Page 24 of Out to Get Her
This guy was too damn smart. Well, too smart and smug for her own personal purposes at the moment. His smartass attitude would probably serve him well in life. And her current needs and circumstance aside, she kind of liked the guy.
“Alleged petty arson,” she corrected.
“My mistake.” His smug smirk grew wider. “So what can I do for the notorious criminal mastermind of the great town of Etta today?”
“I need information.”
“I gave you all the forms you needed yesterday.”
“People information,” she said. “Tips on who might have left a dead guy in my house.”
“Thought you weren’t a detective?”
“I’m just someone who can’t leave this godforsaken place behind permanently until I sell that house. And I can’t sell that house until it isn’t a key location in an active murder case any longer. I thoughtmaybeyou’d be someone who might understand my desire to get the hell out of here and be willing to point me in the right direction.”
“You sure are making a lot of assumptions about me.” He narrowed his dark eyes at her. “Least of which is what makes you think I know anything useful?”
“You already slipped and told me you’re the recipient of all the hot gossip about me. I’m sure people have run their mouths to you about all sorts of things. Whatever your story is, you still have a natural charisma. People can’t help themselves. They talk, so you know things.”
He thought for a moment, then clearly decided not to argue against her logic. “What’s in it for me?”
“The satisfaction of helping?”
He didn’t respond, only frowned and raised his brow.
“Fine. What do you want?”
He thought for another moment. “A favor.”
“What favor?”
“I don’t know yet. Let’s just say you owe me one.”
“Ugh, fine,” she said. “I, Erin Sonnier, owe you…”
“Trey.”
“I, Erin Sonnier, owe you, Trey, a future favor of your choosing.”
With any luck at all, she’d be long gone before he came to collect on that.
“Good,” he said. “Now, what do you want to know?”
Erin chewed on the inside of her mouth, thinking about where to start. Finally, she said, “Tell me everyone who hated Paul Latiolais.”
Trey laughed. “How much time have you got?”
ChapterNine
Samantha knocked on the door.Three quick raps. She straightened her back and shoulders to stand tall, attempting to project more confidence than she had at that moment.
The crepe myrtles flanking the driveway were still in full bloom, their pink petals blanketing the front lawn. She’d always loved those trees. Loved seeing them out the window from the reading chair on steamy summer afternoons when it was too hot to sit out on the porch if there wasn’t a breeze.
The door opened, snapping Samantha’s attention back. Her ex stood in the doorway. Relaxed and composed. His classic good looks were as physically attractive as ever.
Beneath the physical veneer, however, was a swamp of ugly Samantha knew all too well.
“I was wondering when you’d show up,” he said. “Sooner than I’d imagined. Getting better at the whole sergeanting thing, huh?”
