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Dewey shook his head. “That doesn’t make sense. Why would they think Aaron and I were working together? He would never tell the cops anything. We’ve never been seen together. So what if the driver had a tat? Lots of people have dragon tats. I don’t believe you.”
“But they do have a photo of you and Aaron together,” Bobby said, looking up from his knives. “Sandra Springfield took a few of the two of you. Hid them on a thumb drive. Cops found it when they searched her house after she was arrested with Aaron. Looks like she snapped the pics when you weren’t watching and planned to use them somehow.”
Dewey’s nostrils flared. “That money-hungry bitch.”
Corey could agree with that. “So the cops do have evidence tying you to Aaron. That they tied the tattoo to you was a legit leap. We’re going to make sure that they keep looking for you and, importantly, they’ll stop looking at me.” He rubbed his hands together. “I have an hour before I need to take Rick to Cardozo’s. Let’s see what we can get out of Dewey before then.”
Grinning widely, Bobby chose a particularly wicked-looking blade and ran the tip along Dewey’s cheek. “Let’s get started.”
Mid-City, New Orleans, Louisiana
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 4:45 P.M.
“Elijah?” Kaj called, a thread of panic in his voice. “Where—”
Val rose from the Cardozos’ dining room table when Kaj came down the stairs, looking sleep rumpled. She pressed her finger to her lips, then pointed at the sofa, where Elijah was sound asleep. He wore his headphones, but she wasn’t sure how much noise they’d block out.
Some of the tension left Kaj’s shoulders and he blew out a breath. “Thank you,” he whispered. “How long has he been asleep?”
She beckoned him to follow her back to the table, retaking her seat. And trying not to notice how good he smelled when he pulled up a chair next to hers. The lingering spice of his aftershave was faint, and she had to stop herself from sniffing him to get more of the scent. “An hour,” she said. “I downloaded one of those background sound apps to his phone.”
“Like the ocean?”
“Well, there was that sound, too, but I thought he might be missing the noise of the city. It’s the sound of traffic. He kept saying that he couldn’t sleep—up until he conked out.”
“He didn’t sleep last night. Neither of us did.”
“I know. I figured he could sleep until MaryBeth and Jessica get here with Czar.”
“The small horse,” Kaj said, his lips turning up just a smidge. “When will that be?”
“Sometime before six. Are you hungry? I can make you something.”
“That’s okay, Val. I appreciate the offer, but I can make my own sandwich later.”
“Don’t wait too long. Dinner tonight is a treat, so you shouldn’t spoil it with snacks.”
His brows lifted. “What’s for dinner?”
“I don’t know, but it’ll be good. One of my friends co-owns Le Petit Choux in the Quarter. She’s coming by to show me how to cook tasty low-carb meals for Elijah. If that’s okay,” she added. “She’s trustworthy and completely safe to be around Elijah.”
“You mean Gabe Hebert’s cousin, Patty?”
“You know Patty?”
“I know Gabe better, but Patty was at the party last summer when I first met you.”
Val’s cheeks heated. How had she forgotten that Patty had been there that day, too? Probably because she’d been too fascinated with Kaj. “Well, she’s cooking for us tonight.”
“I can’t wait. I get their lunch specials whenever I can. You bring all kinds of perks,” he added with a smile. “Dogs, roller derby, and friends who make good food.”
His smile lit up his face, making him gorgeous. Making awareness sizzle across her skin. She bit back a needy sound that his son’s bodyguard definitely shouldn’t make.
Kaj Cardozo might have been sexy as hell in the courtroom in his fancy suit, but he was more appealing sitting at his table in wrinkled clothes, his body warm and smelling way too good.
She cleared her throat, dropping her gaze to her laptop screen. “Well, I get to eat the good food, too, so I’m selfishly bringing the perks.”
“Still,” he said quietly, as if sensing her withdrawal. “Thank you.” He leaned closer to look at her screen. “What are you doing?”
