His lips tipped up in a small smile as he turned to the refrigerator. It was nice having someone willing to help her. That he was offering to feed her, not demanding that she cook something for him, was nice. She wasn’t looking for a relationship, and she was sure Cy was just being nice, but this was the kind of guy who would make a great partner. He wasn’t love bombing. He was just nice.
19
Robert couldn’t believe Willa had lost him again. This time, there hadn’t been another vehicle involved. He needed to buy a gun, but there was no way he could go to a dealer. Maybe he could find a gun show and hook up with someone in the parking lot.
Police and government agents were cracking down on off-book purchases, but there would be action around the event. It wasn’t the safest way to buy a firearm, but he had little choice.
He wished he knew who had turned him in. If he found them, he would make them pay.
Back when Willa had lived with him, he’d never needed a gun to keep her in line. Maybe he should have dealt with her before she left. Now she was out there, not taking care of him. She would pay for that.
If he pushed a gun in her face, would she listen to him? He never should have allowed her any freedoms. If he got her back, she would be shackled. He would have to figure out a way for her to still shower. Having a stinky bitch in his house wouldn’t work. He didn’t like women who smelled. She needed to shower at least once a day.
Maybe he could just lock her in a room with an attached bathroom. It wasn’t the worst idea he’d ever had. If she had a bathroom available, then she could get water when she needed.
Were shock collars waterproof? Maybe he could use one to control her. He should have thought of that before. He could have trained her properly and forced her to submit.
Getting her to understand her place had been hard. The beatings hadn’t actually worked. If they had, she never would have left.
He was getting ideas that would help him. Maybe he should thank her for running. At least now he was figuring out he needed to keep her locked up for good.
His phone buzzed, and he checked the caller ID. It was the lawyer he’d been assigned while he’d been in jail. He rolled his eyes before answering.
“Robert here.”
“I’m glad you answered. The police want to see you.”
“Why?”
“In the morning. They want to talk about something different. I told them you would come in, and they didn’t need to go out to pick you up.”
“I don’t want to answer questions from them. Can’t you do anything?”
“Listen, you don’t have much choice. I can stop them from asking some stuff, but they are going to interview you, and there isn’t anything I can do to stop it.”
“What good are you if you can’t stop them?”
“I can advise you on which questions to answer, but they want to talk to you again about a second crime, one involving a woman who said you were with a group who harassed her and then assaulted her. Maybe it’s something you can offer information on that would help you on the first charge.”
“Listen, I’m no snitch. I’m not giving them any information.”
“You’re making a mistake. Loads of people who say they aren’t snitches end up working with the police. Just hear them out, and then you can figure out what you want to do.”
“I don’t like this.”
“Just show up. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“What if I can’t get there?”
“Wait, where are you?” His lawyer sounded panicked.
“None of your business.”
“You had best be in the state. If you leave California, you’re screwed.”
“I’m fine. Just send me information about the interview.”
He ended the call, disgusted with all of it. The cops were butting into his business. They needed to stop with the questions. There was no way he would show up and give them another chance to arrest him.
