Page 16 of Sapphire's Gem
As I ran the water and poured in bubble bath, my mind flashed to Hayden Wylde. That man had me hot and bothered, and for more than one reason. Damn him. I didn’t need the complications of a man right now. That was for sure. HaydenWylde and his sexiness could take a running jump and stay the hell away.
Chapter Four.
Hayden
Isat back and looked at the battered man in front of me. Jed Gerrit was a stain on society, and at twenty, he had a record as long as my arm. The Gerrits were a total waste of air in my opinion, but I had to do my job, and right now, Jed was surely a victim. The question: who was his attacker?
“Jed, I know you think little of us, but someone did you wrong, and the law wants justice to be done,” I said calmly.
I felt Luther Gerrit’s eyes boring into me, Jed’s grandfather, while his father snored in a chair. Jesus, if Jed was a stain on society, then Chuck Gerrit was a fuckin’ pimple on its ass. Huge beer gut, long, greasy, lank hair and a beard that had food in it. Rotten teeth and a pockmarked expression made me wonder how the man ever got laid to produce kids. Chuck snorted in his sleep and jolted before settling again. He stank to high heaven of sweat and booze, so I was keeping my distance.
“I don’t know who did this. I woke up at home, and Pop brought me here,” Jed mumbled through a broken jaw.
“He shouldn’t be talking,” Luther snarled at me.
“Then he could write it down. He can write?” I asked, and Luther scowled. The door opened, and Earl walked in. Of all theGerrit’s, Earl happened to be the person to watch. Meaner than a rattlesnake and downright devious, Earl was the only one with the brains.
“Detective Wylde, what do we owe this pleasure to?” Earl said sarcastically.
I didn’t reply and merely looked at Jed in the hospital bed.
“Well?” Earl pushed.
“You fuckin’ kidding me, Earl? Someone beat the shit out of your nephew, broke his jaw and arm, smashed his hand and sliced his fingers off. You’re wondering why I’m here?” I asked incredulously.
“The boy doesn’t remember,” Earl stated, and I heard Luther grind his teeth.
“Bullshit,” I replied. “If you’re thinking of taking your own version of justice—”
“Ask him.” Earl waved a dismissive hand.
“Jed, who did this?” I turned to him, and Jed’s face screwed up.
“I don’t know,” he said, his speech distorted, as pure fear crossed his face.
“You’ve got ‘gang member’ carved into your head. You’ve been running with a gang? Was this an initiation that went wrong?” I pressed.
“No! I don’t know, I don’t know!” Jed yelled in a high-pitched voice. I could barely make out his words. Fear rolled off him in waves, making me frown.
“Take a breath,” I demanded. I couldn’t understand where the fear was coming from. “You’re safe, Jed.”
“No, I’m not. They’re watching,” Jed hissed, and I frowned.
“Who?”
“I do not know!” Jed screamed. He paled as clear pain raced through him. Chuck jolted in his chair but didn’t wake.
“Stop talking, Jed,” I ordered. “Write it down.”
“Detective, I think you’d better leave. My grandson is upset,” Luther snarled.
“Do you understand your grandson was the victim of a vicious assault? We want to make sure that whoever did this is off the streets. Then there’s the branding, gang membership, and extortion? Did you try to extort someone?” I pushed.
“You’re done,” Earl said. “If Jed remembers anything, we’ll contact you.”
“Bull. If you don’t want justice, fine. But let me tell you, no one else better end up here because of Gerrit’s vengeance,” I warned and got up. I opened the door, and Jed called out.
“Wylde!” He was wincing in agony as I turned. “Their faces are blank. I can’t see them. They’re gone.”
