Rachel took care of the customer at the bank while ignoring eye contact from Stone, who couldn’t have looked more suspicious if he tried.

“Here you go, Ma’am.” Rachel handed a regular her usual weekly deposit. “Have a lovely day.”

The woman smiled, stuffing the envelope in her purse. “You too.”

Stone rushed to the counter with the security guard, Ray, watching his every move.

“I need to talk to you.” Stone laid his ashy hands on the counter.

“I can’t believe you came here.” Rachel tossed a nervous smile at Ray. “You look suspicious as hell.”

“What?” Stone stuffed his hands into his gray hoodie. “Ashamed of your thug ass brother?”

“Leave.” She marched from around the counter. “We can talk in twenty minutes during my break.”

“We need to talk now.” He wiggled his hands in the hoodie.

“Stop holding your hands like that.” Rachel eyed Ray. “He might think you got a gun.”

“Why? Because I’m black?”

“Because you’re a fool.” Rachel took his hand and led him to the water fountain in the hall. “What’s so damn important?”

“What the hell is your problem, girl?” He let go of her hand. “Are you trying to tip Fusco off to where I am because you might if you keep going to the police.”

She moved in closer. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“Don’t act like you don’t know.” He smacked his lips. “Some detective came to the Moonrise Motel asking about you.”

“About me?” Rachel pointed at herself.

“Did you tell the police where I was?”

“No. Why would I do that?”

“I overheard him talking to the guy at the counter. He asked who you came to see. Damn, Rach.” He snatched the hood off his head. “I thought you had more sense than this.”

“I didn’t go to the police. What did the cop look like?”

“Tall, lanky and white.” He shrugged, scowling. “Dark hair combed like John F. Kennedy and shit. Wide ass forehead.”

“Oh no.”

“What?”

“I think that was Bobby West.”

He balled fists. “Who?”

She checked her watch. “I’ll see if Amelia will let me take lunch early so I can tell you.”

* * *

“Hold on.” Stone and Rachel sat in the park across from the bank, chomping on tuna sandwiches from the deli down the street. “This Bobby West is the brother of the guy who saved you?”

“Yeah.” She licked salad spread from the corner of her mouth. “Somehow Scott must’ve found out where you were.”

He sipped from the Sprite can. “How?”

“I have no idea.” Rachel chewed as a red and black butterfly fluttered past her.

“Is Scott psychic?” Stone wiggled his head. “How the fuck did he find out you were at the motel last night?”

“I don’t know.” She swallowed a large chunk of tuna. “He has a habit of getting in my business. I can’t get rid of him and then I feel guilty because he saved me. He wants to help.”

Stone ate the corner of his sandwich. “He wants to fuck you, you mean.”

She poked him with her elbow. “Get your mind out the gutter.”

“Shit, he’s after something. The last thing we need is other people sticking their noses in this. If Fusco finds out you’re associated with a cop, that’s it, Rach. You need to disappear.”

“Excuse me?” She wiped crumbs off her mouth. “Willowick County is my home. I’ve never lived anywhere else and I don’t intend to start now.”

“He could kill you.”

“I’m not leaving.” She gestured to him. “Why is it safe for you to stay and not me?” She glanced at her sandwich. “You came up with a plan?”

“On how to get seven hundred grand?” He produced a light chuckle. “Hell no.”

“Stone.” She threw the last piece of her sandwich in the wastebasket beside the bench.

He leaned forward and let out a roaring belch.

“Stone.” Rachel fanned, grimacing. “All in my face. We’re in public.”

“I’m thinking robbing a bank ain’t such a bad idea.”

She looked at him from the corner of her eyes. “I know you didn’t just say that.”

“I got some partners I can round up that’s down for anything.”

“No.” She stood, securing her purse strap on her shoulder. “Promise me you won’t do anything like that.”

“I’m just playing.” He switched his eyes left and right.

“Stone.”

“All right, all right.” He sat back, biting into the sandwich. “Your wish is my command.”

* * *

“Ah!” Stone stumbled back when he entered his motel room and saw Bobby West sitting on the bed.

Bobby rose, slipping his hands in the pockets of his black Dockers. “It’s okay. I’m a cop.”

“What the fuck, man?” Stone huffed and puffed, holding his chest. “You almost gave me a heart attack. Just because you’re a cop it doesn’t mean you can break into people’s rooms.” He glanced out the door at the black guys in front of the motel then went inside.

Bobby arched a brow. “I’m Detective Bobby West.”

“I know who you are.” Stone threw his keys on the scratched up table. “What are you doing here?”

“You really should quit smoking so much.” Bobby picked up the ashtray of overlapping butts. “It’s not a good habit but something tells me smoking isn’t the only bad habit you participate in.”

“What do you want?” Stone stroked the top of his skullcap.

“I was here earlier.”

Stone rested his butt against the TV.

“Heard Rachel Howard came by here last night, but I couldn’t find out who she visited.” Bobby strolled toward the air conditioner on the floor. “I got a call when I returned to the station.”

Stone swallowed, sweat dribbling down the side of his face.

“An anonymous tip that Rachel visited you last night.”

“So? Is it against the law for someone to visit somebody? What’s this about?”

“Let’s say Rachel’s going through something, and I’m curious what that is.” Bobby stood at the foot of the bed, hands in his pockets.

“She’s a friend that’s all. She needed someone to talk to, so I told her to come over.”

“Jerell Gaffney, huh?” Bobby tilted to one side, badge shining. “Interesting name.”

Stone tightened up. “Just a name.”

“I looked it up to see if you had a record and got nada.”

“Why are you looking me up? What do you want, Detective?”

“Rachel was attacked in Sunway Park recently. I—”

“You’re way off if you think I did it.”

“I know you didn’t do it. The attacker was white. I’m here because I’m concerned about my brother. He helped Rachel when she was attacked and he’s walking around like he’s MacGyver or somebody. I don’t want him to get hurt.” Bobby grimaced. “I’ll do anything I can to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

Stone stood from the TV. “What the fuck does your brother have to do with me?”

Bobby shoved Stone against the wall and put his gun to his forehead.

“Man!” Stone shivered, feeling the trickle of piss at the tip of his dick. “Hold on.”

“You hold on.” Bobby pushed the gun into Stone’s face. “I didn’t come down here to play guessing games with some two-bit thug.”

Stone breathed hard through tight lips.

“Now my brother and I aren’t best friends but he’s all I got and I’ll do anything to keep him safe.”

“Get off me.” Stone pushed forward, but Bobby’s grip remained solid. “This is police brutality!”

“Tell me what’s going on with Rachel.” Sweat beaded on Bobby’s nose.

Stone struggled. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

Bobby pressed the trigger. “That’s not the answer I wanted.”

“What the hell kind of cop, are you?” Stone waved his hands. “I’ll report your ass.”

“Everything about this situation is weird.” Bobby gripped Stone’s shirt tighter. “How Rachel is so secretive and how you’re staying in this hellhole under a fake name.”

“Man, how you know it’s fake?”

“This isn’t my first day on the job.”

Stone stuck out his chin. “Then who am I?”

“I don’t have the fondest idea.” Bobby let him go, lowering the gun. “But, I’ll find out.” He walked to the door.

“Jesus.” Stone straightened his shirt. “Your ass is crazy.”

“If something happens to my brother…” Bobby put the gun in his holster. “You’ll see what crazy really looks like.”