Ben laughed. “That’s why you’re the best partner a guy could ask for.”
“Did you two hear that? I’m the best.” Zeke winked at Newman and Sauer, who shook their heads but laughed with him. “We did find something really interesting. Guess where Carol took her mother for her doctor appointments?”
“Where Ashley worked,” Ben said excitedly. Could it be? A great connection for once.
“No. But she did take her to the doctor’s office across the hall. And guess who was delivering packages when we walked in?” Zeke said.
“Jones Maverick.” Ben almost wanted to rub his hands with satisfaction.
“The one and only. He was surprised to see us. We showed him a picture of Carol, but he claims that he never saw her before in his life,” Zeke replied.
“That’s too strange of a coincidence if you ask me. We didn’t come across his name yet with the credit card records, but he could’ve paid in cash,” Ben said.
“Zeke and I thought the same thing. We got a list of the appointment times for Carol’s mother. The doctor confirmed Carol always came with her each time her mother had an appointment. We also stopped by Jones’s work place and looked at his schedule and what days he delivered to the office. Three of those deliveries coincided with Carol’s mother’s appointments,” Newman said, pulling out a chair and propped a leg on top while he rested his arm on his knee.
“Yet he claims he never saw her?” Ben asked skeptically.
“If he’s our killer, chances are he did see her and is lying. If he’s not our killer, it’s just a coincidence and Carol probably was already back in the room with the doctor when he arrived,” Zeke said.
“You don’t believe in coincidences and neither do I,” Ben said firmly.
“I know. That’s why we questioned his supervisor a bit. Any complaints, anything strange about Jones, you know, those sorts of things. He said he’s quiet, does his job well. Really, keeps to himself. Nothing odd stuck out about him. We also stopped at Little Red Boutiques and asked the employees if they recognized Jones when we showed them his picture. Nobody did,” Zeke said.
“Maybe he had someone else buy ‘em. I find it strange he kept to himself at work. That strikes me as odd. I don’t like the quiet ones,” Ben said, rubbing his chin.
“So you don’t like Sauer. That’s not nice, Ben,” Newman said, shaking his head with a smile at Sauer.
“He’s probably quiet because you talk too much,” Ben countered with a laugh.
“It’s called reflecting. I like to think before I speak,” Sauer said, looking at Newman. “And he does talk a lot.”
Zeke laughed, slapping a hand on Newman’s shoulder. “We appreciate the help today. We got a lead. Ben and I thought Jones was fishy the day we interviewed him at his apartment. He deserves a closer look. But I think that’s it for the day.”
“You’re welcome. We know you two would return the favor. You guys wanna grab a beer?” Newman asked.
“Dinner party, remember?” Ben said, wishing he didn’t have to go.
“Forgot. Good luck.” Newman glanced at Sauer. “Zeke’s probably heading home to the wifey as well. Beer, Sauer? I can tell you all about this cute nurse we talked to today. She’d be good for you.”
“Oh, she was cute,” Zeke said with a grin, as Sauer’s face grew red from his neck to his cheeks. “We’re just talking about a pretty woman. No need to get shy already, Sauer.”
“Stop guys. You know me and women. I…I just don’t say the right things. They…you know, women, they’re scary,” Sauer stammered.
“No, Sauer. They’re beautiful creatures that need your lovin’. Let’s grab that beer and I’ll tell you all about her,” Newman said, putting his leg down on the floor and gestured his head toward the door.
“Okay, fine. You can tell me all about her, but you know I’m never gonna talk to her.” Sauer stood up.
“We’ll crack open that shell of yours one of these days,” Zeke said with a laugh.
“It’s my life’s mission.” Newman chuckled.
Sauer’s face grew a deeper red, if that was even possible, as he averted eye contact with all of them.
“Just looking out for you, buddy.” Ben tried to imagine him and Dee like Rina suggested and he still couldn’t see them as a couple, so he said nothing about her.
“Yeah, I know.” Sauer shrugged.
“Come on. I’m gonna find you a gorgeous woman tonight. It’s been decided.” Newman tossed an arm around Sauer’s shoulder. “See you guys tomorrow.”
