Page 35 of Junior Has a Secret
“But Junior just came back.It’s a big coincidence, Kane.”
“So are the chopped off hands and the mob, but that murder you just described to me is not the mob.”
“When core values I used to investigate start slipping, I start questioning all I know as an investigator.”
“What you know is how to adapt and change, Lilah.”He indicates the note.“Roger is dead.This could be another protégé, but he said that to you all the time.You said it all the time.When you couldn’t figure out a case, you said—I’m the problem.”
“Which means someone close to me, someone I repeated this to.”I stick the note back in my pocket.“I can’t think about this right now.I need to go deal with the victim and I left Jay searching for the hands.I doubt he’s okay right now.”
He laughs, and says, “If the hands don’t scare that man off, you need to ease up on him.”
“I’m just trying to save his life,” I remind him.He knows this.He seems unconcerned about how nice a guy Jay is in a nasty world, but that’s a topic for later.“Go rest.”
“I should talk to your father first or I’ll never get any rest.”
“I sent him home.He was never here.That’s the story.”
“You know why I pulled my men last night.”
“Of course.Why he feels so safe with them around anyway, I don’t know.He had his team.He was never in danger, that I know of, either.And you are not his ally anyway.And on that note, I’m second guessing this game we’re playing with him to get close to the Society and that all balances with what is happening with your father.”I pause.“Is healive?”
“I wouldn’t lie to you, Lilah.Never again.I told you, yes.Unfortunately.Yes.Go solve a murder.I’m going to see your father.”He leans in and kisses me, easing back, and sliding my hair behind my ear.“Youare notthe problem, Lilah Love-Mendez.Don’t forget that.”
I lean in and kiss him hard on the mouth before I open the door and step outside, but as I start walking toward the house, I’m replaying that note again:You’re the problem, Lilah.Roger’s translation of that phrase meant you’re not looking in the right places or you are and not seeing it clearly.Everywhere I look I see a coincidence, and that can’t be right.
And with that, I decide the note writer is right.I’m the problem.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
I really do prefer dead bodies to living chaos.
I walk through the door to the governor’s mansion to be intercepted by Jay and Jack.“No hands, thank God,” Jay breathes out.
“Not handsyet,” I say.“We need those hands.The victim needs his hands.”
“Are we ready to get started?”Jack asks, even as Jay says, “He’s dead, Lilah.He does not need his hands.”
Leonard is on my heels and steps into the circle of joy.“Who the hell are these people?”
My gaze shifts to Jay and I swear he wants to reply with, “Who the hell are you?”He’s evolving and that sucks, because this job should not take a nice guy and make him me, but I knew it would.
“They work for me,” I say as dismissively as he is rude.
Jack holds out his hand.“I’m Jack.I’m with forensics at the NYPD, but I consult for Agent Love-Mendez.SpecialAgent Love-Mendez.”
No Love today, I think, but it’s done.He’s made me that man’s daughter again.
Leonard just stares at him.
I eye Jack.“We need boots.”
He lowers the hand he’s offered Leonard rather awkwardly and cuts his gaze from the asshole still glaring at him.“I’ll get them.”
“And tell the forensics team to be ready in twenty.”
“Why is he telling them anything?”Leonard demands.
“Because I told him to, and I’m fairly certain you heard those words come out of my mouth.”I don’t give him time to reply, refocusing on Jack.“Make sure they’ve started an exterior search for evidence, including the hands, and I need to find the water hose used to rinse the carpet.”