Home.
He says it as if it’s ours and not just mine. And truthfully, it’s only recently that it started to feel like one, so maybe there’s some truth in that.
“Sure. I need to prepare for the appeal, anyway. I’ve only got a few days left.”
“How do you feel about it?”
Scared, confused, unsure...a lot of emotions. But they’re not as intense as I expected they would be.
“I’m feeling okay. I’m nervous to see him again, but I don’t think I have anything to worry about.”
Jonesy grunts, helping me into the front seat. He pulls me in for a hard, brutal kiss and closes my door.
Once he’s dropped me home, he promises to return later that night, and I count down the minutes until he does.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Jonesy
Iwalk into the colonel’s office a few hours before Thomas Vale’s appeal. I’d been trying to contact Colonel Rogers for days, but he’s been unavailable, according to Tilly. Where he’s been is not my business, but I have some things I need to say, especially now that Connor Maddox has enlisted me to help work out what the hell is going on.
Despite usually meeting in Tilly’s office, this is a private meeting. Maybe that’s stupid, given what I need to say to him, maybe I should have Tilly here as a witness. But it’s too late now.
I step into the room, stand at attention, and salute. The cream walls have started to brown slightly in the corners. He has a photo of himself on the wall wearing his full honors and another photo of the president shaking his hand. The colonel is a powerful man. He’d have to be to run this size of a base. I have no doubt his threat to move me to the East Coast is a real one. He could move me to butt-fuck nowhere if he so wishes.
“Jones, where are you with the investigation?” he asks lazily, flicking his hand in front of him, indicating to me to stand at ease.
I shift my legs wide and clasp my hands behind my back.
No pleasantries, but we're both busy, so I ignore that.
“At the moment, there are no other suspects. Connor Maddox is refusing to talk more than he has. I believe his girlfriend may have been threatened, and he is keeping information to himself to prevent any harm coming to her.”
His mustache bristles. “I highly doubt that.”
I shrug. “We’re still waiting on toxicology reports for Connor Maddox, the night of the crime. But as you know, the DNA evidence went missing from the lab.”
“The toxicology evidence didn’t also go missing?” The vein in the colonel’s neck bulges, his eyes widening.
“No, sir.”
He rubs his hand over his mouth and stares out of the window, saying nothing. Maybe I’m reading too much into his reaction, but he should be happy that not all the evidence was stolen. Clearly, he’s absolutely livid, or exasperated, or maybe both.
“This is a good thing, sir. I’m sure the evidence will suggest that Connor Maddox was drunk but otherwise unencumbered. We’ll have our man,” I lie, watching the colonel closely.
My gut is telling me that the colonel arranged to have that evidence destroyed. But whoever did the job forgot about the toxicology report as well, instead focusing on the DNA evidence found on the victim’s body.
He twists his head, a slow sneer creeping across his face. “I’ve put in your transfer paperwork, Jones. You’ll be moving by the end of the month.”
I fight the urge to snarl. “Yes, sir.”
He smirks now. “I’m sure things will be a little easier when you don’t have a woman to distract you.”
“I’m sure that’s true, sir.” She’s been distracting me for the better part of fifteen years, but sure, we’ll call this a win for you, you asshole.
Katie has more sense in her little finger than this guy has in his brain.
He nods at the door, indicating me to leave, but I stay rooted to the spot.
