Page 92 of Power of the Mind

21

Tallus

Costa sent me a text the following morning, instructing me to meet Aslan Doyle at his house at ten thirty. Awkward. I barely knew the guy, and I was supposed to invade his personal space on a Saturday? It did not bode well for making positive connections.

I drove to the address Costa sent and parked outside a quaint brick house with an attached garage. A blacked-out department-issue Charger sat in the driveway, and a gray cat stared from the bay window.

I snapped a picture of the cat and sent it to Diem with a message.

Tallus: See? This is the kind of pet normal people have.

Instead of taking the bait, he responded with aWhere are you?

Tallus: Doyle’s house. Gonna ask about those reports.

Diem: I discovered something interesting. Get over here when you’re done.

Tallus: What did you discover?

I waited for a response but didn’t get one. I sent a string of question marks but was met with silence. The man could be irritatingly obstinate at times. Giving up, I got out of the car and was halfway down the path when the front door opened.

Detective Aslan Doyle from homicide leaned against the frame with a smirk, shaking his head as I approached. Hetsked several times.

I stopped a dozen feet down the path and crossed my arms. “What?”

“You’re getting me in trouble.”

“I’ve barely gotten out of the car.”

“Yeah… doesn’t matter. I’m deep in it, and it’s all because of you.”

“I’m confused.”

“I’ll need you to explain to my severely insecure husband why the ‘cutie down in records’—his words, not mine—wants me to be his bitch. He was about ready to have a coronary last night when Ruiz called and said you wanted to talk, but to be careful because you might try to distract me with flirting.”

“Is that what my cousin said?”

“I’m paraphrasing. He mentioned you’re in the market for an inside connection with homicide.”

“And did he say that it was him who suggested you? I would have happily taken any homicide detective. You’re not special, Doyle.”

“He failed to mention that. It would be a good launch point. Quaid’s been insufferable since he got the phone call.”

“Is your husband seriously threatened by me?”

“Quaid is threatened by everyone.”

“Well, he has nothing to worry about. No matter what my cousin said, I don’t make it a practice of flirting or schmoozing married men.”

“Excellent.” Aslan held the door open, inviting me inside. “So you’re working with Krause again, huh?”

“No. He’s working with me.”

“Is that a fact? You doing PI work in your spare time?”

I shrugged and looked around.

The house was nice. Meticulously organized with understated furniture and decorations. It emitted a quiet, comforting atmosphere that offered a welcoming vibe. The scent of coffee drifted from the kitchen down the hall. I heard the gurgle and spit of it brewing. The gray cat I’d seen in the window darted into the entryway and wound around Aslan’s legs, purring audibly.

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