Page 113 of The Broken Note

She reaches out to me and covers my hand. Her smile gets wider. “Dutch.”

“Mrs. Cooper.”

“Call me Tina. Please.” She laughs. It’s a hoarse, cackling sound.

I glance down and spot the needle marks on her skin. I’ve seen those marks before. You don’t lift the curtain behind fame as many times as I do without spotting people like her. The people who use coke, liquor, whatever drug they can find to numb the pain.

No wonder you find it so hard to trust, Cadey.

I keep my expression blank. “You said this was about Cadence.”

“It is.” Tina folds her arms over her chest and studies me.

I frown.

Finally, she speaks. “I don’t get it. What would make a boy like you put a ring on her finger?”

My shoulders stiffen.

“She’s not that pretty.” Tina shrugs and reaches for a cigarette on the table. “She’s unbelievably uptight. And I’m sure it took a long time before she put out, if I know my daughter.”

“Get to your point.” My voice is a harsh clip. She’s insulting Cadence to my face and the only reason I’m not acting on my fury is because she’s Cadence’s mother.

One corner of her lips curl up. “You should be careful about that, boy. When you love someone that much, when you’re obvious about it, people can use it to hurt you.”

I slide my eyes over her, unimpressed. “I thought people who came from the dead would have better advice.”

She laughs again, but this time her eyes are sharp.

I plant both hands on the table, ready to get up and leave. This woman stole Cadey’s ring. She made Cadey cry.

I don’t need to entertain someone who has a clear disdain for the woman who belongs to me.

“Might want to sit down.”

“Why should I?”

“I’ve got evidence on your daddy,” she says.

I freeze, already halfway out of my seat. My head turns back to take her in.

“Jarod Cross has been dabbling in the good ole drug trade.”

Eyes aflame, I stare at Tina. “What are you talking about?”

“You want to know what would make a woman die when she’s alive and healthy? Seeing things she has no business seeing.”

“Dad is dealing?” I lean forward.

Smoke billows from her thin lips. “I saw Jarod Cross playing one night, before he blew up. Damn near made my knees weak the moment he opened his mouth. I swore I’d have his babies.” She laughs again and looks at me with a hint of regret. “Turns out some other woman had his babies instead.”

She’s talking in circles, but I don’t have the time or the patience.

“What did you see?” I growl.

Unfortunately, my threats don’t scare her. She’s confident. Unperturbed. She knows I wouldn’t hurt her because I won’t hurt anyone associated with Cadey.

It makes her cocky.