Page 31 of Beautiful Prey

He drew a hand through his hair. I used to like seeing him do it. Now, I couldn’t care less. “I’m not going to apologize again. I know it won’t do any good. I just...wanted to know how you're doing? How’s school?”

I crossed my arms and pursed my lips. “Is this you genuinely caring or is this one of your secret interrogations? Cause I’d honestly be surprised if someone hired you to investigate me again. Wasted effort just like last time.”

He tilted his head, glaring at me. “You know I wouldn’t do that to you again. I didn’t feel good about it the last time.”

I snorted. “Yeah, right.”

“Besides, I don’t do that sort of work anymore.”

“Ah, the old professional stalker gig didn’t work out, huh?”

His lips curled in an annoyed smile. “It was part of the job, not me being a creep.”

“Mm, not convinced.”

“Alright, I’ll call it fair. But I don’t do the private detective thing anymore. I’m federal now.”

“Wow,” I said, leaning back against the rail. “And, how is that better exactly?”

He shrugged. “Less of the bullshit, I guess. Or maybe more. But the cases are better. Actually, go after the real bad guys, not just some cheater or company hacker.”

“Or a chick with an unsavory past who needed exposure.”

He leaned his arm against the rail beside me, swirling his drink. “I told you it wasn’t a news agency or journalist.”

“Yet you still refuse to tell me who. Shocker.”

“I told you I can’t,” he admitted. “Not for—”

“Legal reasons. I know.”

He nodded. “I just want to make sure you’re okay.” His eyes narrowed, a shadow passing over his expression. “I heard he’s here. The Harper Pointe Devil. On some island in a madhouse.”

I glared back at him, my pulse rising. Did he know what I was doing? Was the bastard trailing me again and lying straight to my face? “I don’t want to talk about that.”.

“I get it.” He looked around at the people laughing below us. “I’ve heard from a few heads at the office who know some of the state judges. They are re-looking into his case and considering a transfer.”

I tried to look as calm and uninterested as possible even though I felt anything but. “Transfer him…where?” I almost wanted to ask why but thought that would sound too suspicious.

He studied me. “Somewhere West. Oklahoma maybe.”

I tried to blink away any emotion even as my voice cracked. “They are sending him to prison?”

He drew closer. “I don’t know much, but it sounds like it, yeah. They don’t think he’s as ill as his lawyer claimed either. Think everything he does is deliberate, including acting out. That he can’t be helped. It’s messed up, I know. But it’s probably for the best. He might be out of here for good, if we're lucky.”

If we’re lucky.

If Emery went to an Oklahoma prison, he would be considered for capital punishment. The death penalty.

I didn’t know what to feel except for a strange sense of urgency.

“Thanks for telling me,” I said, almost indifferently. “If you don’t mind then, I’d like to call it a night.”

He looked at me like he wanted to say something but thought against it. “It was good to see you, Eve. I’ll be back home for a while, visiting Jamie too. Maybe I’ll see you around.”

Let’s hope not,I thought as I strolled past him without another word, returning inside to look for Jamie so I could tell him I had to leave.

CHAPTER EIGHT

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