Page 34 of Junior Has a Secret
“And yet, here I stand, not behind bars,” Kane replies, his tone sardonic.“You know what they say about law enforcement who assume they know the truth because of rumors?”
“You’re not more original than that?”Leonard says snidely.“Assuming makes a fool of you and me.Everyone knows that saying.”
“There you go assuming again,” Kane mocks, sounding bored at this point.“I was going to say that FBI agents who assume they know the truth without facts end up dead.”
He bristles and straightens.“Is that a threat?”
“It’s a learning moment, agent,” Adams interjects and smartly.“Kane’s been well stalked by many such as you who hoped to make him a notch on their proverbial belt.Harassment will get you sued and fired.It would be impossibly awkward if the husband of the agent you’re reporting to on this case was suing us and you.”His eyes meet mine as he adds.“Go talk to Kane and make sure your father is well protected.We don’t need another dead body.”
I’m not sure if he’s talking about my father or Leonard.
“No one examines the victim before me,” I say, and I don’t want hordes of people in there when I do my examination.”My attention falls on Leonard.“If you’re nice, you can come with me.I’ll explain how I think his hands were cut off.”And with that, I turn to Kane, the contempt in his eyes transforming to laughter.But as we fall into step, walking to the SUV, there’s nothing in him but stone cold, seriousness.
I don’t even try to anticipate what is coming.Right now, the list of problems includes: Ghost, Kane’s father, Junior, and a victim with no hands.If I have to add another item to this list, I might be the one killing someone.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Once we’re inside the vehicle, I note Enrique is present and behind the wheel, which means he too got yanked out of bed, and I turn to face him.“What’s wrong?Why are you both not asleep right now?”
“Your fucking father won’t stop calling us, leaving us near incoherent messages.The only thing I got out of it was someone is dead and Ghost is somehow involved, oh and I’m to blame.In the name of all that is holy, what is going on?”
Ghost.
That’s why he’s here.Kane is freaked out about this obsession Ghost has with me, which makes me think about the obsession Junior also has with me.There are no coincidences in becoming a joke I’ve been telling for way too much of my life.For now, I focus on Kane and putting his mind at ease.“This wasn’t Ghost.My father is freaked out because his finger hurts, and Ghost scared him.”
“Who’s the victim?”
“Don’t know yet.That may take some time.He has no hands so no fingerprints.And before you start thinking the mob is lashing out at us through him, this is a sloppy kill.I don’t think a pro did it.”
“Teeth?”
“Don’t know yet.The carpet is wet.That’s why we don’t know if he has ID.We needed sterile footwear to reach the victim and properly investigate.”
“Why is the carpet wet?”he asks.
“On first glance, it seems like the killer was trying to dilute the evidence.Again, I don’t know much yet.I don’t even know where the water came from.Is that something the mob does and I don’t know it?”
“No, but we’re dealing with the mob, and the hands are cut off,” he says.“Isn’t it you who always says there are no coincidences?”
“A series of current events have me thinking that was a joke.”I motion to Enrique.Kane leans forward, speaks to him, and by the time Kane is resting against the leather seat again, Enrique is outside, and we’re alone.
Kane angles my direction.“Tell me.”
“Did you bury Roger’s body?”
“With great pleasure.Why?”
“Yousawhim in the dirt?”
“Yes,” he says firmly.“What is this, Lilah?”
I reach in my pocket and hand him the note.He reads it, and in my mind, I read it with him:You’re the problem, Lilah.
Kane’s gaze lifts to mine.“Where did this come from?”
“It was shoved under the door of the restaurant bathroom.It doesn’t read like Junior.”
“No.The same person didn’t write this.”