Page 26 of Wifey
I chuckle and write on the cups. “You got it. Anything else?”
“No, that’s it,” he pauses for a beat, “I do need to talk to you to privately if you have a moment.”
A shiver creeps up my spine and I feel the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Tesh’s words rang loud and clear and I steel myself for the possible soft interrogation. “Um, sure.” I motion to another employee to take over the register. “We can talk now.”
I quickly walk to the back and Ethan is hot on my trail. I close the office door and lock it, for good measure. I don’t know what Ethan wants to talk about but I’m pretty sure he has a lot on his mind and it somehow involves me.
“So, what’s up?” I ask as he takes a seat and I sit behind my desk.
“I don’t know if you remember, but a few weeks ago, there was a huge fire off Oatley.” Ethan taps the armchair. “It destroyed the warehouse and burned it to the ground. Anyway, there were three charred bodies found at the scene. They were shot first before they were burned.”
I gasp at the news. I knew crime has gone up because of the pandemic, but I didn’t think it was that bad. It sounded like a personal crime, and not just some random event. “I didn’t…I didn’t know that.”
“I’m telling you this because one of the men found was Clayton Matthews.” Ethan tries to read my face for confirmation. “I’m sure you’re familiar with him.”
Clayton Matthews is the reason why my father is dead. He killed him and I was in the process of suing him for wrongful death. Whatever attorney he had kept filing motions to delay, causing me to be almost bankrupt.
The fact he died a horrible death has absolutely no effect on me whatsoever. “I was.”
“I know he was responsible for your father’s death and he was almost gloating about it. The way he died, however, tells me it was more personal.” Ethan’s eyes hardened to a cobalt blue. “Would you know anything about that?”
The eerie feeling returns to the pit of my stomach. Ethan may not have said I was suspect, but practically did. “I didn’t know he died until you just told me a minute ago,” I reply, shaking my head. “So, I’m not sure about the question.”
“I’m not accusing you of anything, but the way Clayton died sounded more like a revenge killing than just an unlucky criminal being at the wrong place at the wrong time.” Ethan clarified. “I know your father was well-loved in this city and everyone misses him. Do you know of anyone would have done that?”
“You’re talking everyone in the city would have a reason, Ethan.” I cock my head. “The boys my father mentored had a reason. The ex-girlfriends my father had would have a reason. The people he hung out at the barber shop would’ve had a reason.”
“True.” The answer is sufficient and it seems Ethan dropped it for now. “We’ve noticed there has been a lot of traffic here at the shop within the past few months,” he began, “we wanted to see if everything is okay.”
“Everything is fine.” I shook my head. “No problem here.”
“Good to hear.” Ethan briefly looked around and pointed at the cameras. “Fancy setup you got here.”
I glanced up at the cameras. I had a feeling Cameron or Tesh were watching the interaction and I had to be extra careful with my words. “Yeah, times are changing and it was time to install cameras and a new security system.” I looked around. “It even makes the customers feel safer, I think.”
“It does.” Ethan’s eyes traveled around the office and landed back on me. It was clear he was searching for something but he probably didn’t know what. “A few of my men have mentioned an off-duty assignment they’ve accepted. They’re providing security for you.” His fingers tapped the armchair again. “Why is that?”
Cameron was right not everyone on the force worked for him. I wondered if they didn’t work for him, who did they work for? “Why don’t you ask your men that?”
“I’m asking you,” Ethan cut me off and his blue eyes glared at me. “You never needed round-the-clock security before and suddenly you do.”
“You just told me the man who killed my father was found dead with two other bodies in a burned-down warehouse and they were shot. And you’re asking me why I need extra security?” I fold my arms. “Is this a game we’re playing because I don’t know the rules here?”
Ethan’s eyes softened and he relaxed his stance. “I apologize,” He considered.
I bit the inside of my cheek and steeled myself straight. “Is there any other news about what happened?”
“Just under investigation. While some people might be happy about the news, it’s still a homicide in the eyes of the law. We still need to find who’s responsible.” He looked directly at me. “Have you heard of anything? Did anyone threaten you?”
I shake my head. “Nothing.”
“And last night?” He asked. “I heard there was a break-in at your home.”
I shouldn’t have been surprised that Ethan knew but the quickness of how he found out shocked me. “News travels fast.” I reply.
“It does, especially who came to your home last night.” Ethan blinked. “Are you familiar with The Administration?”
I shake my head. “The Administration?”
