Page 53 of To Have and to Hold

“We don’t need to go into specifics,” I said, but I could guarantee that each of our minds had gone there. Fingers taken off at each knuckle, eyes gouged out. Worse.

I said, “So far, it looks like it’s only one guy operating. The Mexicans tend to dole out punishment in groups.”

“Right,” Levi said. “What about the Tabernathys?”

“My first big case. The son, Stone Tabernathy, was collared for drug possession, the drug being later discovered as crack plus. A low-level score for such a privileged kid. It got me suspicious.”

“Now I remember,” Levi said, and leaned against the wall. “You traced the Candy Apple back to his father and the entire firm. What was it—Tree?”

“Oak. Oak Tabernathy.”

“Fuckin’ rich people,” Levi said. “Okay, so you broke a very important dude. Ruined his career, his life, his family’s life, and once again we’re back to a drug ring that you’ve been diddling with. This Mexican, too?”

My head fell back as I said, “Yep.”

“Buddy, I thought you were in the Domestic Violence Bureau,” Levi said.

I leveled him with a look.

“Fine. Moving on,” he said. “I don’t get it. Why wouldn’t this person—or these people—take Noelle, then?”

“Because.” Knox’s tone, finally heard, was low but firm. “She’s not Emme.”

Levi ping-ponged between Knox and me. “Someone explain this to me in a better way.”

“Anyone who researches Spence can see that he has only had two relationships in his lifetime,” Knox said. “One being Noelle Fields, and the other being a woman he was engaged to two years ago.”

“Okay,” Levi said. “And?”

“Spence wouldn’t choose engagement on a whim,” Knox clarified.

Levi glanced my way for further explanation, but my silence was stone.

“Got it,” he said instead. “This person went with the path of most impact.”

“I have one other theory,” I said. “There’s someone else he wants to receive Emme’s abduction as a message. I could be more of a conduit than a target.”

“Someone close to you guys when you were dating?” Levi asked. “Now that he’s opened the door with you, Spence, we gotta pick apart your past.”

No, you goddamned won’t.I ran a hand down my face. “Why me, but not Dave? And who around me does this guy want? As far as I know, Emme is still close to the same people. Right? Becca? Jade?” I waited for nods to pretend confirmation of what I already knew. “This guy has risked exposure calling me but was willing to do it anyway. You’ll get surveillance from the diner?” I asked Knox. “Maybe there’s some dude staring at me too long, or lingering over a water glass…”

“We’ll do all of that and then some. You’ll be open to additional questioning?” Knox asked me, and I understood his underlying tone. Knox knew everything about me. Everything. He wouldn’t unearth the worst unless he had to. There was no way my teenage years on the streets could be related to Emme, but if he had to do it, he would.

“Yeah,” I said. “You run down the surveillance of the bodega yet?”

“We’ve found the owner and have asked him for the tapes of inside the store as well as outside. I’ll let you know when we run through them.”

“Great.”

“I’ve got to get this recording upstairs,” Knox said. “We’ll have people analyze it for anything additional. Background noises, dialect, maybe lessen the distorted overlay somehow. Sorry buddy, but I need to confiscate your phone.”

I nodded. Most times, it was fun to act like an asshole lawyer just for the sake of it. To be obstinate and argumentative because you could, and it was truly pleasurable to make other’s assholes pucker. Now was not so gleeful. “Take it.”

Knox rounded his desk and threw a hand on my shoulder, ensuring I met his stare when he said, “You did good.”

“You’ll tell me if you discover anyth…if I missed something,” I said to him.

“Anything I can, I will,” Knox said. “Go home, Spence.”

Levi stayed behind, maybe for support but more likely to ensure I could be properly escorted out. I eyed him just the same, but he surprised me by saying, “I don’t think he’s done with you.”

He didn’t mean Knox.

“No,” I agreed. “He’s not.”

Which was exactly the reason, when I said good-bye to Levi and headed out of the precinct, I thought of the only other way to get the rest—and all—of the evidence the police had on Emme.

I had to break into my best buddy’s apartment.

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