Page 66 of Keeping Collette

“It’s going to be fine, babe,” Deal murmured in her ear, before brushing his lips across her ear lobe. A shaft of desire arrowed through her, and she glared at him, but there was really no heat in her gaze.

He laughed, as if he was well aware of what he’d done to her.

Ox walked into the room, carrying the folder he always did. Collette was beginning to wonder if it was a permanent fixture of his. Everyone took their seats, and Deal grabbed her hand as the tea she’d drunk swirled in her stomach.

“Thanks everyone for being here. It’s good to see you Collette. How are you feeling after your accident?” Ox asked.

“Better, thanks. Although my arm is itching beneath the cast.” Oh god, why had she said that? She was sure no one in the room wanted to hear about her woes.

“Yeah casts, can be a bitch. A straw’s a good way to get that itchy spot.” Irish took a sip of his drink, and Collette stared at him. He was the last person she expected to give her advice.

“Thanks, I’ll try and remember that.”

“Okay, let’s get down to business,” Ox commanded everyone’s attention. “Irish and I had a chat with Craig Onslow yesterday. At first, he wasn’t much help, but after a while, he saw the light.”

Collette didn’t need to know how he’d seen the light. But she wasn’t going to say anything. As Deal had said, everyone in the room, apart from Cass, had used persuasive methods to get what they wanted, and if it helped bring the person who killed Courtney to justice, then she was all for it.

“We’ve run through what he told us a couple of times, and we’re convinced that he’s not linked to the traffickers and isn’t the serial killer. He chose that place because he grew up close by and knows it’s not the best area and no one cares what happens there. He did say that sometimes he goes to meet the teenagers he talks to, and sometimes he doesn’t.” Ox looked at Collette with sympathy. “With Courtney, he decided not to go.”

Well, if that didn’t give her more questions than answers, Collette didn’t know what would. “Did he say why he didn’t want to meet my sister?”

“Nope, he just said that he didn’t end up feeling like going. Believe me, I asked,” Irish replied.

“Does he know that some of the people he talked to ended up being killed? Or taken away?” None of Onslow’s reasoning for picking and choosing when he went and when he didn’t, made sense to her.

“He does, and to be honest, it was like he didn’t care. The guy has issues, but the world has a way of looking after people like him, especially those that lure young adults to their deaths.” Ox’s grim response didn’t need expanding.

“So, we still don’t have any answers as to who the killer is, or who the traffickers are. What about looking into our theory that one of the cartel’s owns the neighborhood?” Deal drummed his fingers on his leg, and she reached over and laid her hand over his, stilling the movement. She hoped it soothed his agitation.

He spared her a glance and a brief smile. If anyone else was aware of him doing it, they didn’t say anything. She was sure he probably didn’t want to talk about it, but she made a mental note to ask him about it later when they were alone.

“No we don’t. As for the cartel idea, we think it may have merit. We’ve done a land ownership search, but there was nothing definitive. It could be that people know the cartel carries on things in the area and have been warned to keep their mouths shut. Which is why I think we need to take another visit there.” Ox aimed a look in Hound’s direction.

“What? Nope. No way. I’m not going there,” Hound protested.

It took a second for Collette to understand what Ox was getting at. He wanted Hound to go to the convenience store where she and Deal had gone. The one where his brother had turned up, and the guy behind the counter was his cousin. She could understand his immediate refusal to do so.

“I know you don’t want to, but you might be the only one that can get some answers for us,” Irish reasoned.

“I haven’t seen them in years. What makes you think they’re going to give me any information? I’ll be lucky if they even talk to me.” Hound leaned forward. “Also, we don’t really know if Mal still works there, and the chances of Jim being there at the same time is like winning the lottery. Terrible fucking odds.”

Collette agreed with everything Hound said. Ox was asking a lot of him, especially considering he’d put his total association with his family behind him. Even if it would give her the answers she wanted, did she want Ox to put Hound in a position where he was uncomfortable?

Selfishly, she had to say yes. No matter how unpleasant it would be for Deal’s friend, she needed answers.

“What if I go with you?” Deal asked.

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea, Deal,” Ox interjected. “They saw you with Collette. It would be too risky for you to go.”

“It’s a risk I’m willing to take. I can make some changes to my appearance so I won’t be as recognizable. I want to do this, Ox,” Deal insisted.

He wanted to do it because of her, and she was grateful that Deal wanted to help, but she also didn’t want to put him in danger. If Mal or Jim recognized him, anything could happen, even with Hound there.

“Look, I know this is asking a lot of Hound, but that store is right at the hub of where all the activity happens. They have to know something,” Ox reasoned. “Or at least have seen something that we might be able to work with. There might be one person who hangs around that could be the killer. Or has connections to the killer.”

Should she say something?

It wasn’t her place, but the reason Hound was being put in this position was because she’d come to Alliez for help with her sister.