“Yeah, might be legit but you should’ve checked her out. These days you can’t tell the good guys from the bad or who’s working for who,” I scoffed.
“I supposed you’re right. Anyway, it’s not my baby anymore.” His smile didn’t quite reach his eyes and I could understand why. Phil was an upstanding citizen. He’d been on the job too long to leave something unfinished. I knew the man well, this case was probably giving him sleepless nights. “I need to go give her the bad news,” he muttered and stood. “You want to join me?”
“Sure.”
At the front desk, I glanced past the reception screen at the woman sitting on the bench seat in the waiting area. With her head bent, she studied her phone.
“Jaz?” Phil called out.
She looked up, pocketed her phone and stood. “Hi.” She smiled and acknowledged me with a nod as she approached us.
Phil gave her an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, Jaz. Unfortunately, there’s been no further developments.” At his words, her shoulders slumped, eyes downcast.
“You’re retiring soon, aren’t you,” she asked a moment later.
He nodded and I could see the strain on his face. I took a step forward. “Hi. I’m Zayne Morrone, a friend of Phil’s that he’s asked to help you. He seems to think a fresh set of eyes might help.” Phil threw me a grateful look and didn’t even bat an eyelid when I used the pseudonym.
“You’re a cop?” Her curious gaze studied my face, ran the length of my body before coming back to hold my gaze.
I grinned. “Why? Don’t I look like a cop?”
She tilted her head, her smile friendly. “Model maybe. Cop, I doubt it.” She turned her hand in a half and half gesture.
I glanced down at my cream sports suit and a black t-shirt. “So, I don’t wear the standard gray issue suit and blue tie, doesn’t mean I don’t know what I’m doing.” I shrugged. She rolled her eyes and I laughed at the childish response.
Phil threw back his head and let out a loud laugh. I grinned. “See, I told you, boy. No one will take you seriously in that get-up if you were a cop.”
“Then good thing I’m no cop, right.” I winked.
She blushed. A few strands escaping the ponytail framed her face and delicate features. She was pretty and combined with her petite frame, looked young. I wondered if she were over the legal drinking age then silently kicked myself for thinking with my dick. She wanted help with a missing kid and I was thinking of fucking her. Maybe because I’d been alone for so long or maybe I’d forgotten what the inside of a pussy felt like, I liked the casual chemistry with her, and I didn’t even know her.
“Jaz Malik.” She held out a hand which I accepted.
“Jaz?”
“Yeah, short for Jasmine.”
“Nice to meet you, Jasmine.” Hopefully, I can help solve this case. I had nowhere to be and right now this provided me with a swim before you sink distraction and I welcomed it.