Newman and Sauer left. Zeke helped Ben organize the papers before they left, needing to make everything clutter free.
Zeke started the car. “Call me if you need me. Don’t let him get to you. Keep your cool and try your damndest to work it out. Be the calm one, the cool one, the one in control. For Rina. She’ll need you to be the strong one.”
“I will. I promise.”
Ben glanced out the window, watching as everything blurred by. What a bunch of lies. He promised he’d keep his cool. Keeping that promise would take a miracle. Because the minute he faced Reginald Chastain, he wanted to punch him in the face for treating Rina the way he did, and for messing with his family. Nobody messed with the people he loved.
Chapter 15
Ben’s hand tightened on the doorknob as Rina approached him in a conservative black dress that revealed nothing of her beautiful assets. It didn’t matter he couldn’t see her cleavage or the creamy skin on her back or a hint of her thighs that would lead him to his prize just a little further up. She still looked sexy as hell. He just imagined in his mind what was underneath her dress, creating an uncomfortable bulge in his pants.
“You should change. We might not leave if you wear that,” he said as she met him by the door, keys in hand.
Rina looked down at the dress, her eyebrows dipping into confusion. “What’s wrong with this dress? It’s very conservative.”
“That’s the problem, sweetheart. It leaves me to my imagination. My mind runs wild picturing what’s underneath. I feel this insane urge to drag you back to the bedroom.”
She playfully slapped him on the shoulder. “I told my father we’re coming. You can’t make up excuses why we can’t go. Even if I like that excuse.”
“It’s not an excuse. It’s the truth. I hope I can keep my hands to myself. They feel like exploring.” Ben reached to grab her around the waist, but she managed to avoid his grasp by jumping back.
“Out, mister. We can’t be late. If you touch me, we’ll be late. Trust me. My father likes punctuality.”
Ben sighed, putting on a pouty face for her benefit to hide the stress in his sigh. “I would never make you late for something like this.”
Twenty minutes later, they made it to her father’s house. Ben pulled into the driveway and stopped in front of a gate, lifting his eyebrows in surprise. Before he could roll down his window and hit the intercom, the gates started to open. Ben drove through, following the long driveway. Trees lined the way, the sun was starting to set for the day, giving an eerie feeling as the trees swayed back and forth. Maybe it was the dread filling inside Ben that gave off the eerie feeling.
“Wow, I had no idea. How big is this property?” Ben asked, taking his time to drive up to the house.
“Twenty acres or so. It’s very beautiful inside.”
“I’m sure it is. Just like you.” He grabbed her hand and pressed a tender kiss to show how much he meant that. “You look very beautiful tonight, if I didn’t say that already.”
“Oh, I think you did. You always say it with the way you look at me. I used to find it unnerving. Now I just love the way you look at me.”
“You make it difficult to continue this drive when you talk like that. Now all I want to do is look at you.”
She giggled, glancing away from his heated gaze. “Park the car, mister. Quit looking at me.”
“If I must.” He chuckled, squeezing her hand before letting it go.
H
e finally saw the house with a small garden centered in front. The driveway circled around the garden. He pictured following the circle back down the driveway and onto the road without stopping. As much as he yearned to do that, he knew he couldn’t.
To the left of the garden, two vehicles were parked. To the right, there was a pathway decorated with flowers on the sides leading behind the house. He followed the road around the garden and parked the car in front of the door.
“Come on, we have five minutes to spare. I like being early. Even if it’s a few minutes,” Rina said, opening her door without waiting for his response.
That didn’t sound like a request. More like she was telling him to get his butt in gear. He shut the car off and opened his door quickly. He couldn’t help but take another glance at the two parked cars. One was a black Cadillac, automatically assuming that was Reginald’s vehicle. He saw a huge three-stall garage, wondering why two cars were sitting outside. Reginald looked like the type who would have five vehicles. He also appeared like the type of man who would build additional space if he didn’t have enough room for all of his vehicles. Strange. Why did he have two cars parked in the open?
