Golden Trail (The 'Burg #3)(184)

Devin got out of his way and Layne set aside thoughts of Tina and walked into his office. Dev followed him and Layne saw TJ Gaines or, as Layne knew him now from the phone call he’d made getting his identity from his prints, Jeremy Goulding, tied to one of his office chairs and looking about ready to piss his pants.

“You,” he whispered when he looked from Ryker sitting in Layne’s desk chair and cleaning his fingernails with his huge, freaking knife to Layne.

“How’s it goin’, Jeremy?” Layne asked, walking to his desk and leaning on it.

Jeremy’s head jerked.

“Yeah,” Layne said softly. “I know who you are. Got solid evidence you’re guilty in the State of Indiana of identity theft and know you got a warrant out on you in Tennessee too.”

Jeremy’s eyes slid beyond Layne to Ryker then to the side to take in Devin then they shot back to Layne.

“Big step up,” Layne remarked, “Movin’ from small time cons, all women, to child prostitution.”

Jeremy’s pale face turned gray. “That isn’t part of my deal.”

Layne’s brows went up. “No?”

Jeremy shook his head.

“Saw you kiss Tiffany Emmerson’s neck. Saw Alexis McGraw put her hand on you. Heard you shared gum with Alexis, mouth to mouth, after it had been chewed,” Layne noted and he felt the sudden wall of rage coming off Ryker slam into his back, just as he’d intended.

Jeremy felt it too and he bucked his body, scooting his chair back, his eyes locked on Ryker.

“Sit still, Jeremy,” Layne said quietly as Dev moved in behind Jeremy.

Jeremy’s eyes didn’t move from Ryker but he did as he was told.

“I didn’t... I didn’t,” he stammered, “I didn’t do that.”

“You callin’ Alexis a liar?” Layne asked.

Jeremy’s eyes darted to Layne. “No!” he cried.

“So you did share gum with her,” Layne pressed.

“I… no, she shared gum with me,” Jeremy amended.

“Okay,” Layne said then lied, “I see the difference.”

“It’s just a job,” Jeremy explained quickly as Layne heard and felt Ryker move behind him. “I didn’t like it, I’m not into girls, I’m into women, you know, like your lady.” Layne’s back straightened and his face changed and Jeremy’s body bucked again. “No! No! I mean, she’s pretty. I’m complimenting her. I’m just saying I’m not into girls. But that was my part of the job. And Nic said she’d take care of the girls, she said she always takes care of the girls.”

“Takes care of them how?” Layne asked.

“Every way. Money, clothes, attention. Girls love that shit and Nic loves them. She’s good with them. It isn’t as creepy as you think,” Jeremy explained and Layne had trouble controlling his sneer and the urge to open up the flesh of Jeremy’s face with his fist.

“You’re wrong,” Layne whispered. “You are way wrong. It’s as creepy as I think. Fuck, Jeremy, it’s creepier.”

“They’re not as young as you think either,” Jeremy quickly went on.

“Sorry, man, but you’re wrong about that too. Giselle’s datin’ my son and she’s fourteen, she’s exactly as young as I think,” Layne told him.

“Yes, I mean with Giselle, yes, she’s… she, I’m sorry about her, okay? She wasn’t the right one. Nic told me who to pick and I knew Giselle wasn’t the right one but I had to do what Nic said. But the other two, they’re fourteen and sixteen goin’ on thirty,” Jeremy replied.

Ryker moved again, Layne knew he’d been standing, now he was making his way around the desk.

“Ryker, stand down, brother, he can’t talk if he’s got a broken jaw,” Layne said quietly not taking his eyes off Jeremy who was staring, eyes-wide, body inert, at Ryker.

“That’s my girl,” Ryker growled.

“I… I know, but you gotta know what she’s like,” Jeremy replied, proving just how stupid he was because that wave of rage burst out of Ryker again and Layne stood.

Layne turned to Ryker and whispered, “Focus, brother. This guy is not our end game.”

Ryker’s eyes didn’t move from Jeremy and Ryker’s body also didn’t move. He held it taut. He was struggling. And Devin was right, Ryker pissed was pretty, f**king scary.

Finally, his gaze slid to Layne and Layne watched as Ryker forced his body to relax.

Time to move on.

Layne turned back to Jeremy.

“You’re goin’ down,” he informed him and Jeremy’s eyes cut swiftly to Layne. “Now, though, now you gotta decide how far down you’re goin’.”

“I –” Jeremy started but Layne cut him off.

“I’m not done talkin’.” Jeremy snapped his mouth shut and nodded. “We’re workin’ with the cops on this and now you’re workin’ with them too.” Layne watched Jeremy gulp and he kept at him. “You’re gonna leave this office and you’re gonna convince Towers and Rutledge that everything is just fine. You’re gonna tell them you’re close, Giselle is breaking, they gotta give you some time. A week, they don’t go for that, a few days. In the meantime, you gotta know, you’re blown. Pastor Knox is changin’ the locks on the church as we speak. The Speakmon and Emmerson families know what you did and they’ve both agreed to hold fire and wait for Towers and Rutledge to go down. You’re blown but you convince your partners you’re not even though you don’t get near any of those girls, any kids from Youth Group or anyone under the age of eighteen in this town or out of it. You work with us, you don’t go down all on your own and trust me, man, Towers and Rutledge get a whiff that their scheme is goin’ south, they’ll bolt and they’ll leave you to swing.”