Apparently, his frustration was obvious, because Matteo leaned in and quietly said, “You look stressed, Detective. Perhaps a trip to our common friend’s house would do you a world of good.”
A smile tugged at the corners of Jack’s mouth, despite the grim circumstances of the day. As a fellow Daddy, Matteo understood just what he needed. “I’m going there as soon as I get home and clean up.”
“You look just fine,” Matteo countered. “Why not just drive there when you leave here?”
Jack chuckled. “Tore my pants hurdling some fences. Anyway, you know how it is after a shift.” He waved his hand around. “Just being in here makes me want to shower.”
“I hear that, brother,” Matteo said. “Just don’t waste too much time and maybe I’ll see you there.”
Jack nodded, shook his hand, and then hurried out of the booking area. The stark California sun that greeted him in the parking lot felt wonderful, doing a lot to burn off the grimy feeling that came with those holding cells—even if it was just mentally.
Who am I kidding?Jack asked himself.The job itself gives me that grimy feeling. The holding cells don’t have a thing to do with it.
Walking to his personal SUV, he thought of what awaited him. It wasn’t in the car. It wasn’t at his house.
It awaited him at his happy place.
Auntie Athena’s West Hollywood Nursery.
Chapter Five
Iris couldn’t believe her eyes.
She wasn’t sure if the nursery qualified as a mansion, but it seemed big! Compared to her tiny, boxy, garage apartment, it was humongous.
“When was this place built?” she asked, unable to hide her astonishment as she turned a slow circle and swept her eyes around the entryway.
They’d just finished the grand tour, ending up where they’d started.
“1926,” Auntie Athena answered. “They say it was built by some movie star who hit it big in the Silent Era but faded into obscurity when talkies took over. So, they aren’t exactly a household name.”
“Mostly forgotten now,” Trevon chimed in. He was standing at the foot of the grand staircase. “A lot of those old silent stars couldn’t hack it when they had to actually use their voices. Just couldn’t make the transition.”
Athena chuckled. “Trevon is our resident film buff.”
The man shrugged. “We’re in Hollywood. We need at least one.”
“We’re inWestHollywood,” Athena corrected.
“You’re always quick to throw that out there,” he stated.
She smirked. “We have more fun on this side of town.” A wink followed the statement.
Iris giggled. She was still nervous, but it was receding a bit, thanks to the warm welcome she’d received.
Something was bothering her, though. It was embarrassing to admit, but she needed to tell Auntie Athena where she stood.
“Ma’am, I appreciate the tour and you letting me in today. But I, uh, don’t really have any money to join the club and?—”
The matronly woman held up a hand, cutting the statement off.
While Iris awaited her response, she noted just how pretty Auntie was.
She was tall, with long, raven black hair and somewhat pale skin. There was a certain vampish quality to her appearance. In fact, it was an odd mixture of sultry and matronly.
Somehow, on the beautiful older woman, it worked.
“No money is necessary. We’re simply glad you’ve graced us with your presence.”
