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So, I spent most of Monday combing through the trash bins behind Lucky Lopez to help Beck on some hunch she had. Today, though, it was already past noon, and I was still riding a desk, so any fucking thing was possible.
“I just go where I’m needed.”
“Putting your cop skills to use for whoever needs ’em?” Jenkins arched a brow and then let out a loud laugh. “Kid, you are one ballsy motherfucker. I like that about you.”
“Yeah, thanks. I think.” My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I gave it a sly look, wondering who would be texting me, surprised to see the answer was Calvin Ashby.
Meet me at the corner in 5.
His message was easy to understand, but I couldn’t, for the life of me, figure out what the fuck Calvin Ashby wanted with me.
“Taking a break for a minute. Want anything while I’m out?”
“Nah, I’m hitting the streets soon. Remember, rookie, keep your head on a swivel.”
“Yes, sir.” I gave a staunch salute that made Jenkins laugh.
“Exactly right. Later, man.”
Two minutes after Jenkins pulled out of the parking lot, I shoved my hands in my pockets and made a casual stroll toward the spot where Cal wanted to meet.
“Were you followed?”
I shrugged at Cal’s paranoid question. “I checked but anything is possible when there’s a room full of Feds in the building. What’s up, man?”
Cal nodded and raked a hand through his hair, blowing out a long breath that told me whatever he had to say next was difficult to get out.
“So, I’ve been digging into Bonnie’s murder, and you can save your lecture about how this is a police matter because I don’t give a shit.”
“Didn’t think you would. What does this have to do with me?”
He let out another breath and then looked at me with clear, sober eyes. “I’ve uncovered some footage of Sadie entering the hotel about fifteen minutes before the murders. What are the odds?”
Holy fucking shit. That was a big fucking piece of evidence, and I wondered how Cal managed to find that evidence when three different law enforcement agencies hadn’t been able to discover it. But I didn’t let him see any of that in my eyes. Instead, I met his expression with my most professional cop look.
“It could be a coincidence; your family does own that hotel. Or Sadie could have followed your wife to see what she was up to, and shit went sideways. Or she found out what Bonnie was doing, didn’t like it, and pumped her and Mueller full of lead. Those are the most likely scenarios, Cal.”
He nodded as if he’d reached the same conclusions. “Which one do you think happened?”
“As a cop, option three is most likely. Option two is just as likely, but you know your family better than I do.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not so fucking sure about that, man.”
Maddie had already told me about the game his family had played with him over Sunday dinner, which I thought was pretty fucking cruel. Still, Cal didn’t need to know I knew that much.
“Isn’t it possible that Bonnie was trying to renew her faith after everything she’d been through? Madison said she was falsely accused of murdering a priest. That’s got to shake anyone’s faith, even a good girl like your wife.”
Cal blinked. “You knew Bonnie?”
“In passing. She and Maisie were thick as thieves in college, so she spent some time at the house, but she was quiet as a church mouse most of the time. Nice girl, but quiet.”
He flashed a grateful smile at the memory. “That’s what I want to believe too, Jameson, that my wife was with him because of her faith. But she knew he was mixed up with the Crusaders and Rhymer, so why Mueller? Why not go up the street to Father Eric’s church and talk to the new priest?”
I searched my brain for the right words. I was dealing with a man in pain I couldn’t even imagine. “Man, I know you’re looking for answers, and I don’t have any right now. Any other reason she might have met with him? Did she say anything to you about it?”
“Digging for information, Officer?”
“You came to me, dude,” I said. “Mueller trafficked in women and children, and as far as I know, the Ashbys don’t. I’m just trying to eliminate all other possibilities for this deadly meeting.”
“Right. Shit, man, I’m sorry.” Cal shook his head. “My head hasn’t been right lately.”
I nodded. “Understandably.” His shoulders seemed to soften at that. I got the sense he wasn’t getting much TLC. Or as much as he needed.
“Bonnie didn’t know much about the Ashby Organization and definitely not as much as she thought she did. She knew we own hotels, have card games, and Sunday dinner, but that’s about it.” Calvin let out a long breath and added, “well, she also heard all of the rumors about the family. Damnit, why didn’t I think of that? Shit!”
