AllFreeNovel
Share Us
As usual, nothing got through his thick skull. He rubbed his hands together and slipped into the room. “What am I ever doing? I’m after a story. Two murders in the city and nothing from the SFPD. You know, if your brother was here, Brody, he’d give me the goods. He always gives me something.”
Eric folded his arms and leaned against the doorjamb, still keeping the door wide-open. Just in case he wanted to throw Ray out?
“I guess I forgot to tell him you were ferreting around trying to get the dirt on our family.”
Ray stroked his goatee. “Just the truth, man. It’s still a fascinating story after all these years. I’m not the only one looking for a new angle on the story. There’s a reporter up in Seattle who just hit the bestseller lists with one true crime book, and she has her eye on the Joey Brody story for her second.”
Christina grabbed Ray’s arm. “I’m sure you didn’t track me down to discuss the ancient Brody case.”
“I tracked you down because I heard you were working these two murders—Nora Sterling and Liz Fielding.”
“I am.” She took a step toward Eric still glowering by the door. “We are.”
“That’s a little,” he remarked as his gaze darted toward Eric, “awkward.”
Eric pushed out a noisy breath of air. “We’re all adults here, Lopez. Have you heard anything on the street about the murders?”
“I’ll show you mine if you show me yours first.”
Christina jabbed her finger into Ray’s ribs.
He gasped. “Metaphorically speaking, of course. I’m just wondering why two FBI agents are out here for a serial killer.”
“Well, duh. We have a serial killer division.” Christina tipped her chin toward Eric to close the door, and he let it slam.
“I know that, but usually you guys get involved when the murderer crosses state lines. Have there been other murders? Similar murders elsewhere?”
“I guess we’re not going to see yours, Lopez, because there’s no way we’re giving up that information to a reporter.” Eric practically spit out the last word.
“The press serves a valuable purpose, Brody.” Ray folded his hands over his slightly paunchy stomach and raised his eyes to the ceiling.
“Prove it. What are you hearing on the street?”
Ray looked both ways and cupped a hand around his mouth. “That Liz and especially Nora were into some weird stuff.”
Christina’s pulse jumped. “Like what?”
“Voodoo, hocus-pocus stuff.” He waved his hands in the air. “Séances, Ouija boards, conjuring spirits. Kinda reminds me of your old man, Christina.”
Eric narrowed his eyes. “Maybe they conjured the wrong spirits.”
Ray made a gun with his fingers and pointed at Eric. “Are the cops working this angle yet? Are you?”
“You know we can’t reveal anything like that.”
Ray jerked his thumb at Eric. “Have you explained how quid pro quo works, Christina? Hell, even your brother knows how it works.”
“My brother is a homicide detective with the SFPD. He needs people like you.” Eric brushed his hands together. “We don’t.”
“Aww, I’m all broken up. Didn’t I just give you a choice morsel of info?”
“It ain’t that choice, Lopez.”
Ray wagged his finger. “Ahh, you just gave me a hint, Agent Brody. The cops are working this angle. You already know about the witchy ways of Nora and Liz.”
Christina shoved her hands in her back pockets. “Is that all you came here for, Ray? To find out what we know about the murders?”
“That,” he said, grabbing her by the shoulders and planting a kiss on her cheek, “and to say hello to an old friend. You look great, by the way.”
“Thanks, Ray. You look good, too.”
“Just remember to throw me a few scraps now and then. I’m not asking for anything confidential, but if you’ve got something you’re going to release to the press anyway, think of me first.”
Eric dug into his pocket and handed a card to Ray. “And if you hear anything, let us know.”
Ray pressed the card to his heart. “We’ve come a long way, Brody.”
Christina’s brows shot up. Eric had taken this forgiveness thing to a whole new level.
Ray seemed to want to quit while he was ahead because he practically ran for the door. “Say hello to your mom for me out there in Nowhereville.”
“Will do.” She shut the door and turned slowly. “That went...well.”
“I still don’t appreciate that he was working on you to use me to get to my family’s story, but I guess I understand him better.”
