Page 48 of The Paternity Puzzle
Sawyer paused to consider his phrasing, then decided he didn’t care. Part of him wanted Alec to call the whole thing off. “I would like you to honor your father’s known victims. They’ve been left out of the narrative, and I think it’s unfair and just plain wrong.”
“That’s never been my intention,” Alec said contritely. “I’m open to suggestions.”
“Dedicate episodes to the victims. Sit down with the people who loved them most so they can share who these women were.”
“Interesting,” Alec said. “Tell me more.”
“Some podcasts release this type of content at the conclusion of a season, and others pepper them in between episodes of the current investigation. You could either extend the season or release two shows each week. Some podcasts would include this type of material in their Patreon feed.”
“I don’t want to seem like I’m profiting off their deaths,” Alec said. “That’s the main reason I’ve kept the focus on my dad’s story.”
Sawyer could argue that there wouldn’t be a story without the victims, but he wanted to give Alec the benefit of the doubt. “So put the bonus episodes in the regular feed or promise to donate the subscription revenue to victims’ advocacy groups.”
Alec sucked in a breath. “Damn, you’re good. I better hope you don’t take my idea and run with it on your own.”
Chuckling, Sawyer shook his head before he remembered Alec couldn’t see him. “You don’t have to worry about that. I have no desire to take on additional projects, nor will I have the time.” Those images of Royce with their future baby flashed in his mind again, and Sawyer felt dizzy with happiness.
“You’ll be otherwise engaged?” Alec pressed.
“You could say that.” And that was all he planned to say on the matter. “Write up your proposal and send it to us. We’ll have our legal departments review it, and we’ll go from there. Maybe we could do a Zoom call between the principal parties.”
“I’ll have the proposals ready in a day or so and will be in touch.”
“Sounds good.”
Sawyer couldn’t say he was fully convinced working with Alec Bishop was a good idea, but he felt better about it after their conversation. His cell phone chimed with an incoming text from his husband.Have warrants. Going back out to the Matisses’ home. Hope to wrap this case up soon. xo
Sawyer tapped out a quick reply.Can’t wait to hear all about it. Be careful. <3
Some might dismiss socialites as dangerous, but they made drag queens seem like tame kittens when things didn’t go their way. Besides, if Royce had warrants, he suspected one or more of them of murder or manslaughter, depending on their intent.People with dark secrets have proven they’re willing to go to extreme lengths to keep them buried. Royce had a reputation for being a wild card when Sawyer joined the police department, but it hadn’t taken him long to see the label as nothing more than camouflage. Royce was an aggressive pursuer of justice, but he didn’t cross lines or carelessly put lives in jeopardy, which was good since they were going to become fathers. And just like that, Sawyer got lost in the daydreams of what would be.
Royce pushed the Matisses’ doorbell and rocked back on his heels. “I’ve never had a big dénouement in a mansion before. It makes me feel like a fictional detective, like Hercule Poirot.” He ran his fingers over the smooth skin above his upper lip. “Do you think I’d look good with a mustache?”
“Ew. No,” Diego said with an offensive cringe.
“Okay. You don’t have to be cruel. A simple no would suffice.”
Diego shook his head. “And what’s a dénouement?”
Had Royce butchered the French pronunciation as poorly as Diego? “You’re so uncouth.” He repeated it the way Sawyer said, or at least tried.
“And you think you say that any better? What the fuck ever, Masterpiece Theater,” Diego quipped. “Is the dénouement the big reveal at the end of murder mystery movies and books?”
“Yep.” Royce jammed his finger against the doorbell button again and scowled. Had Yvonne said something that tipped off Julia and Alyssa? Nah. The security guard said neither woman had left the premises. They could’ve hired a helicopter to pick them up, but that would’ve likely gotten back to the security team. He rang the doorbell again for good measure. They would regret keeping him waiting.
“I say it was Miss Julia, in the kitchen, with the tainted smoothie,” Diego said.
The large wooden double doors flew open before Royce could respond. Yvonne stared at them with wide eyes. “C-c-can I help you?”
“We have arrest warrants for Alyssa and Julia Matisse,” Royce told her. “Can you please take us to them?”
Yvonne’s mouth dropped open, and she blinked several times before she pulled herself together and stepped aside for them to enter.
“This is the first time we’ve met,” Royce whispered to her as he stepped inside the house. He turned and gave a thumbs-up to the patrol car that waited in front of the house to provide additional transportation.
“They’re in the salon,” Yvonne said. “Do you know the way?”
“We do. Thank you.”