It had cost closer to $1,000. Park shut his eyes and leaned into Jackson.
“So he took expensive trophies,” Gavin said. “Or he stole nice things he liked. Could be either. Still,these things seem too random to be a garden variety theft, especially since there was a lot of more obviously expensive shit lying around. The watch Park left on his dresser is probably worth a month’s salary by itself.”
Jackson said, “Now what?” and the vibration of his voice tickled Park’s cheek.
“I don’t know. I hate that this case keeps eluding me. None of the details ever quite addup.”
They all sat there for a moment. Park closed his eyes and tried to shut out the parts of the world that were not Jackson.
Eventually, Jackson said to Gavin, “You get any useful tips on Tucker since we last talked?”
“No. It’s like he disappeared into thin air.”
“What about your theory of why she died where she did?”
“Speculation,” said Gavin. “Maybe he lured her into thebedroom with seduction in mind, or she tried running away from him without understanding the layout of the apartment. But who the hell knows? I didn’t see anything in the apartment to point me in any particular direction.”
“We should get Park back to the hotel.”
Park pulled away from Jackson. “I’m all right.”
“You just had a panic attack. You are not all right.”
Park let out abreath. “Come with me back to the hotel at least. Just hang around for a little while longer. We can get dinner once my stomach settles.”
Jackson hesitated, but then he nodded. “All right. I’ll stay as long as you need me.”
The rest of my life, Park thought, but he said, “Thank you.”
* * *
When they got back to the hotel, Jackson wearily tried to make a path for Park. Dee, whohad driven them back from Park’s apartment building, tried to get out in front of Jackson, but the press crowded him, too. The few remaining reporters were a persistent lot, and they descended on Jackson and Park as they walked toward the front door. Jackson worried so many people crowding Park would make him get sick again, so he put his arms up. “Let us through!” The press mostly ignored him, shouting,“Mr. Livingston! Mr. Kane! Any statement?”
They walked slowly across the lobby. Park still seemed a little woozy and disinclined to really book it to the elevator. Jackson put a hand on the small of his back to get him to move along, because the sooner they got back to Park’s room so Park could lie down, the better.
The conversation from last night, and Jackson’s conviction that this...whateverit was...he had going on with Park had to end, hovered in the back of his mind, but he couldn’t leave until he knew Park would be okay. And right now, it didn’t look like he was.
“Mr. Livingston!” One of the front desk men ran over to them and handed Park an envelope. “Delivery guy left this for you.”
“Thanks, Stephen.”
Dee’s phone rang as they got to the elevator bank. “I need totake this,” he said. “I’ll be right up. Doug is already up there.”
Jackson took it that Doug was Dum’s real name. Probably he also didn’t love being called Dum.
When they were in the elevator, Park slid his finger under the seal on the envelope and pulled out a piece of paper. As he read it, his brow furrowed and his head tilted in confusion, but then a smile bloomed on his face. “Aw,that’s really sweet. Thank you, Jackson.”
“Thank you for what?”
“This note. It’s cute.”
“What note?”
“You didn’t write this?”
“I didn’t write anything. What are you talking about? What does it say?”
Park frowned. “It’s a love note.” He lifted it up and read, “‘Dearest Parker, You are a beautiful man and I look forward to the day when I can see you again. I am sorry forwhat happened, but I love you.’ Then there’s a heart.” He showed the note to Jackson. “I thought maybe you’d had a change of heart.”
