Page 6 of Shattered Dreams

I think he means to the house and I open my mouth to object, but he says, “The warehouse? Where they found her. See if you can find anything.”

“The KCPD’s CSU team will have been all over that place. I’m not going to find anything they didn’t.”

“Maybe not. Probably not, but you know more about this than a detective assigned to the case who has a million other things on his plate. Look around, maybe you can find something that will give us a hint.”

It sounds like a waste of time, but I haven’t itemized my hours and paid Stella back the difference yet. Technically, I’mstill on retainer and have no reason to say no. “Do you have any idea who would want to do something like that?”

Zane scrapes his fingers through the scruff along his jaw. “We’ve been the target of a few things off and on. Nothing too big, and a lot of shit stopped when the Blacks were put away.”

I refill my coffee mug.

Baby starts to pace. She’s going to need to go outside soon.

“In other words, no.”

“The people I would have blamed are in prison.”

“Every single one?”

He sighs. “If that was true, half of King’s Crossing would be serving time.”

“That’s what I thought.” I lift a shoulder. “Maybe this doesn’t concern you. Who knows what her personal life was like. Maybe she wanted to sell information because she needed the money or she resented you cutting her out and the deal went bad.”

“Not according to the autopsy report. She was tortured and bled out.”

So much for hoping it wasn’t as bad as it seemed. “Did they say how?”

“No, and I didn’t ask, either. I can’t talk about shit like that without thinking about what Ash did to Stella and Zarah.”

I shudder. After what I saw in Quiet Meadows’ basement, I get it. “I can go out there, poke around, but I don’t see what good it’s going to do.”

“If I have someone in my corner looking into things rather than those bumbling idiots on the KCPD, I’ll feel better.”

“There are a couple of good guys on the force—”

Zane scoffs.

“Not many, but a few. I’ll see what the inside word is, but she didn’t know anything. She was just a nurse watching Zarah swallow medication. What’s her death worth to anybody?”

“I don’t know.” He sips his coffee. Our conversation feels done, but he doesn’t stand up to leave. “Are you dating that redhead now?”

“Jesus Christ, knock it off. You sound like Zarah and Stella. Your sister said she didn’t want to see me anymore. I don’t think anyone understands when that happens, both people are single again. I can do whatever the fuck I want.”

“I realize that, but I didn’t think you’d go out your first night a free man and get laid.”

“You’ve been living with the women too long and they’ve turned you into a gossip.”

He laughs and holds his cup out for more coffee. Christ. I’m never going to get rid of him.

“Talk to your wife—”

Zane lifts his eyebrows.

“She’s close enough. I told you I didn’t, and if you would’ve asked her, she would have said the same thing. She’s already chewed me out, so don’t waste your breath.” I fill his coffee cup and set mine on the counter.

Baby whines. She’s going to have to wait a couple more minutes.

“I hate what Zarah told me, and I disagreed with it, too, until last night.” I stomp into the living room, bring back the photo of Max and Zarah sitting on the loveseat, and slap it onto the table. “This is why I think it’s a good idea now. Zarah’s been sheltered, and since you pulled her out of Quiet Meadows, she’s only dated, and I use that term loosely, two men—my brother and me. She needs more than that before settling down. I didn’t understand what you meant when you said you didn’t want her falling in love with me. I took it personally, but that’s not where you were headed. I realize that now.”

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