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Thea rolls her eyes and turns toward the door. “Let’s go, Aus. I can’t stand to be here another second.”

“Of course, baby.” I nod to Wheeler. “You guys better know what the hell you’re doing. Because she’s innocent.”

“If she is, then⁠—”

“Yeah, yeah. She has nothing to fear.” I close the distance between the two of us. “But you and I both know the laws twist when the right person wants them to. I hope you’re one of the few remaining people in this city with a shred of honor.”

Wheeler crosses his arms. “I’m here to uncover the truth. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“The actual, honest-to-God truth? Or the truth that people like Rouge Montrose want you to believe?”

“Rouge Montrose has been dead for over a year, sir.”

“Spare me. We both know her spirit lingers in the murkiest corners of this city. She had plenty of allies doing her bidding.”

“I’m not one of them, sir.”

“I hope to God you’re telling the truth.”

“I am.”

“Good. Have a good evening, Detective.” I turn and follow Thea out the door.

She gets in my car, staring ahead. The tears have stopped, and I’m guessing she just feels numb now.

We drive silently, but I make an unexpected turn off Lake Shore before I get to my place.

As we drive farther into the residential streets, Thea scrunches her forehead. “Wait. This place is familiar.”

“You’ve been here before,” I say. “In fact, this is where you woke up this morning.”

“You live by Wick?” she asks.

“No. But we’re going to pay him a visit.”

Her eyebrows shoot up. “What? No, I don’t want to get him involved. He’s already lost his brother, and I really⁠—”

I hold up a hand. “You can stay in the car. I just want to speak with him for a minute. He is my employee, after all. I should offer him some condolence for his loss.”

“Can’t you just, I don’t know, write on his Facebook wall or send a Hallmark card?” She crosses her arms. “I don’t like being back here.”

I draw in a slow breath. “You and I both know that’s not the reason I’m stopping here.”

She bites her lip. “Wick didn’t do anything wrong. He was with me the whole night.”

“Didn’t you say he slept in the other room?”

“He did, but…”

“Then it’s entirely possible he’s behind this.”

“You’re not going to beat him up or something, are you? He’s innocent.”

I laugh at that. “You haven’t known Wick as long as I have. He’s far from a meek little lamb. He’s shifty, and I’ve never trusted him. He very well could be the one behind this.”

“I don’t⁠—”

“Sorry, honey. But I have to speak with him. It’ll just be a second.” I parallel park on a street catty-corner from Wick’s place, squeeze Thea’s shoulder. “Everything will be all right. I promise.”