He rounded his car, smiling at Rina, then took another look at the cars. The second car was a dark blue sedan, not as fancy looking as the black car. The license plate suddenly glared like a bright ray of sunlight. He stumbled.
“Are you okay?” Rina grabbed his arm as she helped him correct his stance.
He turned to her with a smile that he instantly pulled from nowhere and covered her hand with his. “I’m fine.”
“Come on.” She kept a hold of his arm as they climbed the few stairs to the door. A smile brightened her face when the door opened before she could knock.
“Welcome.”
“You just couldn’t let me knock, could you?” Rina said sweetly, then leaned forward to kiss a man he didn’t recognize on the cheek.
“No. You know I dislike that. It’s your home, Rina,” the man said brightly, then turned to Ben. “I’m Thomas. Welcome to the Chastain home. If you need anything, just let me know.”
Ben shook hands with Thomas. “Ben Stoyer. Nice to meet you. I do have a question.”
“Of course. What is that?”
Ben turned toward the blue car, pointing, his eyes glossing to the license plate that showed the numbers one, five, six. The same description given by the witness that saw a dark car speed out of Rina’s neighborhood the night of her attempted break-in. The car looked familiar to Ben, not that he made out the actual make and model of the car as it sped away. But the overall size and shape of the car was very familiar.
“Whose car is that?”
“It’s mine. Why do you ask?”
Ben watched as the muscle ticked in Thomas’s cheek, the way his hand trembled into a fist, then relaxed. “I think you know why I’m asking.”
“Ben? What’s going on?” Rina asked, pulling on his arm for him to look at her. He couldn’t look at her. Not yet. She would see the rage, the fury, the absolute disgust of what was going through his mind.
“Something that you’ll probably get mad at me for. We’re going to have to reschedule this dinner with your father.”
“But why? What’s the matter?” Rina glanced between Thomas and Ben as they continued to stare at each other. “Someone tell me what’s going on, please.”
Thomas cleared his throat. “I do believe your boyfriend, Detective Stoyer, has some questions for me.”
“I do believe you’re correct. I think we’ll ask them at the precinct,” Ben said, his stare getting harder by the second. Things just took an unexpected turn. He had no idea how he’d explain any of it to Rina.
***
Zeke leaned against the wall as Rina paced back and forth. Staying calm as he watched her display her anger, agitation, and frustration was truly difficult. She never acted like this. He could never understand how she kept her cool all the time. How she couldn’t let loose her feelings in an animated way like most people displayed. So the fact she was pacing, the anger quite visible, told him that she was upset. So upset that she couldn’t control her emotions.
“Please don’t make me ask again, Zeke. I want to talk to Thomas.” Rina stopped, her hands on her hips in defiance. A look that reminded him of Zoe, a little of Dee as well. But Rina, an image so unlike her.
“Please don’t keep making me say no. Ben is talking to him, trying to find out the facts.”
“And he couldn’t do that at my father’s house. He didn’t even give Thomas a chance to explain anything. He didn’t even give me an explanation. He left me at my father’s.”
Zeke pushed himself off the wall and stepped closer to her. “Thomas didn’t put up a fight either. He didn’t demand an explanation. Why do you think that is? Ben did what he did to protect you.”
She turned away. “Seems a strange way to protect me. Thomas would never hurt me, or anyone else.”
“Your father must not believe that. He didn’t come with you. He gave you one of his cars to come here by yourself.”
She slowly turned toward him, her eyes almost as black as death. “He’s probably getting him the best lawyer in town. My father would never abandon Thomas. He’s like family.” She stepped closer to Zeke, a breath away. “You tell Benjamin I want to speak to Thomas now or I may never forgive him.”
Zeke took a step back. Damn. He never thought he’d need space from her wrath. It appeared she didn’t need to yell to get her point across. “Calm down, Rina. Don’t be pissed at Ben. He’s doing his job and protecting you at the same time.”
“I am calm.”
“Sure fooled me.” He walked toward the interrogation room. “Stay out here.”
