Page 106 of Pretty Poison

The man blinked and refocused on Rocky. “I—”

“You know why,” Rocky repeated. “No good will come out of me digging deeper. In this case, it’s wisest to let the dead rest.”

“What am I supposed to tell my mother?” Grant asked.

“The truth.”

He flinched as if Rocky had hit him.

“Take care of yourself, Grant.” He whistled softly, and Fiona followed him down the steps.

“Wait,” Grant called out.

Rocky stopped and faced him. The expression on the man’s face was as haunted as the home he’d purchased. He didn’t look vacuous as Julia had, so Rocky felt hope for the man. He believed Grant could excise his ghosts if he found the right help.

“How’d you know?” he asked.

Rocky recalled the words Lillian said to him. “I know trauma when I see it.”

He hadn’t detected it right away. If not for Lillian, Rocky might never have made the connection. Sometimes you just have to accept that things happen for a reason. The universe gives and the universe takes. Rocky wished Grant well and hoped he found peace because dwelling in perpetual purgatory wasn’t living at all.

His phone rang when he was a few blocks from home, and Jude’s name popped up on the screen. Rocky accepted the call and sang, “‘Hey, Jude.’”

“Very funny,” he said dryly. “And so original.”

“An oldie but a goodie,” Rocky argued. “What’s up?”

“Well, I have good news, and I have great news. Which do you want to hear first?”

“Surprise me,” Rocky replied.

“I found a news reporter in Vegas who was willing to tell me who leaked the Julia Warner information to him.”

“Is that the good news or the great news?”

“It’s kind of lukewarm, really,” Jude replied. “It gets better. Much better.”

“Quit being a tease and get on with it,” Rocky said sternly.

Jude laughed. “Tim Duggins was definitely the leak. Duggins has buddies on the police force who were all too willing to tell him the sordid details of that woman’s last days.”

“Is that the great news?” Rocky asked. Because it made him feel terrible inside.

“It’s the good. I’m about to unleash the great.”

“Do I need to pull over?” Rocky asked.

Jude snorted. “I recorded the conversation for you. I’d prefer you don’t go public with it and destroy the man’s career. He seemed genuinely remorseful for his part in keeping the scandal alive.”

“I’m not out to ruin the reporter’s career. I’m just looking for leverage. Besides, it’s the reporter’s word against Duggins’s. I just know that Bradshaw is a by-the-book guy and won’t take these allegations lightly. Thanks for the ammunition, Jude.”

“But wait, there’s more,” Jude said.

“I get a second box for free? I just need to pay a separate shipping and handling charge, right?”

Jude chuckled. “Why do I like you?”

“Because Felix loves me.”