Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
“You look grim,” Peter said as he walked into Drake’s office. “She’s still blocking you?”
“She is.” At the desk, Drake leaned back and glanced out the windows. His corner office, near the top of the building, had a picture-perfect view of Seattle from one angle and the Sound and Bainbridge to the west. “I stopped by her house at noon. As far as I can tell, she hasn’t been home at all.”
“From what you said about your discussion, well…” Peter rested a hip on the desk. “From my lawyerly viewpoint, you were reasonable. But to Ray? You might have sounded as if you were blowing her off.”
Drake walked over to the windows and stared out. Non, you can’t punch Peter for speaking the truth. “I arrived at that conclusion the moment I saw she was gone.”
“Sorry. I thought maybe you needed help figuring her out.”
“Non. She even said exactly what she thought. ‘You don’t believe me’.
Trying to be reasonable, I tore open the wounds left by her father and undoubtedly by others who accused her of making up stories for attention.
” Drake turned to Peter. “The blind fools. She’s all emotion, but not to get attention. And she doesn’t lie.”
“So… you don’t need me for help with Ray.”
“I need help to establish whether Blaize is guilty.” He ran his hand through his hair. “When we talk, I’ll make sure Ray knows I didn’t disbelieve her.”
“If you get a chance to talk.”
“Merde.” He didn’t need discouraging words. “I left a note each time I stopped at her place. She isn’t unreasonable—I have to believe she’ll read them.”
He moved to the coffee stand in the corner. “This probably wouldn’t have been more than a moment of anger if we’d been together longer.”
“Ah.” Peter motioned to the coffee with a nod to indicate he wanted a cup, then settled into a chair in the sitting area. “It does take time to be certain a new lover isn’t an asshole like the previous ones. Hope and I had some stormy upsets in the beginning.”
“Exactly.” Drake poured two coffees, handed one over, and took a chair across from Peter. “If Ray did recognize Blaize’s voice from that night, it means we have an abuser in Chains. Possibly more in the Seattle community.”
“Hell. It sure sounded as if the group had done it before. What if they’re still operating?” Peter leaned forward. “Hope and Mac gave Ray a list of names of submissive women at UW. Let’s see about talking with those women.”
Drake nodded. “We can start there.”