facial recognition software BS stuff. Got to say, though, Midas, you are not gonna like the results.”
Alina rubbed her temple and peered at Midas. “When did you send pictures to them?”
Right after he’d met up with the cops on that mountain road. He’d known that he needed a team to help, and Memphis had skills and reach that Midas wanted on her case.
“And when did you call them to come help us?” Alina continued as she motioned to the two other men.
“We were already working on Maureen’s case. Or, trying to work on it,” Memphis clarified. “Feds and local cops are stonewalling us. Such dick moves. Hate it when they do that.”
