Page 55 of Deny Me
Glancing up, he was met with a round of grim looks. “What?”
Dain leaned his elbows on the table. “We need to talk about Wes.”
Dread curled in King’s gut. “What about Wes?”
“He’s the only person to arrive at the scene last night,” Elliot pointed out.
“Not the only person. Hugh was with him.”
“Nice cover,” Dain said.
“He’s not involved,” King growled. He might not have seen his cousin in years, but he knew Wes deep down. He wasn’t capable of selling babies, nor did he need the money. “Wes is hyperaware of Charlotte”—for reasons King didn’t want to think about—“so of course he’d know exactly where she went. And we weren’t exactly quiet.”
None of which would explain his cousin’s arrival to Dain’s satisfaction. But Wes wasn’t involved; King knew it deep down. He might not be able to prove it, but he knew it.
“We have to look at everyone, King,” Dain said, not unkindly. “You know that.”
“Both the doc and the administrative assistant have checked out,” Saint said. “Wes is the only one I haven’t been able to dig into. The man knows his security.”
“He has to,” King protested. “He’s a lawyer. He has clients to protect.”
“And bank accounts,” Saint said.
“That doesn’t make him guilty.”
“King—”
He held up a hand, cutting Dain off. “What if I get him to hand over the information, access to bank accounts and records, voluntarily?” Wes would give him intel, at least the intel that was personal, unrelated to his clients, if it meant eliminating himself as a suspect and focusing the investigation on whoever truly wanted Charlotte hurt.
His team lead considered that a moment. “All right,” he finally conceded. “Make it happen. And soon, King. Becky has a visit from her OBGYN today. I have a feeling we’re running out of time.”
King stood. “I’ll get it today.” He had a feeling too, and unlike the feelings he’d woken up with this morning, this feeling wasn’t a good one.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Charlotte had retreated from Elliot’s knowing gaze into the shower this morning, then read over reports before heading down the hall to Becky’s room. A restless ball of energy was swirling in her belly, and between her legs, an ache she hadn’t felt in a long time had taken up residence. Her mouth and breasts felt almost bruised—in the best of ways. And just thinking about those long hours together…
God.
King’s passion had awakened something inside her she’d let lay dormant for far too long: hunger. She’d had her work, her passion for helping others, but it wasn’t the same as private, intimate desire. King had met that hunger with his own, satisfied her to the point of exhaustion. Her body felt the aftermath, but her mind and heart felt peace.
She hadn’t felt like this since King walked out of her life. Near tragedy had brought them back into each other’s spheres, but right here, right now, she wasn’t sure she regretted that. For Becky, yes, but not for herself. The pain, every second of it, had been worth what she’d gained last night.
Becky’s door was closed. Charlotte could hear voices on the other side, telling her Becky was awake, so she knocked, then entered when Becky called to her. The young woman sat on the couch, her feet propped up, belly mounded beneath her soft blanket as usual. A brilliant smile lit her face as Charlotte entered the room.
“Dr. Keller thinks the baby will come any time now!”
“Awesome!” Charlotte rushed over to wrap Becky in a celebratory hug.
When she finally straightened, she threw a smile toward the love seat where Susan Keller sat, tall and blonde and regal and yet still approachable—Charlotte could never figure out how she managed that. The doctor gave Charlotte a somewhat weary smile. In the month since she’d separated from her husband, Susan had been under a lot of stress, but Charlotte knew how strong she was. She’d make it. And Charlotte insisted on helping in every way Susan would allow them to; the woman was independent, but she knew they saw her as family.
“Susan,” Charlotte said, rounding the love seat to give her friend a hug, “how are you doing?”
“Fine.”
Charlotte shot her a narrow look.Finewas usually a brush-off.
Susan smiled. “It’s true. Things are settling down.” She glanced toward Becky. “I’m getting back into a routine. Always a big deal.” She winked at the young woman. “You won’t know what that is for a while.”
