Page 51 of Lordes

“Your partner told me to call if I think of anything.”

“So you finally decided to think? What you got?” Her tone was flippant and I really didn’t know why.

“I read the news story about the second body. There was a lady that washed up in the Chicago River.”

“Yeah, what about it?”

“She was identified. Her name is Caroline Collins. The name is very familiar to me. I dated a lady by that name. But there were no pictures of her in the article so I’m not sure if it’s a woman I once dated.”

“What do you want from me?”

“I want to see a picture of Caroline Collins. I know you have access to those sorts of things.”

There was a long pause. “I don’t want to talk about this over the phone.”

“Why not?”

“Because I fuckin’ said so. Meet me the old Hot Dog King on State Street and Wabash in an hour. I will have all the answers you need.”

The line went dead. The conversation was not what I thought it would be. Lauren was acting strange and being evasive. Did she really care about me not calling her? This was something I didn’t understand about women. I didn’t have these problems now that I was with Bria. I was content and happy and didn’t want to go back to being single.

I buzzed Christian into my office. I needed to tell him where I was going. He walked into my office and stood in front of my desk.

“Did you call the detective?”

“I did.”

“Did she confirm the body of Caroline Collins was your Caroline Collins?”

“No, she didn’t. I’m going to met with her to talk about it.”

“Why are you meeting with her?”

“She wants to see me in person for some reason. Maybe she wants to share something about Lillian Shelby’s case.”

“Why does she need to share important confidential evidence with you.”

“I don’t know.” I shrugged.

“Be careful. Maybe she thinks you’re a suspect.”

“You know I have cameras all over my place. I can always prove my whereabouts.”

“You know that and I know that but she doesn’t know that.”

“Yeah, but I don’t have a motive. Plus I think she just wants to fuck me again. She seems scorned.”

“Are you going to slept with her?”

“Hell no. I’m with Bria.”

“What if this detective doesn’t take no for an answer?”

“She has to.”

“I don’t like you meeting with her. She came to the office and pretended she didn’t know you. She shouldn’t have questioned you in the first place. It just looks so fishy.”

“I’ll be fine. I know how to handle women.”

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