Moth(31)

“So you think you’re Superman?”

“I am. In my head of course.” Another cocky response. She’s writhing in denial. She knows she can’t resist me, and I’m smitten over it. As long as I stay in control of this game I won’t have to do things I’ll later regret.

She’s four glasses of wine in, and her ability to withhold information is becoming difficult. She’s been going on and on about her position at the pharmaceutical company. After admitting the job was thrown into her lap, she complains about the people she has to report to, including the two men I met at the party earlier. She said from the get go they’ve been hitting on her, one going to the extremes to get her into bed. He’s cornered her at the office when he asked her to stay late one night, and he’s even threatened her pending permanent position because she won’t change her mind. I sense that she’s not only offended by his advances, but a bit worried. No man should force themselves on a woman. It’s very apparent she won’t change her mind. No matter who this woman’s real identity may be, she’s knows what she wants. I suggest another way for them to back off. “I think maybe you should keep telling them we’re dating. Hopefully they’ll be too scared of running into me in a dark alley.”

She smiles. Her face is shining, her cheeks a crimson color from the alcohol she’s consumed. Windy barely touches her food when it finally comes. She’s too drunk, and I’m already worried she might puke the moment she stands. Before I can ask for the check she’s ordered a fifth glass of wine. Her words are slurred, and she’s going on about a brother I know the real Windy doesn’t have. I take everything she says as evidence. One little detail could bring this case to a close, depending on how much it leads us to the answers we’re searching for.

She’s clumsy as we walk out to the car. I convince her I’m driving, although she puts up a fight at first. She spats out directions on where she lives. “Make a right up here. Don’t even think about walking me inside. I can handle it myself. You’re not getting this *.”

It’s cute seeing her act this way. For someone we suspect as a criminal she’s let her guard down. She’s being irresponsible and her innocence shows. Anyone who was a professional wouldn’t be caught dead in this position. “I promise I’m not interested in sloppy drunken sex with you tonight, Windy. I’m going to make sure you’re safe before I head out.”

“Safe,” she repeats the word. “That’s a f*cking joke. I haven’t been safe in years. My life is a disaster. My problems continue to escalate. I’m fighting a losing battle. For all I know you could be the person they hire to kill me.”

I bite my tongue. If she wakes and recalls this conversation I need to make it seem like she’s just being silly. “Quit playing around. You’re a college student trying to get somewhere from working hard. No one is going to hurt you.”

Windy begins to sob. It takes a few seconds for me to realize she’s actually crying in the passenger seat. Lucky for me, I know where her apartment is located, so I’m able to pull up in front of it without asking her. She’s too blitzed to remember every single small detail of this ride.

“You don’t understand. How could you? You have no idea what I’ve been through.”

I run around to the passenger side and help her out. After making sure her vehicle is locked, I assist her into the building and up the flight of stairs to her place. She laughs at me as I struggle to locate which key opens the door. When we finally get inside she saunters toward the bedroom paying no mind to me being in her apartment. I hear a loud thump and head in the direction it resonated from to discover she’s flat on her floor, face down, laughing.

Once again, I help her up and get her seated on her bed. The front of her tube top has shifted and one of her breasts is exposed. This is a huge test for me. We’re so close. All I want to do is explore her body and find out why I can’t stop thinking about it, but I have to refrain. I need to be someone she puts her trust in, even if it means I need to get up and walk out. I pull her top back up and look in her dresser to find something she can put over her head. I located a shirt and help her with it. She kicks her shoes off one at a time, flicking them high in the air. Once her legs are on the bed I tuck her in so she can’t fall out. I’m sitting there watching her intently. I want to question her about my brother. She has answers for me. She knows the truth.

“I should go.”

Her eyes are closed as she responds. “It’s still early, but you need to stay away from me, Moth. I’m dangerous. People who care about me die.”

“You’ve had a long night. Get some sleep. I’ll put my number in your phone so you can call me.”

She points to the door of her bedroom. “It’s out there in my purse.”

This is my opportunity. I stare at her for a couple more minutes before looking up at where one of the cameras sits. For all I know Renner and House are sitting in front of a computer screen with popcorn waiting to see some action. I flip them the finger and leave the room right after.

She’s been guarding her purse all night. I remove her phone and run the program on mine to clone it. It feels wrong, but I know it’s my job to do this. Her tears may have been genuine, but at some point she got into bed with the enemy. There’s nothing I can do about it now but to see that justice is served. I copy down the number so we can trace it, and make sure she has my number, putting the name in as Monty the Sex God, then return it to her purse.