Page 43 of Diamonds & Deception

“He could be innocent.”

“He’s working with murders, drug lords, and criminals.”

“Murders are criminals, but I won’t correct you. Okay, you’re confused because you’re thinking with your coochie instead of your brain.”

Normally I’d roll my eyes and tell her she’s got sex on the brain, but in this case, she’s correct.

“What you need to do is make a list of his faults and focus on them. Everyone has flaws. What’s his biggest one?”

“His association with the Donahues.”

“Not gonna do it. That’s speculation. Think about his character. Like, if you were dating him for real and you didn’t have all this super spy stuff going on, what would make you hesitant to date him?”

I roll to my side and stare at the wall across the living room and think. And think. And think.

“Come on. There’s gotta be something. Does he pick his nose? Fart too much? Tell me he at least leaves the seat up.” When I don’t say anything, she rambles on. “A hairy ass. He’s got a hairy ass, right?”

“His ass is spectacular.”

“Damn. I’m usually really good at finding a guy’s fault. Is he into BDSM? Threesomes? Foursomes?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Bingo!”

I laugh and shake my head. While Lenora and I may have shared the same major in college, and we complement each other well with her outgoing personality and my rather quiet one, our sexual interests are complete opposites.

She’s always been wild and exploratory. To Lenora, sex is an activity. There’s never been any emotion attached to it.

I’m tempted to tell her about the clit vibrator we used, but I keep that secret close to my chest. She’d want explicit details, and I don’t want to share them. Lenora loves giving me the down low, but again, sex is fun and games to her.

“Okay, in all seriousness now, I was going to call you later today anyway. I’ve had a slight change in my work schedule. I’m leaving Europe Friday morning and should be landing at Logan before evening rush hour.”

“I’ll have my stuff cleaned up and out of your way.”

“Are you moving into the penthouse?”

“With Drake? What? No. I need to distance myself from him.” While also getting more information.

“You’re staying with me until you either shack up with a guy or move back to Philly. Don’t argue, or I’ll give Ted your number and tell him you want in on the threesome.”

“You wouldn’t.” I laugh. Ted Potter had been obsessed with us in college. He and his friends were dorky, which Lenora and I could have found endearing if they weren’t straight-up creepy.

They were the quintessential dorky dudes from the classic eighties movies who thought dropping cheesy pickup lines and asking us to be part of a ménage would turn us on. Lenora, maybe. But she liked her men to dominate, and Ted was not the dominating type.

He blushed forty shades of crimson whenever he hit on us, trying to play it off that he was totally confident in himself. I gave him an A for effort, but he had a fetish with ketchup and cigarettes and was always up for stupid dares immature college boys challenged each other with.

“Don’t call Ted. I’ll stay. Besides, I’m thinking of heading back early next week. I’m going to call the detective today and ask about the Donahues. Maybe they’re already on his radar, maybe not. I don’t think he knew about Carly dating one.”

“Seriously though. Be careful. If Drake and his sexy crowd are sleeping with the enemy, you want to watch your six.”

“You watch too many movies.”

“It’s called porn, but whatevs.”

Calling Lenora was a good idea. She always finds a way to make me laugh and forget about my problems, even if only for a few minutes, without discrediting my feelings. We only manage to get together once or twice a year. After this, I’m vowing to be more intentional with our friendship.

My third call of the morning is to Detective Marshall. I mention Owen Donahue, and he tells me he’s aware of the connection. However, upon further investigation, they couldn’t find any link to the murder.

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