He opened the door and closed it quickly. Ben sat on one side of the table, his hands folded in his lap. Thomas sat on the other side, hands folded in his lap as well. Both were silent. “I hate to interrupt.”
“Not really interrupting. He’s not saying anything.” Ben stood up and walked over to Zeke. “What’s up?”
“Rina. She’s not happy. She hollered at me.”
***
“Rina doesn’t holler.” Ben looked at him confused, and scared for the umpteenth time that night. He knew he upset her. He hoped to make it up to her. If she was displaying her anger by actually displaying it for once, he could be in more trouble than he originally thought.
“Well, okay, not actual hollering, but it was insinuated. She got in my face, like inches from it, and…and they weren’t happy words. She wants to talk to Thomas. She said she might never forgive you if you don’t let her. She scared me enough that I almost believe her.”
Ben ran a hand over his face, groaning. He peeked over at Thomas, who still hadn’t moved an inch. Not a peep out of him. He didn’t even ask for a lawyer. “Shit, maybe I should. He hasn’t said a word to me. I could see the connection they had at the house.”
“She may not be yelling from the top of her lungs, but she’s pissed.”
“If he murdered those women and tried to break into her house, I don’t want her near him.”
“You’ll be in the room.”
Ben nodded. This felt wrong on so many levels. He walked out of the room with Zeke in tow. He saw Rina pacing back and forth, only stopping her agitated steps when she saw him.
“Don’t hate me, Rina,” Ben said in a soft whisper as he walked up to her.
“Don’t make me hate you, Ben. Let me talk to him. You’re mistaken. I know you’re good at your job, but you’re wrong about Thomas.”
“I’m not leaving the room. So don’t even ask me to.” He grabbed her hand, nodded at Zeke, and walked into the room. It didn’t make sense to argue with her about how well he was at his job. He knew what he was doing. He knew guilt when he saw it.
Rina took a seat at the table. He stood behind her, close enough to reach out and touch her if he needed to.
“Thomas,” Rina said softly, reaching her hand across the table.
Thomas finally looked up, tears instantly forming in his eyes when he saw her. He reached out, grasping her hand. “I’m sorry, Rina.”
Ben flinched when he touched her. The ache, the fury to knock him back surged within him. Rina was already pissed at him. That would just send her over the edge. He certainly couldn’t create a decent argument over the touch since she was the one who initiated contact first.
“Why are you sorry? You didn’t do anything wrong. Please tell Ben that you didn’t do anything wrong and you can go home. I’ll drive you myself. I have father’s car.”
Thomas squeezed her hand before letting it go and leaned back in his chair. “I can’t tell him that. I’ve done a lot of things wrong.”
Ben stood a little straighter at that admission. Now they were getting somewhere. Of course, now was not the time to butt in, to take over the conversation and demand every little thing he did wrong. He’d let Rina talk first. Then he’d demand he spill everything.
“Thomas, talk to me. I want to understand what’s going on here. I don’t believe you would hurt anybody.”
“I’ve never hurt anyone. Never. I would never intentionally hurt you either.” Thomas dragged his hands over his face, moaning in despair. “I never meant to hurt you at all. I’m sorry, Rina.”
“You’re really confusing me. Just please tell me what you’re talking about.”
Thomas looked at Rina, then glanced at him. “Do you know how many men walked away from Rina when her father decided he didn’t want them around, Detective?”
Rina turned around to look at him, confusion written all over her beautiful face.
“I’m going to say every single one of them. He can be quite persuasive.” The anger couldn’t be hidden in his words. Not that he cared whether he did or not. For Rina’s sake, he should’ve. He was way past caring at the moment.
Thomas shook his head. “He can be. But you’re wrong.”
“How so?”
“One refused to walk away.” Thomas looked at Rina with a smile, then back to him. “You.”
“I could never walk away from the woman I love. No matter the trouble thrown my way. Do you think threatening my job means more to me than her? Do you think I would let that man threaten my family and not fight back? Maybe he needs to do a little more research before taking on someone like me. I will never back down from having Rina in my life,” Ben said, coming closer to the table.
One Taste of Love (A One Taste Novel Book 2) Page 19
