Deadly Silence (Blood Brothers #1)(36)

“I’d forgotten you dated,” Brock said slowly, his eyebrows rising. “Was it serious?”

“Not at all.” She tried not to squirm.

Brock grinned. “Good.”

Hmmm. She reached for a ledger showing a breakdown of marital versus separate property. Jay had left a few items off. But she couldn’t tell Brock that. Not right now.

“So, ah, Zara. Are you still seeing Ryker? He seemed pretty intense in your office yesterday.”

Her gaze shot to Brock, and her instincts kicked into gear. Oh, he couldn’t want to ask her out again, could he? “Um, yeah.” That was definitely the safest answer, even if she had no clue where she and Ryker really stood.

“I think you could do better,” Brock murmured.

Zara couldn’t help the small grin. “You’re impossible.”

“I know.” He rolled his neck. “Even you have to admit that we make a perfect team in the office. Who knows how much fun we could have outside these walls.”

Yeah, and if Ryker hadn’t already thrown her world into a tailspin, she’d be lucky to date a guy like Brock. He was the total package, and he didn’t seem to flaunt it. “I’m glad we work together, and I’m happy we’re friends.”

“I’m not giving up.” He reached for a stack of ledgers, his tone cheerful.

“What ever happened to the doctor you were dating?” Zara pulled a legal pad closer to start making some notes about the interrogatories.

“She got too clingy.” Brock tossed the ledgers toward Zara. “Would you sum up the assets for the trial binder? And, um, create a trial binder?”

She rolled her eyes. “Seriously, Brock. I already have one started. It’s the big blue one over on that chair. You know. The ones that says TRIAL BINDER on it?”

“Oh, good.” He reached for the binder and chuckled. “Everything should go a lot smoother after the competency hearing on Monday.”

Zara’s pen stopped mid-stroke. “I know Julie and she’s competent.”

Brock shook his head. “Her shrink, the one she’s seen for three years, will testify otherwise. Julie is unstable, Zara, and she does drugs.” His eyes softened. “I’m sorry.”

“No, she doesn’t,” Zara burst out.

“Sure, she does. She’s been borrowing money from several friends each month, pretending that she needs help with bills.” Brock scratched his head and opened another file.

Zara’s mouth dropped open only to snap shut. That couldn’t be right. She knew Julie much better than Brock did. “Maybe Julie does need help with bills.”

Brock leaned over and tapped his fingers on the ledger. “Jay has paid all her expenses since the separation. Car, student loans, credit cards.” He pointed to a column. “In fact, Jay paid off all her debts. See?”

Zara looked down and read the neatly printed numbers. Her breath heated, and unease dropped like a rock into her stomach. “We have proof?”

“Sure. Receipts for everything.”

Well, hell.





CHAPTER


12


After dropping Zara off at the law office, Ryker turned down a side street and headed across town. Snow began to fall quietly and softly.

On a Saturday, City Hall was vacant and closed, but he could see lights on in the mayor’s office. Zara had said that Jay Pentley would be in his office, and apparently she was correct. Excellent. After parking in a side alley, he loped around the building to the rear exit, taking a quick look around. No one. A twist with the tools he’d brought, and one of the back doors opened.

He slipped inside and quietly shut the door. The silence of an empty government building on a weekend pounded around him. Keeping his senses on full alert, he crossed the polished wooden floor and ran up the wide stairway, careful not to touch the intricate banister.

The mayor’s office was situated at the front of the building, so Ryker turned on the landing and passed several closed doors before reaching the one room with a light on.

He bypassed a vacant reception area, using a swinging half door to finally reach the entrance to the office overlooking the quiet street. Heavy breathing and a woman’s soft cry had Ryker stopping short. He peered around the open doorway to see a blonde on Jay’s lap, pounding hard, her back to the door. Jay’s arms were around her waist, and he was helping her move faster.

Jesus.

The slapping sound of flesh on flesh filled the office. Jay groaned and shuddered, dropping his head to the blonde’s neck. The blonde threw back her head and screamed, her body shaking.

Ryker rolled his eyes and moved away from the door to crouch beside the receptionist’s desk.

“Oh God, Jay. That was so good,” the woman breathed.

“Yeah.” Something rustled. “I have to get back to work, sweetheart.”

More rustles as the blonde probably put herself back together. “We’re going to be together now that you’re getting divorced, right?” A definite pout lived in the woman’s words.

“Of course.” A smacking kiss could be heard. “As soon as it’s all official, you and I will go public. Slowly. It’ll be a good romance to delight voters.” A zipper. “Now be my good girl and let me get some work done, okay?”