Page 30 of Conquering Oz

Elodie had a few beyond the obvious, but she may have been partial since she knew what she was looking for. There was another common denominator in every case.

“No witnesses. Or at least no one willing to testify against him.”

Madalyn furrowed her brows. “What?”

Elodie glanced up at the door to the kitchen and lifted her chin. “Chris said Caruso had been accused of assault multiple times, right? But the victims refused to press charges. And where are the witnesses? I mean, I don’t know much about running drugs, but I think it’s safe to assume it’s not a one-man operation.” She drew in a breath, eyeing her friend. “I think he silenced them by any means necessary.”

“Well, maybe no one saw anything and…”

“There’s always a witness,” Elodie blurted and regretted it immediately. She was allowing her emotion to take over. She grabbed her napkin and folded it. She needed to calm down. “I’m just saying it’s odd, that’s all.”

“I agree.” Madalyn whistled, shaking her head. “And don’t forget. All those charges and he never stepped foot in a courtroom. That’s nuts. He must have had some legal defense, huh?”

Maybe.

“Or?” Elodie licked her lips. “He had a really far reach within the court system, possibly the police force.”

Madalyn knitted her brows and flattened her lips.

Elodie snorted. “You don’t think the authorities take pay offs?”

Madalyn scowled, making it clear she didn’t like the accusation. “No.”

Of course she would be offended.Shit!

Elodie immediately held up her hand. “I don’t mean officers like Chris. He’s one of the good ones, I know that. But you can’t deny there are dirty cops. And lawyers and judges. Hell, there are dirty boutique shop owners.”

Her small joke seemed to get her off the hook with her best friend, and Madalyn smiled.

“Present company excluded, so yeah, I see what you’re saying, Elle.”

Elodie shifted her gaze to the kitchen door when she heard footsteps. This conversation was officially tabled.For now.

When Chris came back into the room, Elodie settled in her seat, and Madalyn mirrored her, clamping her lips. He eyed them both suspiciously. Chris placed the banana bread on the table and passed out the forks and plates. Madalyn had wanted to get her a birthday cake, but she’d insisted on bringing the dessert. Chris sat beside his wife, shifting his gaze between them.

“Do I want to know what you two were talking about?”

“Just Elle’s interesting birthday celebration at a club.”

Elodie narrowed her gaze giving a stern warning. Some things were not meant for third parties. Or husbands. Elodie’s infatuation with Oz was one of them.

“She had a surprise guest show up.” Madalyn winked. “Dalton.”

Chris glanced over with a stone-cold face. “I thought you had to be twenty-one to get into a club.”

Oh, for Christ’s sake!

Madalyn burst out laughing and even Chris shared a rare smile.

“He’s twenty-four!” She shifted her glare between the couple. “You guys suck.”

But she loved them. They were family.

“Okay, we’ll stop teasing.” Madalyn giggled. “Let’s play a game.”

Elodie was up for anything that took the focus off her and her past conquests.

“I’m in. What game?” Elodie said.

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