My Addiction (Club Desire #2)(61)
“All right. So why isn’t that the end of it?”
“After Stanton’s body was found, the investigative team went through his computer searching for clues. An email was found referencing your arrival at The Dungeon, and the fact that you were a PI.” He scrubbed a hand through his hair. “Before you ask, we’ve already checked the booth and surrounding area in the VIP lounge for bugs. It looks like the only possible way for that to get out was through Kate Fretwell.”
Icy shock sliced deep into Dex’s chest, and he shook his head as he tried to think of some other explanation. “Let me talk to Opal. She may be lying.”
“I figured you would want to check it out for yourself. She’s on her way to Phoenix. Two agents are bringing her. They should be here in about an hour. They were getting her set up in a secure location first.” Jason rested his forearms on the desk and pinned Dex with an intense gaze. “Have you spoken to Kathryne Fretwell since you left her place this morning?”
Dex shook his head, his chest tight at the necessity of keeping Kate in the dark about leaving town. “You asked me to wait until I made it back here. I just got back, and wanted to touch base before I contacted her.”
Even though it nearly killed me to keep her in the dark like this.
Jason gave a single nod. “You should contact her to at least let her know you were called away suddenly, and that you aren’t sure when or if you’ll be back in L.A. From all the nudges we planted, she might come to Phoenix to check out Club Desire, where we’ll have several people in a position to gain her confidence and see what she knows.”
Jason held up his hand before Dex could object.
“Not that I think you weren’t able to do that, but we obviously aren’t able to contain the situation in L.A., and since Brent and Sandra, as well as some of the others here, have worked with us successfully in the past, I think everyone here can both protect and befriend Miss Fretwell. That will allow us to get to the bottom of any information she may or may not have.”
Dex nodded.
Part of him would love to have Kate come to Club Desire so they could continue what they had begun. The other part of him wanted her to stay away, purely because he had lost objectivity when it came to her.
“Dex, what’s going on?” Tanner rubbed his stubbled chin between his forefinger and thumb, a testament to the long night he had spent working. There had been only a handful of times Dex had seen his boss anything but clean-shaven.
“Dex, you’re the last person I worried about getting emotionally involved with suspects. It’s just so illogical that your brain can’t compute doing it. I knew sending you in as a Dom might be problematic, but from talking with you beforehand, you’ve always seemed to be able to compartmentalize sex and emotions in your normal Dom activities.”
Dex forced himself to meet his boss’s penetrating gaze, not bothering to try to explain the dynamics of the D/s lifestyle. He was emotionally involved with all of his subs, just not the way Jason was talking about. “Kate isn’t like anyone I’ve ever met. If I’d met her outside of a case, I think she would’ve gotten past my shields just as easily. I don’t think she’s knowingly involved in any wrongdoing, but I’m doing my best to find out one way or the other.” He unclenched his jaw. At least he was honestly able to say that was true.
“And if it turns out she is involved, I’ll do everything necessary to make sure she pays to the fullest extent of the law.” His chest squeezed like a ten-ton weight had fallen on him. He knew he would do what had to be done, but it might rip him apart in the process.
Tanner frowned. “I know you, and I want to believe that, but there’s a reason becoming emotionally involved with a suspect is taboo. It makes it very easy to turn a blind eye to things that are glaringly obvious.”
He shifted in his chair. “Dex. I’m putting Merrick on to work with Miss Fretwell. Because of her interaction with you and her involvement in the incident with Mark Stanton before his death, she might be in danger as well.”
He watched Dex carefully as he spoke, and Dex did his best not to move or give off any clues of any type, although he knew it was an impossible task with Jason Tanner.
“If she comes to Phoenix and Club Desire, we’ll deal with that when we need to,” Jason continued. “We don’t want to alienate her, since you’ve already built a rapport, but we need a backup with a clear head, and I think Merrick is it.”
Dex ground his teeth at the thought of anyone else protecting Kate. Or even approaching her as a Dominant. But bone-deep fear washed through him at the thought of her in danger because of her association with him.
It took him several long moments to speak, and Jason let the heavy silence sit between them. “Understood,” Dex said finally, biting back the desire to punch something. Some time in the practice dojo was in order if he was going to be able to function effectively for the rest of this case.
Jason ran a hand through his hair. “I know you’ll do what’s right, either way. But for right now, you look like hell. Why don’t you go get food, a shower, and a nap? I’ll call you when the informant is in Phoenix and ready to talk.”
Dex smiled. “Thanks, Jason. Your faith in me means a lot.”
Chapter 19
Kate saved the project she was working on and her phone pinged, alerting her to a new text message.