Page 56 of Vicious Hearts

I’m almost done with my coffee when Freddie calls me back.

“Good morning, Benedikt,” he says, too brightly. “What’s up? Did you butt-dial me?”

“I need a hacker. I know plenty, but none I trust to move quickly and quietly and not sell the data on.”

“Good morning Freddie, I’m good. How are you?” Freddie mutters. “I swear my fucking cheese plant has more advanced social skills than you. Do you have anyone in mind?”

I lower my voice. “Giulia. I don’t have her number anymore.”

“How would your girl feel about you asking an old flame for favors?”

How the fuck does he know these things? I’m going to drag it out of him one day but now isn’t the time.

Shut him down and get what I need.

“Roxy isn’tmygirl. She’sagirl and no business of yours.”

“I know you’re obsessed with her,” Freddie laughs. “Roxy Harlowe. The woman who might just make a sick fucker like you roll over and play dead.”

I’m in no frame of mind to listen to this.

“You know I don’t do love, Freddie. I’m having a great time fucking her pussyandher mind because that’s what I always do, and when I get bored, I’ll cut her loose. Nothing to fucking see here, alright?”

“You’re a horrible person, Ben.” Freddie sighs. “Here, take down Giulia’s number.”

I tap at my phone keypad, entering the number as a new contact.

“Thanks,” I say. I hang up before Freddie can give me any more shit.

I’m dressed and putting on my wristwatch when Roxy emerges from the bathroom, her hair in a towel.

“Who were you talking to?” she asks.

I furrow my brow. “A friend. That okay with you?”

Roxy narrows her eyes at me for a moment, then turns away.

“So I have an idea,” I say, watching her as she squeezes the water from her locks. “Has it occurred to you that Farraday’s wife might know her husband was framed? He’s taken the rap to protect her and the baby. Maybe she’s just playing her part.”

Roxy drags a brush through her hair, and my mouth goes dry as her fingers weave the damp strands into the same two Dutch braids that nearly sent me feral on that hot night in Hawaii.

“You might be right,” she says, “but I don’t know where Lois Farraday is now. She went into witness protection because she doesn’t want contact with anyone from her old life.”

I’m not saying anything, but my toe is tapping like crazy.

“Moira Coffey empathized with Lois,” she continues. “She went through something similar when her husband’s activities were made public. Always Home donated from the victim support fund to help Lois get set up in her new life. I’m not sure how much she got, but it was quite a lot.”

This is valuable intel. Time to pass it on and get things moving.

I take my cell phone from my pocket.

20

Roxy

Ben is talking to someone on the phone.Again.

I should tell him I was eavesdropping just now. But what would be the point? He would deny what he said, gaslight me, and tell me I was crazy. And I’d believe him just to keep the illusion that we have something real.

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