Reveal (Wicked Ways #2)(70)

“Who’s that?” he leads me when he has no clue I’m pulling him by the reins exactly where I want him to go.

“I don’t think sober Brian has seen the light of day for some time now. Maybe he cleans it up when he has an appointment with social services, but he’s at the point where he needs drugs just to maintain his normal. But no, sober Brian hasn’t been around for some time. Not since way before his girlfriend committed suicide because the drugs he continually fed her were too much for her to break the chains from so she could be a good mother. On a scale of one to being a stellar individual, I think you can see where he stands.”

“I didn’t ask any of that, Mr. Lockhart.”

“Just doing my civil service, Detective, and giving you the whole picture. Sometimes it’s important to get a feel for the person who filed the complaint before you go out and question the person he’s pointing the finger at.”

That and saying it places all the shit he’s done on a permanent record. Something I can corroborate in court if need be. Documentation a judge won’t be able to overlook if it comes down to a custody battle between Vaughn and Brian over Lucy after social services decides who should be her legal guardian.

“Let’s get back on task here.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. It’s a habit of mine to paint a picture in opening arguments.”

The detective shifts on his feet. I’m driving him crazy. Good. That was my plan.

He glances back down to his notepad to remember where we were before I distracted him. “So your story is that he cut his face when he fell and hit a wall?”

Wide, blinking eyes. Slowly shaking head. “Yes, but you don’t have to take my word for it. I’m sure he gets beat up regularly. You hang with a nasty crowd, you run the risk of getting the shit beat out of you when you don’t pay up. At least that’s what I’ve seen time and again in my line of work.”

He eyes me, and I don’t give a flying fuck if he believes me or not. “You’re a divorce lawyer, correct?”

I nod and point to my business card on the desk with a cheesy grin.

“Don’t think you see many beat-up druggies from missed supplier payments in your line of work, now do you?”

I chuckle and cross my arms over my chest, never breaking eye contact. “It’s amazing the things people will do when money is on the line and love has been broken.”

He twists his lips as we just stare at each other in the silence of my office. A challenge is given. An acknowledgment that I am enjoying talking in circles.

“Is there anything else you’d like to add?” he asks.

“You tell me.”

“Mr. Lockhart, I don’t play games.”

“Believe me, neither do I.”

“Then we’re done here?” he asks.

“You’re the one who came to me. Did you get what you needed, Detective?”

“You live in New York long, Mr. Lockhart?”

His question does what it’s intended to do—throwing me momentarily. “You already know the answer to that question.” I change my tone from amused to cut-the-bullshit. “Now why would you ask something like that?”

“Ever heard of the High Line?”

My smile is automatic. Is he really going to nail me for trespassing right now?

“Of course I have. I’m a New Yorker through and through,” I say.

“Except for that Red Sox part.”

“Except for that.” I laugh.

And when he leaves, I sit back in my chair and run the conversation over in my head.

Again and again.

If anything, I’ve started the ball rolling to try to lay the groundwork of just who Brian Vaden is. It’s not solving all Vaughn’s problems, but it’s a start.

Carter is still an unknown, as is how to fix his fascination with Vaughn. She’s at least told me what she has on him, but fuck if I have any clue what a call log would be about.

I can at least be thankful that he’s been on a congressional envoy overseas for the past few weeks. His radio silence has been needed.

But it won’t last.

Then there are the Dillingers. Seven days and counting until I stand face-to-face with the pedophile James. I’ll let him know exactly how he will be contacting the prosecuting attorney in Greenwich and telling him how he wants Vaughn’s warrant recalled. And I might have a whole lot of fun letting him know the leverage I have over him if he ever so much as breathes in Vaughn’s direction again.

With the warrant gone, Carter’s main threat will be nonexistent.

But then I’ll have to explain to Vaughn that I invaded her privacy and why.

When I told her I wanted to take care of her, I meant it.

Now there’s just one more thing I need to do.

I look down at the printout in my hands. At the balances lining the right side of the spreadsheet.

Fuck it.

I push the number on my phone. He picks up on the third ring.

“What’s up?”

“Pull the trigger, Stu.”

“I thought you said you weren’t touching that part of her life. That it was off limits.”

“Yeah, well, I changed my mind.”





CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Vaughn

I watch the news halfheartedly. The only reason it caught my attention was the mention of Carter Preston’s name. Is it sad that I sigh in relief when they mention his name in connection with meetings top congressional persons are having in Europe on a two-week tour?