by WL Knightly
Max looked her square in the eyes. “Sanity.”
As the two men shared a chuckle, the bartender came over, and they called out their usual poison. Two seconds later, they had their drinks, and Max turned his up.
Darek didn’t think much of it, but when the man hit three beers before Darek could finish his first, he had to wonder if Max really was going to get fucked up. The two had pulled some shit in their past, but Darek couldn’t fuck anything up with his promotion so close he could taste it.
With all of their tension, he decided to let it go and just let Max have his fun.
“I’ll win the table if you want to play,” Max said, looking across the room at the pool table.
Darek clapped him on the back. “Sounds fun. It’s been a long time since I beat your ass at pool.”
Max laughed. “That’s because it rarely happened. Maybe once or twice when you were lucky and I was distracted by pussy.”
“That was almost every night if I remember correctly.” Darek had been married most of their time as pals, but Max had enough women for the two of them.
“Watch this.” He walked up and put his quarters on the table.
The men who were playing couldn’t believe it. “Really, Max? You’re going to take our table?”
“Hey, I’ll let you play with me.” He shook their hands as Darek tried to recall their names. It wasn’t important that he didn’t remember because as soon as their game was over, they left.
“It’s all yours,” said the one who Darek thought might be named Paul.
Max walked over and patted the man on the back. “Come on, Paul, are you too scared to shoot a game with me?”
“Your drunk ass is going to take us all to jail again, and this time, you’ll be in the cell with me. That last time was too much, you bastard.”
The group of men laughed, and Paul put his arm around his girl, and they made their way out of the bar.
Max turned and looked Darek dead in the eyes. His glassy stare was ringed red. “Those guys love me.” He had spent more time at the bar than Darek for sure, and while Darek had been hanging solo at the river, drinking alone, Max had made new friends.
Maybe they didn’t know each other so well anymore. Both of their lives had taken different directions, and the only thing they’d had in common for years was their job and the fact that they were stuck in a car with each other every day.
After that, Darek and Max played pool and darts, and by the end of their third round, Max could barely stand without wobbling. The only thing he managed was not spilling his beer, which greatly impressed Darek.
He aimed the last dart. “Watch this,” he said to the blonde who had followed him over to the dartboard. She hung on his shoulder as he tried to line up his throw and accidentally made a shot bounce off of the board. The dart went flying and hit a man on the back. That was when the fight was on.
“Watch what you’re doing, drunk-ass motherfucker.” The man was about two inches taller than Max and had about six more in reach.
Max took a few good swings but only connected with one, compared to the two that he took. Darek stepped in to stop it and finally had to pull his badge. “That’s enough.”
The woman, who had been hanging all over Max half the night, bailed as soon as she saw the badge.
“Fucking cops,” said the man. “You’re pathetic.” He spat at Max’s feet, and then as he walked away, Max jumped on his back.
It took Darek five minutes to get the man to stop turning him around, and when he did, Max fell to the floor and puked.
“Get your pussy friend out of here,” said the man. “Before I mop his puke with his face.”
Darek grabbed Max and pulled him up to his feet as the man kept mouthing off. “Fucking pussies, that’s all they are.” The crowd around them wasn’t in agreement, and when Darek knocked the fuck out of the loudmouth with a single punch, the entire bar cheered, including Max who was barely clinging to consciousness.
“Fuck,” said Darek. “Let’s get you home, man.” He shook his hand and hoped that he hadn’t broken anything. He wasn’t sure how he would explain what had happened to Lizzy if that were the case.
Darek picked him up and walked him out to the car where he put him in the backseat. He hoped Max didn’t puke again and got in the front and started the car. He hurried down the road a few blocks where Max lived, and when he pulled up at his house, he killed the engine and tried to wake him.
He had done this dance with Max more times than he could remember, so he fished his keys from his pocket and picked him up, carrying him close. Max was a good drunk walker, and that made it easier for Darek to get him in the house and to his bedroom.
He stopped at the foot of his bed and noticed the stack of clothes. Max had the habit of laying out his clothes and shoes for work, and Darek pushed them aside and put him down as gently as possible on top of the covers.
He took a few deep breaths to steady himself and then walked to the kitchen.
After carrying him all that way, his mouth had gone dry, so he went to get a drink of water. As he opened the fridge, he looked at the calendar hanging on the door. The thing had notes all over it, but one stuck out to Darek.
NOLA flight 11 a.m.
It had been circled in red ink and heavily underlined, and it was written in the day of the shooting in New Orleans. Warning bells sounded in Darek’s ears.
Max had said he was out of town around then, but he’d claimed he’d gone to Tennessee where he was supposed to visit some family. Darek remembered that he hadn’t gotten along with them too well and remembered feeling odd about the way Max acted when questioned about it.
His phone ringing in his pocket turned his attention away as Lizzy called.
He answered it on his way out, still stunned by what he found and not sure he should mention it to anyone. “Hey, baby.”
“Hey, you. Where were you? I came by after kickboxing, and you weren’t around.”
