Chapter 23 #2
She watches us for a moment, like she can’t fathom that there’s any way that we’re not up to date on what’s happened, especially when she’s convinced we were involved… not that she’s wrong. “Do you have receipts or anything that places you here yesterday?”
“We stopped to get gas; did you grab the receipt?” I ask Jackson.
He shakes his head. “I don’t usually take the receipt unless I’m driving places for work purposes.”
“Where did you stop? I’m sure they’d have a record,” Patel says.
“Where’s your partner?” Everly asks. “I know I’m not a police officer, but I’ve worked with enough to know that you work in pairs… does that mean you’re not here on official business?”
Patel hesitates. “My partner is out in the car. You think I need her in here? I’m simply asking questions.”
“We went to that gas station off Front Street,” I say.
“The one on the corner near the library. Can’t remember which it is.
” I do remember which it is because Cassel informed me that it doesn’t have a working security system.
She can run over, but she’ll never be able to prove that we weren’t there.
She watches me closely. “I don’t believe you,” she states. “I know you’re involved. And you can either tell me now, or I’m going to figure it out myself.”
“Oh… kay? Good luck with that. I’m sorry I can’t tell you whatever it is that you want to hear.”
Patel steps closer to me. “It’ll hurt a lot less if you don’t fuck with me.”
“I don’t know. It already kind of hurts being harassed by you. I feel sad inside. Like… what did I do to make you so angry at me… and where are my cookies you were bringing me?”
She doesn’t look amused in the slightest; in fact, she looks more irritated than ever. “I would like permission to go through your home, office, and phones. If you decline, I’m going to get a warrant. Trust me, you’ll look a whole lot less guilty if you simply permit it.”
“I’m good, thank you,” I say. “I’ll see you and your warrant soon.”
Patel walks out, even more displeased than when she’d walked in here, and I glance over at Jackson.
“What do we do if she gets a warrant?” Jackson asks.
“We let her search the house,” I say. “I already moved my guns out in case she does.”
He raises an eyebrow. “Don’t act like you moved those guns for some valiant reason.”
“I moved them to protect us, Jackson. For our protection. It was very heroic of me. I honestly think I deserve a thumbs-up from everyone in the room.” I notice the only one who gives it is Mason, who really doesn’t know much about what’s going on.
“Is that why you wanted to take The Fence with you too? Out of the kindness of your heart?” Tavish asks.
“Obviously. It could be used as evidence.”
Jackson gives me quite the look and still he remains handsome. “Sure, hon. Let’s cut The Fence down. I’ll get the saw right now, if you’d like.”
I glower at the man I love. “Ha. Ha. Funny.”
“We don’t always… do things in the most legal of ways,” Mason says. “Should I get rid of some evidence here?”
“No, it’ll be fine,” Jackson replies. “We’ll see if she actually tries anything first. I’ll shoot Henry a text and have him inform us if she starts the process of getting a warrant. Let’s waste a few minutes here before heading out.”
I see that Cassel has sent me a list of things he’d like from the office as well as some food from outside the office, so I set to work on that while Mason packs up and heads out. We’re about ready to leave as well when my phone rings again and I see that it’s Lucas.
“Here, Micah, talk to him,” I say as I hold the phone out to Micah.
He takes one look at the display and shakes his head. “Hell no. I’m not touching that thing. I’d be happy enough to never hear him speak again.”
I wave the phone at him like I could possibly taunt him into answering. “I’ll pay you to answer. You love money.”
“Not that much,” he mutters.
I sigh and Jackson looks at me. “I’ll talk to him,” Jackson says as he takes the phone.
“I have my doubts he’ll talk to you, but sure, we’ll try it.”
“I doubt it too,” he agrees before going, “Hello?”
He listens for a moment before stilling. “Yeah… Leland is right here. I’ll put the phone on speaker,” he says, which… what does that solve? That’s still me having to talk to him.
“Leland, you there?” Lucas asks, and the sound of his voice tears right through me.
I grit my teeth before responding, “Sure am.”
“I’ve heard through the network what’s going on. Leland, have you been in contact with a man who goes by the name of Silencer?”
“Silencer? What weird fucking name is that?” I ask.
“Leland, you know I love to call you to fuck with you… You know I do, but you need to get that man out of your life,” he says, and the tone he uses tells me that he wants me to kill him but knows that he can’t say so over a phone call that’ll be recorded.
I reach out and take the phone from Jackson. “You’re talking about this asshole who’s obsessed with me?”
“I really thought I taught you better than that. Instead, I’m not even sure what you’re doing letting him in your life,” he snaps, and I feel like I’m being dropped back into my childhood where I could never do anything right in this man’s eyes, yet somehow I was his favorite?
“I wasn’t certain about him at the time. He—”
“He’s fucking manipulating you to think that way, Leland. I taught you better than this. Do you remember Sera?”
“Of course I do.”
“She was his sister.”
I hesitate as I try to think of her brother, but I’m struggling to put a face to him. It’s been too long and he was just a passing face among many when I was that age. “You know who this guy is… why the fuck is he so obsessed with me?”
“You saved him, Leland. You saved his life and instead of being happy with that, he wanted more. He pushed his sister out, used her to gain your attention until you felt sorry for her and took her in. You remember that? I told you to leave her the fuck alone and yet you couldn’t.”
“She was a kid.”
“It doesn’t fucking matter in this world. What happened to her because you took her in?”
I grit my teeth, despising any instance where I have to tell Lucas he’s right. “She died.”
“Exactly. And you know how she did too. He knew you liked her, and he wanted to take that from you because we refused to give him what he wanted. He wanted you to have no one so you’d latch on to him.
I didn’t like the way he was so focused on you.
I didn’t like anything about that kid and should have kept him away from you back then…
permanently. He is not innocent, Leland.
He will tear your life apart to get what he wants. ”
“What’s his name?” I ask.
“He went by Colby back then, but I can’t tell you what he goes by now. His working name is Silencer.”
“How did you hear that he was following me?”
“I have eyes everywhere, Leland. Don’t you dare think that just because you put me behind these walls that I’m not watching everything you’re doing. There’s no way I’d let someone else end things with you.”
“Oh? Does that mean you want to be the one to do it?” I ask, soured by his threats. I hate the idea that Lucas is watching me and really hope he’s saying it as some kind of mind game… his favorite kind of game.
“If I have to,” he says with a laugh. “Don’t fuck up, Leland. I raised you better than that.”