“What the hell was he doing with the shears I gave Georgia?”
“Well, I think he was truly obsessed with you and kept them as a souvenir when he found them while ransacking Georgia’s mansion,” Gabe told me.
The idea that Billy was somehow obsessed with me was something I just couldn’t wrap my head around, even though the evidence supported the theory. “Why Georgia’s house? What was he looking for?”
“Our theory is that Rocky and Jack weren’t the only ones Georgia had pictures of and was attempting to blackmail.” Gabe rubbed the back of his neck with his hand and let out a deep sigh. “Guessing is one thing and proving it is another.”
I sat quietly thinking about what Gabe said. Georgia had been my friend and I truly missed her, but I was learning things about her that I never suspected. When had that part of Georgia’s life started and why? Was she bored? Did she want to hurt others like she’d been hurt? A misery loves company type of thing?
I thought back to the conversations we’d had during the last year of her life and nothing about her blackmailing attempts slipped out, not a hint of anything sinister stuck out in my mind. “The only thing that I can even think of that ties Georgia to the Sampsons is Georgia’s failed run at being elected to the school board. This dates back a while, but she was convinced that Delaney Sampson sabotaged her because she caught her husband checking Georgia out during a board meeting. Delaney was best friends with the woman that Rocky dumped so he could chase after Georgia. Delaney didn’t want to find herself in the same boat,” I told Gabe.
“So you think that Georgia was looking for dirt on Delaney and discovered what Billy was up to?” Gabe asked. He nodded his head after he thought it over. “Nothing surprises me around here.”
“I did,” I reminded him.
“You were the best kind of surprise there is, Sunshine.”
After the game was over, Gabe made no mention of returning to his home and I sure as hell wasn’t bringing it up. I snuggled back into his spoon and was grateful to be in his arms, whether it be for a night or… forever.
FOR THE FIRST TIMESsince I moved to Blissville, I was partnered with someone who wasn’t Adrian. The captain split us up so that I worked on Nate Turner’s case while Adrian looked into all things related to Billy Sampson. Even though the Feds took him off our hands, we had to know if anyone else in our county was involved with the drugs. The Feds were looking to move up the chain of command and wouldn’t focus too intently on local connections unless it meant they were a bigger fish to fry than Billy.
To do that, Adrian would need to dig deep into Billy’s background and find out what he’d been up to while living in Texas those past ten, or so, years before moving back to Blissville. I told him what Josh had said about Georgia’s past fights with Delaney and neither of us were blowing it off because we had both learned the hard way not to underestimate the ladies–at any age.
It sucked to miss out on the interviews with the people who knew Billy best, but I couldn’t take the risk that my involvement would give Billy a Get out of Jail Free card. I knew that Adrian would keep me informed every step of the way, just as I would tell him all about what I learned in my case. I already missed working with Adrian and we hadn’t even parted ways yet.
“I hope CPD doesn’t give you guys any hassle,” Adrian said. “I hope Sheriff Tucker isn’t sending us lame temporary partners either. I can’t get stuck with someone who sucks his teeth or something.” It was good to know I wasn’t the only one dreading the temporary reassignments, even though we knew they were necessary.
“We’re not too lame,” said a voice from behind us.
Adrian and I slowly turned away from where we’d been standing by the coffee pot and faced the two men in suits that were standing behind us. One looked amused while the other looked annoyed. I’d never tell Adrian this, but I sent up a silent prayer that Adrian got stuck with Detective Sourpuss. I mean, I had to ride in the car with my new partner for almost an hour to get to Cincinnati. I knew in my heart that Adrian would understand, although I had no plans to confess.
“We’re stealthy though,” Detective Smiley said. He reached a hand toward me because, hey, I wasn’t the one caught saying something embarrassing. Thinking it to myself didn’t count. “I’m John Dorchester. I don’t suck my teeth, fart or scratch my balls in public, and I can be trusted off the leash.” Okay, I really preferred to work with this guy.
“I’m Gabe Wyatt,” I told him.
“It’s your lucky day, Detective Wyatt,” he replied. “I’m,” he pointed at his chest with both thumbs, “your new partner.”
I could’ve clapped in joy, but instead I said, “Temporary partner.”
“David Whitworth,” Detective Grim said before he sucked obnoxiously on his teeth. He didn’t bother to extend his hand and neither did Adrian.
“Adrian Goode,” my partner said flatly. I was grateful that Adrian didn’t try to one-up him by scratching his nuts or farting. “Does that mean you can’t be trusted off the leash or that you like it on the leash?” Adrian asked his new partner. I knew he wasn’t going to let that comment pass.
“Neither,” Whitworth deadpanned.
“Well,” Dorchester said, “I think it’s time for us to get moving.”
“One minute,” I told him. I tipped my head for Adrian to follow me out of earshot. Once he did, I said, “Don’t let this guy drag you down…” I paused when Adrian’s phone chimed with an incoming text.
Adrian chuckled when he read the message and typed out a quick response then put his phone in his pocket before he turned his attention back to me. “Don’t you worry about me, partner. You’re going to have your own uphill battle.”
I thought about Dorchester’s personality and was confused about what Adrian was referring to. I had assumed that he had received a text from his wife, but maybe it was something concerning my new partner. “What’s wrong with Dorchester? He seems fine to me.”
“He is fine, which is exactly what I told Josh when he texted me just now wanting to know if your new partner is cute.” Adrian laughed hard at my wide-eyed expression.
“Are you fucking kidding me? You’re going to start trouble between me and my guy because you got the jerk for a partner?” I whispered angrily.
“I heard that subtle sigh of relief when you realized you got the good one,” Adrian whispered angrily back. “Just for that, I’m not naming my baby after you.”