“I needed a little time with Max.” Even though the man had passed out drunk, Darek felt better that they wouldn’t be at each other’s throats anymore.
“Don’t tell me the two of you were fighting again.” There was disappointment in her tone, and Darek couldn’t help still feeling a little bitter about all that had happened.
“No, we had a few beers and worked it out.”
“So that’s where you’ve been. Are you home now?”
Darek went out to his car and got in. “No, I’m leaving Max’s house. He was sloppy drunk, and I had to put him to bed.”
“Are you sloppy drunk too?”
Darek thought about how bad off Max had been, blowing chunks all over the bar. “Not as bad, no. I’ll be fine. I was going to tell you that Cobb never texted to tell me that Sin’s body had arrived.”
“I could call and check on it. You’re not too bad off to drive, are you? Do you need me to come and pick you up?”
“No, I’m good. Seriously, baby, don’t worry about me. I’ve always held my liquor much better than most of my friends.” He knew the trick was not overdoing it. He only pulled that kind of shit when he was heartbroken.
“Fine, I guess I have no reason to come over.”
“I didn’t say that. I’m a perfect reason to come over, don’t you think?” He tried not to laugh as he wanted to sound insulted.
Lizzy cracked. She giggled, and her voice was so sweet that he got aroused.
“I could stop by,” he suggested.
She made a sound of frustration. “The place is a wreck, but I don’t mind if you want to pick me up.”
She rarely wanted to stay at her place, but Darek wouldn’t argue. He liked his place better anyway. He hated waking up to Bob’s criticizing looks or worse, the cat’s ass in his face. “I’ll be there in about five minutes.”
With one last giggle into the phone, she whispered, “I’ll be waiting.”
He hung up the phone and smiled, pleased that the day had ended much better than it began.
He just couldn’t stop thinking about that note on Max’s calendar and decided to ask Lizzy about it when he got to her place. Why would Max have any reason to lie about where he’d been?
He knew where I was going. No, you’re thinking crazy shit, man. “Get it together, Detective.”
Chapter 20
Carter
The long road to Justin’s property reminded Carter of something he’d seen in a horror film once when he was about eleven. That had also been the last time he’d watched a horror film, and he swore he’d never get caught out in the middle of nowhere with a psycho.
He looked over at Bay, who was eased back in the driver’s seat with the window down and the wind in his hair.
Too late.
“We need to turn around and call Brandy,” said Carter. “I’m not sure that we aren’t lost.”
“We’re not. Brandy told me to keep going and that we might feel like we’re never going to find it.”
He couldn’t help but wonder if she had something up her sleeve. Was she leading them down the long road to the middle of nowhere so she could kill them and they’d never be found? He wondered if he should call his elder and tell him where he was, but he knew that Bay would skin him alive and wear his head as a hat if he did.
He just didn’t trust Brandy, and he didn’t like being stuck depending on her for anything, not even directions. The only saving grace was that the reason they were going out was to make her a very rich woman, and while she already was, she wasn’t going to balk at the millions Justin had left her.
Just as he was about to complain again, Bay pointed up ahead. “See, she wasn’t fucking with us.”
“That’s Justin’s house?” Carter could not believe the beautiful home that was waiting in the woods. The cabin had a wraparound porch and a huge workshop off to one side that matched the main house, and it was beautifully landscaped. The view in the backyard was breathtaking, with a winding creek in the distance and beautiful flowering bushes. “It’s gorgeous.”
Bay gave a nod. “Yeah, it’s such a shame. He spent so much time and money building the place, only to be shot down in the middle of it.” Bay pulled the car to a stop and killed the engine.
Brandy walked out onto the porch as they got out of the car, and the sounds of birds chirping were like heaven until she opened her mouth. “Did you get lost?” She wasn’t talking to him, but Bay. And she had a big smile for him as well.
“No, you were a genius with those directions.” Bay stepped up to the house with his briefcase in hand, and Carter picked up the rear. He watched as the two checked each other out, and Brandy stepped aside and let Bay walk to the door ahead of her.
She gave Carter a hard look as he approached and stepped in front of him. Carter couldn’t blame her for being less than hospitable to him. He was, after all, there to take half of her windfall, and he had no intention on even waiting for the ink to be dry on her paperwork before letting her know his intentions.
“I take it you’ve brought all of the papers?”
“Every last one. Your pretty hands might get tired, but I’ll work out the soreness for you.” He gave her a wink as Carter wanted to vomit.
“You men have a seat, and I’ll get you some lemonade.” She disappeared into the kitchen.
Bay took a seat on the couch and put his briefcase on the coffee table. “I’ll get our papers ready, and we’ll get started,” he said calling to her.
She returned and placed the tray on the table beside the sofa. “You men just help yourself.”
“Thank you,” said Bay, passing her a stack of papers. “This is the will. Then I have papers regarding the house.”
“What about the stores?”
“I’m still waiting on a few things to be signed at the bank, but I should have those soon. Did you have something more for me, Brandy?”
