“If you have questions that you truly think are pertinent to your case, then go through the proper channels to ask them. But what you want is to satisfy your personal curiosity.”
“Look. I remember the look on your face when we first came to talk to you. I remember how discovering the layers to Josh’s murder destroyed you and I cared. I still do. We all, my partner and I, we felt bad for Josh’s family and we were really worried aboutyou. I’m just shocked to see that this is how you’re moving on.”
“Your concern was and is appreciated, but you can’t approach us like suspects because you are surprised to see us hanging out together.”
“I’m not kidding about Corrine’s family. They hate those men. What do your people think about this?” That’s the question that sends my stomach down to my feet. When I don’t respond, that’s answer enough for him.
“Oh, so they don’t like them either.”
“That’s not what I said.”
“They don’t know.” I hate this, being on this end of an interrogation that shouldn’t even be happening. “Listen, I won’t tell you what to do, but maybe think about why your family doesn’t know. The two of them were a problem for Corrine Johnson before she was murdered. Drove a huge wedge between her and her mother. If everything’s all good here, then there’s no reason to keep it a secret. And I would think you wouldn’t be interested in getting caught up in something that might hurt you again. Enjoy your brunch.”
“Detective—” I’m genuinely torn between cussing him out and trying again to convince him there’s nothing to worry about, but nothing else comes out of my mouth.
“Have a good one.” He heads back into the cafe without giving Vaughn or Shaw a second look.
I return to the table, just as our server brings out my pancake. “Thank you so much, but we actually have to go.” I reach into my wallet and pull out all the cash I have on me, more than enough to cover our meal and her tips for the rest of the day.
“Oh, thank you. So sorry you have to rush off. You guys have a nice day.”
“Thanks.”
Shaw sighs and stands, motioning for me to lead the way back to the car. I know Vaughn follows.
“I have to head back,” I say when we get back to the Escalade.
“What did he say to you?” Vaughn asks.
“Some things he shouldn’t have and some things he wasn’t entirely wrong about.”
“What the—”
“Shaw.” I put up my hand to stop him and he goes on. He hears the A.D.A. tone I haven’t shaken from my voice yet. I’m going over every angle of this, trying to think if it will be worth it for Detective Jansen to bring this up as evidence in an integrity review. The case against Ryan Morgan is closed, but if they feel strongly enough to start looking around, they can and none of us need that right now. “Let’s just go and I’ll explain on the way.”
And I do, leaving out as much emotion as I can, trying to make them both see how Detective Jansen can approach this nice and legally. They aren’t psyched about it, but both of them understand how serious this is, how serious it can be. When Shaw lets me into the house, I go right to the spare room and grab my things. They are still standing in the driveway when I come back down. Roger has joined them.
“Listen, I know how the system works and I know how all of this feels and sounds, but there is a chance they might want to talk to you two again. I know you want to fight Jansen right now. Like, really fuck him up. So do I. But please. Just cooperate, please. I will do everything I can on my end.”
“We didn’t fucking do anything,” Shaw says.
“I know we didn’t, but it’s kind of out of our hands now. I take the blame for this. I knew better and I...anyway.” I sigh and smile at them both. It’s a sad, pathetic smile, but it’s all I got. “I had an amazing time.” They both step closer and I stand up on my tiptoes and kiss them both on the cheek. There’s nothing left to say. Once I get in my car, we all know I won’t be coming back.
Twenty
Vaughn
I’m about to leave my office when I get a text from Shaw.
No traffic. I’m here.
Leaving now.
It’s been a long week. I’ve done my best not to reach out to Brooklyn. I want to check and see if she’s okay. I want to know if Detective Jansen or anyone from his department has contacted her, but I can’t, not with the way she left things. She’s done with us. That much was clear from the eerily calm way she got the hell out of town. What we did wasn’t smart. Were we free to do it? Yeah. Still, I think all three of us knew we were playing with a certain kind of fire. I’d happily punch Detective Jansen in his smug face for the way he ambushed us like that, but after Brooklyn explained more about how he’s actually free to submit a review of evidence if he has any suspicion that the three of us had something to do with what Ryan Morgan did to Josh and Corrine, I really saw the weight of what we’ve done.
It wasn’t farfetched in theory. Scorned lovers have killed for less. I know we did nothing wrong and that we have nothing to hide, but I understand how it looks. I also know how cops work. Jansen could just want to see us locked up for the hell of it. So, Brooklyn pretty much made it clear she was done with us. It’s the right decision, but the pain that’s been following me around all week makes me realize that I was starting to fall for Brooklyn Lewis. Now seems like a great time to start getting over her and I’m glad I don’t have to do it alone.
Shaw and I had already planned to spend the long weekend with my mom and her boyfriend. Take in some fireworks and eat our weight in barbecue. Try not to think too much about the bullshit legal trouble we might find ourselves caught up in.
