Page 19 of Greed
They got to another door and entered through to the holding cells. A wide hallway with three prison cells on each side fronted by a thick door made from grubby plate glass. Liza lifted her chin to the bulky officer standing guard at the entrance and he did the same back.
“These guys want to speak with the perp we brought in this morning.” Liza indicated to the far cell on the right. She slipped a twenty into his pocket. “You need a coffee, don’t you, Bobo?”
The guard scrutinized Lilo and Griffin then shrugged. “Yeah. I’m feeling thirsty.”
Then he left.
Bribery. Ugh. Lilo knew it was the only way for them to get through to the cell, but it went against everything Lilo believed in. That guard didn’t even blink. He should have at least mentioned their visit went against protocol, but he just shrugged it off. It was just as despicable as the detectives slacking off. Their lack of respect to uphold the law was the reason she got into crime reporting. Well, part of it.
The other part was a private vendetta against her parents and all the corrupt people in the city who believed they could buy their way through life.
She’d learned the harsh truth about money on her sixteenth birthday. Her parents had thrown her a surprise party in the backyard of their mansion. At the start of the night, she thought she had the best parents in the world. She had a gorgeous pink taffeta dress and gifts galore. Renata, her housemaid had been given the night off to enjoy the festivities. Every kid in her year at school was invited, even her best friend Misha from the mainland. Children she’d never met from down the street were invited. Extended family were invited. Strangely, her favorite History class teacher was invited and even gave her a crystal figurine of an animal. She’d loved crystal figurines and remembered being so impressed that her teacher took the time to find out.
But there were so many people, that it felt impersonal. On the surface, it seemed like a dream, like she was the most popular and loved girl in the world. Then she noticed little things. People being paid with wads of cash on the way out. Undesirables with peek-a-boo weapons, lurking in the corners. Everyone was overly friendly to her. It seemed fake. The only genuine person was Misha, but she had to leave early to work in her family restaurant. Lilo had been sad that her good friend had to leave, but then Andy, the young man who interned at the library, filled the gap. For a moment, Lilo had believed finally someone took an interest in her, not because her parents scared him or payed him, but because he genuinely liked her. They had spent hours talking about the library, connecting over their mutual interest in old newspaper stories and cold cases.
At the end of the night, she had gone to bed feeling comforted that the world was still a little honest. But before she’d gotten into bed, she remembered she’d left her new figurine on the drinks table outside and slipped back out to find it.
There had been voices coming from the garden and Lilo had thought perhaps a few guests had gotten lost in the enormous backyard hedge maze. Following the sounds of conversation through the maze, Lilo came across her father at the center water fountain, paying Andy with a wad of cash for his efforts in cheering his daughter up that night. Lilo hid behind a manicured bush, careful not to let the other men standing around see her. They were all men Lilo knew well. Uncle Bobby. Uncle Peter. Big Jo-Jo. They were all in on it.
All paid to be her friend.
Money was the root of all evil, and her parents were rolling in it. The very next morning, Lilo had begun a job at the local fast-food outlet, despite her parents disgust, and saved enough money so that by the time she was eighteen, she moved out of home and never looked back.
Chapter Eight
From outside the holding cell, Griffin watched Lilo stare at the skinny man on the cot and wondered what he’d done to make her clutch her bag so tight. Her other hand reached to where the cattle prod lived.
“This little turd is Nathanial Liota,” Liza said as she slid open the thick, glass holding cell door. “Caught red-handed stealing from the jewelers last night. His two accomplices were DOA.”
Unease itched. Two dead because Griffin had left Evan on his own.
Inside the cell, Nathanial’s eyes widened when he caught sight of Lilo and he rushed to his feet. “Lilo! You came.”
The criminal’s greed flared in the presence of Lilo. He wanted something Lilo wasn’t prepared to give, something possibly worth harming for, and that made Griffin wary.
Her brows drew together. “I’m here on behalf of the Cardinal Copy.”
She didn’t see the change in expression on Nathanial’s face because she rifled around in her bag for her tape recorder. Griffin saw, and he didn’t like it. Nathanial’s initial hope melted and flickered to something insidious—only for a second—before it was gone. Griffin stepped closer to Lilo.
“You good?” Liza asked Griffin. “I got a pile of papers on my desk I need to work through.”
“Yeah, we’re good.” He folded his arms, staring down the man who was Lilo’s cousin.
Lilo flared her eyes at Liza. “You’re leaving us alone?”
“Don’t worry. This tight-ass is stronger than he looks.” Liza patted Griffin on the shoulder. As she left, she slid the glass door closed, locking the two of them in with the criminal.
Lilo was clearly worried. She bit her lip, her eyes darted around, and her knuckles went white on her tape recorder.
Griffin did something unexpected. He took hold of her free hand and squeezed, despite the sudden contact sending ripples of sensation up his arm. Immediately her shoulders relaxed, and she sent him a grateful smile. Seeing her tension leave because of him made his chest swell. It was uncomfortable, and he didn’t like it. Made his clothes feel tighter. Made him feel hot again, and the sense of greed had dissipated, meaning he could no longer feel out what the man wanted from Lilo.
Griffin glanced at their connected hands, then turned his gaze back to Nathanial and gave him a once over. The man wore unlaundered clothes, had blond hair that looked self-cut, and broken capillaries surrounded his nostrils and sallow eyes. Possibly the same age as Lilo, but possible drug addiction made him appear older. Nathanial the Narcotics Abuser.
The man stepped toward Lilo.
Griffin intercepted and put his free palm on Nathanial’s chest. “Don’t.”
He looked daggers at Griffin but stepped back. “I got no beef, man. Just want to talk to my cousin.”
