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“I get a free membership and one free class a week,” Everleigh said. “I do pilates and use the elliptical. Not as often as I probably should, but I use it. So does everyone else who works there. Everyone but Gav.”
“Alright,” Simon said, jotting things down. “I’ll look into him deeper. But it wouldn’t hurt if you guys ask the people you know in town for more information on Gav.”
“Will do,” I agreed. Everleigh didn’t seem to have much of a social circle, and I at least could talk to the Murphy brothers, Jack at the motel, maybe even the Russians. And I could have the other guys put out feelers to anyone else they knew.
“Now,” Simon said, dropping his notepad into his briefcase, then snapping it shut to look between us. “What the hell is going on here?”
“What do you mean?” Everleigh asked, spine straightening.
“You don’t live here.”
“No, not usually,” Everleigh agreed. “It’s just temporary,” she added. And I had to ignore the way those words made my heart deflate in my chest. Even if I knew that was the way of things.
“Because I knew Everleigh was innocent, and I was worried about whatever connections Gav might have, I thought it wasn’t safe for her to be alone in her apartment. She’s staying in our guest room.”
I noticed Simon’s dubious look.
Clearly, he had made up his mind about things since I was paying Everleigh’s legal bills.
I got it.
It made no sense.
People didn’t act that selflessly.
And, I guess, I hadn’t either. Everleigh being free meant I got to see her, talk to her, spend time with her. I would lose that if she was convicted.
Was that pathetic of me?
Yeah, pretty much.
“I would try not to advertise that you are staying here,” Simon said, looking at Everleigh. “It’s fine to do it, but we don’t want it getting around town that you’re staying with bikers. We know they’re not involved with drugs, but you know how gossip can get spreading in a small town. It would be best for you to just… stay in the clubhouse as much as possible.”
“I can do that,” Everleigh said. “I kind of don’t want to go to town anyway. I’m sure everyone is already talking about me.”
“Probably,” Simon agreed, standing. “Anyway, I will have my team on this for a few days. See what we can come up with. You work on your end. Then we will have another meeting. Compare notes. Hope we come up with something before the DA decides to go to trial.”
With that, he was gone.
“He’s… intense,” Everleigh said after we listened to his door slam, then his engine purr to life.
“He’s an asshole,” I countered. “But, I guess, that’s what makes him good at what he does. Rather have an asshole on our team than against us.”
“That’s true,” she agreed. “I feel like he wants more from me than I can give. I just don’t really have any contacts. And I guess I’ve always kind’ve seen the best in people. I still can’t believe Gav is a drug dealer. And that he was so heartless as to get me involved. I’ve worked so hard for him,” she added, voice going thick.
“Hey, don’t be crying over him,” I said. “He’s not worth it.”
To that, she sniffled hard. “Maybe not. But I think it’s okay to be upset that he took advantage of me.”
“That’s fair,” I agreed. “I’d hate for you to turn cold and cynical because of him, though. This is on him, not you.”
“Yeah,” she agreed, hiding her face in her hands as she tried to pull herself together.
Some part of me almost wished she didn’t. That she would let me go over there and pull her against my chest and hold her like I’d done at the courthouse. I liked how soft she was, how sweet and good. She was everything the world needed more of. And I was fucking enraged that Gav had the power to potentially change that about her.
“Ah, ‘scuse me,” a voice said, making Everleigh jump, turn, and rush into the kitchen, busying herself by starting to wash some dishes. “Did I interrupt somethin’?” the HVAC guy asked, shuffling his feet.
“It’s alright,” I said, following him out of the room to give Everleigh some privacy. “Did you figure out what’s going on with the heat?” I asked.