She reached into her handbag and pulled out Justin’s phone. Then she passed it to Bay and took out a laptop. “I took a quick look through the laptop,” she said. “There’s nothing there. And here are the photographs. There are more on the computer and the phone. Whoever she is, she had no problem sending plenty of nudes.”
Bay took the stack of photos and flipped through them. “Do you mind if I take these and the laptop to the hotel and look them over, or would you prefer I stay here with them? It could take hours. Possibly into the night.”
Carter remembered what Bay had said about them staying the night and having the run of the house.
“You could stay as long as you want and check over the laptop, but I’d prefer you not take it. A lot of the store files are there, and I need them for payroll this next week.”
“I understand. It’s not a problem. I’ll send some of the things I need to my email.”
Carter got to his feet and walked over to stare out the window. When he turned around, he caught the woman glaring at him.
Brandy turned her attention to Bay. “I know it seems like I’m being silly. I do apologize. I’m just not used to company, and Justin was a private person.”
“It’s understandable.” Bay reached out to touch her arm.
Brandy and Bay both gave him a hard glare.
“I’ll just be outside.” He walked out the door and closed it behind him, and as he paced back and forth on the porch, he would glance through the window to see what they were up to.
After a while of roaming the yard, he realized that she might tell Bay what he was up to and hurried back inside.
Bay sat on the couch with all of the photos scattered across the table in front of him while he looked through the phone. The computer was open next to him, and there were tits and snatch on display.
Brandy sat in her chair reading the will and didn’t bother to look up as he walked back into the room.
Bay waved him over. “Look at these. Do any of them look like they don’t belong?”
“Which is not like the other,” Carter whispered as he leaned over the back of the couch and looked at the body parts.
“They are pretty consistent, aren’t they?” Bay picked up two different tit shots and held them side by side.
“I think you’re right,” said Carter. “This is the same girl. She’s blonde.”
“Carpet matches the drapes,” said Bay. “Let’s look for every photo that shows some background. I’m pretty sure that we can put them together like a puzzle and get something.”
“This looks like everything is in order,” Brandy said. “I just want to see the store stuff before I sign anything.”
Bay stretched his arms. “I hate to get too comfortable on the computer and start on the other photos until I get a few things I left at the hotel that I need for overnight.”
“I’ll finish reading over the house papers while you’re gone,” said Brandy, getting to her feet.
Bay and Carter got up, and while Bay fished out his keys, Carter realized he didn’t want to go. He needed a minute there to talk to Brandy without Bay.
As they walked out, he followed Bay to the driver’s side. “Hey, do you mind grabbing my phone charger?”
“You’re not going with me? I think we need to talk.” Bay unlocked the door and gestured for him to get in the car.
Carter hesitated but finally agreed, and when they were alone in the car with the engine started, Bay let out a deep breath. “She knows too fucking much about us, Carter. All of those messages in the phone, the photographs, she even admitted it.”
“I thought you were a little too nice. What are you getting at, Bay?”
Bay took a deep breath and looked him in the eye. “You know what has to be done.”
Carter was outraged. “Wait, you want to kill her?”
Bay looked at him like he was the insane one. “What else do you suggest? She knows about us, Carter.”
Carter didn’t know how to react to what Bay was suggesting, but he couldn’t let him take Brandy out. All of the money had to come through her. She was the only one who had access to Corey’s money, but Bay h
ad no idea about that. If Carter was going to protect her from Bay, he would have to explain why. And that would mean splitting the money.
“I can’t be a part of that, Bay. I mean, look at her. She’s pregnant.”
“How do we know she is? She isn’t showing or anything. She might be lying to play on our sympathies, and that’s a chance I’m willing to take. Unless you can tell me another reason that we should keep her alive, I’m waiting until she’s asleep and I’m going to slit her throat.”
“But what about all of Justin’s money? What happens to it then?”
“Money? You’re concerned about the money when this person, this gold-digging trash, could ruin us?”
“If she wanted to do that, she would have already, right?”
Bay shrugged. “Not until she’s done with us. She sure seems to hate you. Why is that?” He gave him an accusing look.
Carter was scrambling. “Maybe she’s against preachers. I don’t know. Maybe she’s been abused by one in the past, or I look too much like someone who abused her.”
Bay turned and looked ahead. Then he backed out of the drive and turned onto the road. “I’m disappointed in you, Carter.”
His back stiffened at Bay’s tone. Those were the four words he never wanted to hear from Bay. Even as a kid, it could only mean bad things. “Bay, it’s wrong. And I thought you said you weren’t going to kill her.”
Bay sped down the long drive, taking them nearly a mile from the house before he pulled over. “That’s before I realized what a threat she was. But you? You’re not telling me the truth. I can feel it, Carter. You’re keeping secrets.”
“No. I’m not Bay. I wouldn’t fuck you over. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt the group, especially when there are so few of us left.”
“Get out.”
“What?”
“We’re done with our talk, and you wanted to stay, so get out. You can walk back to the house.” He shrugged like it was nothing and kept his eyes forward.
Carter opened the car door, knowing better than to try and change his mind.
