Page 106 of Sin With Me

“Sorry. I can’t think around her because half the time I’m wondering what she means. It’s like she talks in code. What would you do if I asked you to get pizza for dinner, and instead you got chicken wings, but you really wanted a burger? That’s the crap I’m dealing with. Fuck, I never knew a woman could challenge me somuch.”

I laughed. “I guess she hasn’t figured you out yet. You haven’t told her that you’re a father, haveyou?”

“No, and she swears she hates kids. I don’t even knowwhy.”

“Well, figuring out the answer to that may be your answer.”

“You’re as cryptic as Father.”

“Seriously, Brook, if you like her – like, really like her – you have my blessing. I think you two would get each other. Unlike Barbie, she looks like she getsyou.”

Barbie was his ex – and mine. Our relationship used to be much more complicated than it was now, except when Barbie still thought she had a chance to get underneath my covers. Her real name was Evie, but ‘Barbie’ suited her better.

“Thanks. Me too. But what if Lola doesn’t like Sophie?”

“Hah! If she doesn’t like Sophie, then is she really worthit?”

He didn’t reply and remained lost in thought until we parked the car behind the precinct. My brother stayed in the car while I went around to the front. We didn’t want to seem intimidating, and bringing what I was sure was an unregistered gun to a room full of cops and detectives wasn’t the wisestidea.

I focused on the first officer behind the counter and asked, “I’m looking for Mike Donaldson.”

The officer named Kim glanced at her watch. “He left about fifteen minutesago.”

“Do you know where hewent?”

“I didn’t ask. What’s this about?”

“It’s a personal matter. Is there a number I can reach himat?”

“We don’t give away private numbers, but I can message him for you. What’s yourname?”

“No, that won’t be necessary. Thankyou.”

I gave her a polite nod and, desperate not to seem anxious, slowly walked out the front door before sprinting back to the car. If my gut was right, and I prayed that it was wrong, the last thing I wanted was for Mike Donaldson to have a heads up that we were looking forhim.

I quickly dialed Kate’s new cell, but she didn’t answer.

“She could be sleeping,” my brother suggested. I merged onto a highway and pressed my foot on the gas pedal until I was passing everyone, and then dialed her again.

“Kate, pick up the phone, damnit!”

She didn’t pickup.

“Where’s Lola?” I asked.

My brother didn’t reply. Instead, he grabbed his phone and dialed a number. “Kate may be in trouble. Cameron’s condo.” He then hung up while I tried Kate’s number once more and again received no reply.

When we got home, Lola was pacing up and down the hall, popping hergum.

“I knocked. No one’shome.”

“Did you knock hard enough?” Brook asked.

She put her fist against the door and banged three more times.

“All right, all right. You don’t need to break itdown.”

“You better have fucked all the energy out of her last night, Cam, because if she’s not in there sleeping it off, then you’re going to have to deal withme.”

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