Tundra pushed his chair back from the table, but didn’t stand. “I don’t want to sound callous, but you two split the rent right down the middle, yeah?”
Alexandra aimed a pointed look at him. “Yes. And before you ask, no, she didn’t have any extra money all of a sudden. She didn’t have expensive clothes or anything out of the blue, either.”
I dragged my chair up next to hers and draped my arm over her shoulders. “Honey, they aren’t accusing her of anything, they just want to rule things out. Did she change since being with Brantley?”
Instantly she said, “No.”
We stared at her.
Her shoulders rose with her deep breath, as she pulled herself together. “I mean, not any more than most people. She spent time with him and that meant we didn’t hang out as much… She definitely skipped early morning workouts, but it’s not like you can blame that on drugs.” Her cheeks turned a little pink. “People spend lots of time together when a relationship is new.”
Anyone could see this took a toll on her. After today’s news it was unlikely she’d be objective.
I gave her shoulders a squeeze. “Don’t get worked up over this.”
She pulled away. “How can Inotget worked up over this? I’ve lived with her for almost a year and a half. She didn’t sell drugs.”
Tundra sat forward. “Nobody said anything about selling. She could have been a go-between.”
Beast nodded. “And she’d be the first person they’d suspect if they were low on supply or cash.”
Lex twisted her lips to the side and gave Beast a pointed look. “You’re right, but why wouldn’t they have found the drugs like we did?”
I shook my head. “It took both of us to move that mattress. I could have done it alone, but it takes time. Hiding drugs in the box springs or the mattress itself is doable. That headboard is solid fuckin’ oak. They’d never expect her to stash it there.”
Alexandra looked at me. “Then how did she do it? It’s why I think someone may have set her up.”
“No, sweetheart,” Tundra said.
Beast sat back in his seat. “Actually, let’s play that out. Who would do that and what would they gain?”
My temper flared to life. I widened my eyes at Beast. “She just lost her friend. She’s in no headspace for this kind of speculation.” I glanced at Lex and back to Beast. “That’s why we need to find this Tobias asshole and fuck him up if he doesn’t give us answers.”
Alexandra turned wide eyes to me. “You can’t go…” She stopped on a sigh and looked away.
“Lex,” I called.
She held up a hand. “I get it. This is what you do. It’s what Dad would do.”
“Then why does it bother you?” I asked.
“Because I know most of these people. I never knew anyone that Dad roughed up.”
“When did you get soft?” Tundra asked.
Beast shook his head. “I don’t think she’s soft. It’s different when the problems have something to do with you. And she probably doesn’t want our prospect to get roughed up in the process either, though why she cares about him, I’ll never know.”
Tundra chuckled. “Yeah, she needs to get over that.”
Alexandra glanced out the living room window. The sun had finally set. She looked back to Beast. “Are you going to trust me to stay here alone while you three bust heads?”
Beast smiled and winked at her. “Yeah. So you better not make me regret it.”
At eight-fifty, I led Beast and Tundra into the Eden Park apartment complex and parked my bike near the community clubhouse. I hadn’t had time to do any reconnaissance before they arrived.
Tundra swung off his bike. “This guy doesn’t live at the pool, prospect.”
I nodded. “That’s the thing. Brantley didn’t give me a unit or a building number. Just said I’m looking for a lime green SUV - probably a high-end model - and he parks close to his building.”
