Page 21 of Summer Shivers
“You’ve changed,” he says. I don’t like his tone; it sounds too much like an accusation.
“Maybe I have.”
I take my wine to the patio and leave him to deal with the paperwork on his own. I don’t want to deal with what’s in there right now, anyway.
I try to call Harrison’s daughters but get their voicemail again. I wouldn’t call us super close, but we would get together every so often for a spa day or something similar. And I was always included when Harrison got together with them. I don’t want them to feel like I’m ignoring them. And that I do more for Harrison than myself.
ten
TYLER
I studyeverything she found in the safe while she sits on the patio. Including an entire dossier on me documenting everything I’ve done over the past five plus years. Fuck if I can tell she knew about it or not. Not that it would change anything. Can’t trust her. Can’t not trust her. Hate this is how I’m talking to Genevieve again.
I grab my phone to make a call. I need a copy of the police report before I start going through all this. I still can’t tell if the dots connect with her story. Or more to the police’s story? Maybe the dots are all over the fucking place and don’t meet up at all.
Already know pretty much most of the police departments everywhere in the area. I look through my contacts and ring a guy who owes me a favor. I just need an idea of what they are thinking happened. And how involved they’ve decided she is. You can be damn sure they’ve already decided one way or another.
“Hey, Tyler, what has you reaching out today?” he asks.
“Need a favor if you can.”
“Let me guess. You’re calling about the murder, the one involving Genevieve.”
I have to laugh. Known this guy for a while. As in, since before Genevieve left me and what happened after.
“She wants me to help her,” I tell him. “I don’t know man.”
“You need the report?”
“If you can.” I know it’s a huge thing to ask him, but it’s the only way I can be one step ahead of this.
“Tyler, you know that's not going to be easy to do.”
“I know, man, I know. If you can, I'd appreciate it. If not, no worries. I’ll owe you two for this.” Not that either of us ever keep track. It’s the offer that counts.
“Okay, give me some time. I'll hit you up you this evening if I've got anything. And, hey, careful man. Don't let your feelings for her get in the way of the truth. If she did it, she did it. You know that right?” There it is, if anyone was going to tell me to watch my back and not be fooled, it was him.
“I know. It’s why I need the report. See if it connects with what she told me.”
“I'll get back to you either way tonight.”
“Thanks, brother.”
I call in a different favor next.
Access to the death house. I need Martin, my attorney friend, to get me access in a legal kind of way.
I already have a key to both houses from Genevieve, so it’s just making sure I don’t fuck anything up by visiting the murder site. And that anything I may find will be admissible.
I’ve reviewed everything from the stack that Genevieve gave me. Harrison refers to a safe room in a few docs. I want to see what’s in it. He had that house custom built with high-tech security features throughout. From exterior cameras disguised as lights to video feeds of every room—multiple angles from cameras hidden in everyday objects—to the safe room hidden in the walls with a secret entrance from his office. As much as it pains me to admit this, the man was clearly a genius. This will be the key to finding his killer.
I go through it all one more time to make sure I didn’t miss anything the first time. Genevieve comes in the room and glances at the paperwork still spread out. “Did this help?”
I smile despite myself. “Believe so, babe.”
“What’s all in there?” she asks.
Thankfully, my phone rings so I don’t have to explain. “Martin,” I greet him.
