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“What’s your play here?” Harris asked. “Just between the two of us.”

“You promise? Just between the two of us?”

“I promise.”

Aguilar steepled his fingers. He thought for a moment. Really pondered the question. When he had formulated his thoughts, he sat back in his chair. Completely relaxed. “I want to prove to you I’m not a bad guy. I know my reputation, and I’m here to tell you you’re wrong about me.”

Harris had plenty to say to that, but she bit her tongue.

“I’d like to work with you, Detective Harris,” Aguilar said.

“The feeling’s not mutual.”

“Come on.” He spread his arms wide again. “If it was good enough for David, it would be good enough for you. He held you in high esteem, you know. He told me that. On more than one occasion.”

“You’re lying.” Harris gripped Gibson’s arm until the man cried out.

“I’m not. But I see you’re not ready to have that conversation.” He frowned, like a father disappointed in his daughter. “Perhaps the time will come soon enough. Until then, I’ll see you around, Detective Harris.”

Harris stayed rooted to the spot. She knew Aguilar was taunting her, but she didn’t know with what. She’d never believe David would willingly work with the man, but she couldn’t write off the possibility that he’d been trying to get close to Aguilar.

As Harris hauled Gibson out of the restaurant, one thing became abundantly clear.

David had been hiding much more from her than she ever could’ve thought possible.

24

“You gave him your number?”

Cassie couldn’t hide the smile on her face. She had left the hos

pital immediately after getting the address of the volunteer worker from Alan Wolcott. As soon as she entered the car, she relayed the entire conversation to Jason, from start to finish.

“Of course not.” Cassie laughed at the look of relief on his face. “That guy was a creep.”

“Then who’s number did you give?”

“I almost considered giving him yours.” Cassie teased as Jason blanched. “But that guy one hundred percent would’ve sent an unsolicited dick pic, and no one deserves that. I took his phone and put in all zeroes. He won’t know until later when he tries to text me.”

“Nice.” Jason leaned forward and looked up at the building in front of them. It had been about a fifteen-minute drive from the hospital to the woman’s apartment complex. He checked his watch. “It’s almost dinnertime. There’s no guarantee she’ll be home. How do you think she’ll react when we question her about getting fired?”

“Not sure.” Cassie got out of the car and waited for Jason to catch up to her before she continued. “It’s not like we know much about her. Her name is Charli—as in Charlie without the e—and she’s covered in tattoos and piercings. She’s super hot according to my new friend Alan, but she’s got a problem with authority. Which he also found super hot.”

Jason rolled his eyes. “I’m liking this guy more and more.”

“If she can help us figure out what happened with Don Chichetti while he was at Tulane, maybe we’ll be able to figure out what happened to him at UMC. And if he’s connected to Jasmine, Mark, the woman from my dream, and all the others.”

Jason motioned for Cassie to step into the elevator before he followed. He pressed the button for the seventh floor and didn’t speak until the doors closed with a whoosh. “We don’t have much to go on. We’re miles away from Jasmine. How could she be connected?”

Cassie shrugged. She didn’t know either. But she did know they had a responsibility to follow any leads, and the line connecting Jasmine to the volunteer was a straight one, even if they didn’t see its true meaning yet. Unfortunately, something inside her said the answers they were looking for were back at the hospital with the Ghost Doctor.

The elevator dinged and opened. Once they oriented themselves, Cassie led the charge down the hallway to apartment 718. She and Jason hadn’t practiced what they would say, but then again, they didn’t really know what they were after.

Anything, Cassie thought. Anything that helps us figure out whether Jasmine’s death was a mistake.

Kiki said she wanted answers. Cassie could understand that. She still had so many questions about David, even if she fought to drive them from her mind during every waking minute. Because what would answers get them? Just more questions.

Why did David have to die? Why did Jasmine? Those questions didn’t have a satisfying conclusion, and if anyone knew that it was Cassie. Why did people kill? Why did people have to die before they could grow old and lead a full life?

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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