CHAPTER 15
“DO YOU PLAN on telling Phyllis?” Troy looked like he could be sick. His dark hair was disheveled. Dark circles lined his eyes.
“What are you hiding? And why, Troy?” Ria leaned on the edge of the table in the cafe. “Tell us.”
“Okay. I will, as long as you promise not to tell Phyllis.” His voice shook.
“I can’t promise that.”
She felt Phoenix’s warm hand on her arm. He was sitting next to her. “We’re not making any promises,” he added. “But I’ve learned that telling the truth is always the best medicine. If you screw up, you step up and make things right.”
There was a moment of silence and Ria wondered if he would confess to anything. She heard the squeaking of the chair as he shifted. “Yes, I had a lapse of judgement for a short time and I thought about giving in to the temptation. Things have been bad between Phyllis and me, and a buddy told me what he does when things get rough. He set up the entire thing for me through one of his friends and by the time I was faced with the opportunity, I couldn’t follow through.”
“Why?” Phoenix asked.
“One, the girl was just out of high school. And she has a substance abuse problem. We ended up spending the hour discussing her problem and the alternatives she has in life. I didn’t sleep with her. I swear I didn’t. I have wanted to tell Phyllis so many times, but I was afraid. If she finds out, she’ll leave me. I don’t want to lose her, but it might be too late.”
“You should have thought about that before you even considered doing this,” Ria said.
“Troy, which buddy suggested you meet a prostitute?” Phoenix had his hand still on her knee.
“He’s a surgeon at the hospital. Bob and I are old buddies.”
“Do you have a number for him? I’d like to speak to him too.”
“Yeah, I’ll help in any way I can.”
“One more question. Tell me why I shouldn’t think you’re involved in the deaths at the studio,” Phoenix asked point blank.
“My God, man. I’d never be involved in anything like that.”
“Maybe if you were being blackmailed.”
“Wrong. I saw the victims’ pictures in the paper and never have I met either one, through my medical office or for personal reasons. I might be a real shit right now, but I’m not a murderer.”
As Phoenix got the information, he kept his hand on Ria’s knee. He probably thought it’d keep her from reaching across the table and wrapping her hands around Troy’s neck, but the truth was she didn’t have a desire to wring his neck like she thought she would. Although he should have never contemplated the idea of cheating on Phyllis, he hadn’t, and he did deserve an ounce of credit for backing out at the eleventh hour. And he’d cared enough to try to help Tammy out of her situation. That didn’t mean Ria wasn’t angry with him because she was and would be for a while. She knew what it felt like to have someone she loved cheat on her, and she didn’t want that for her friend. When it came down to it, she wasn’t sure how Phyllis would take the truth, but she deserved to know and she should hear it from Troy who had a lot of explaining to do.
After they left the café, Ria was quiet as they drove to the local Sheriff’s station so Phoenix could see a detective he had business with.
Once they were parked outside of the building, he didn’t get out, but she heard him turn in his seat.
“Are you going to lecture me because I didn’t sit back and let you do all the talking?” she asked.
“No.”
“Thank you, but I owe you an apology. This is your job. You’re skilled at questioning possible suspects.”
“Listen, I knew after one sentence out of his mouth that he got caught up in this at a weak moment. Once I realized that, I thought I’d leave it up to you to verbally thrash him.” He chuckled. “Do you think he’ll come clean with Phyllis?”
“I believe so, or just as I warned him, I will tell her. I do believe he should be the one who confesses though. He needs to explain everything.”
“You handled the situation well.”
“You mean because I didn’t use my cane over his head? I think it could have gone either direction. He’s like a brother to me and it hurts me that he’d consider ruining his future with his family.”
“Maybe she’ll forgive him and they’ll work harder on their marriage. It takes two to make the machine run smoothly.”
She tilted her chin toward him. “Seriously?”
“What?”
“Are you saying that his misbehavior is simply because they are going through a rocky time? Like Phyllis is to blame too?”
“Retract your claws, darlin’. I’m saying that sometimes it takes something huge to jar two people into realizing what they have. Obviously, the guy loves his wife, but no marriage is without each partner’s guilt in some way.”
“That’s exactly how I think a man would see things.”
“Come on, Ria. This has nothing to do with my gender. You’re protective over Phyllis, which I know she is of you too, but you truly believe she’s completely blameless? Katy cheated, but I played a role in the demise of our relationship.”
“Phyllis never cheated on him. Never considered it. After having the baby, well, she feels off. A lot of women who juggle career, family, and home will tell you the same thing. You lose yourself. Several of my clients come in for therapy to relax, sometimes the only time they will get the chance.”
“Maybe I don’t understand all about a woman’s feelings, but I know it must be hard. There’s no arguing that point. Yet, men can feel left out when everything else is a priority.”
“What are you trying to do here? Take sides? A man for a man?”
“No. I just don’t think there’s anything ever clear-cut in a relationship. I’m not defending the guy, but he deserves a little credit for coming to his senses. In the final hour he realized what he was putting at risk and he chose to do the right thing. Good he figured it out and wants to make things better.”
“There’s a marriage counselor to help with a difficult marriage, not an escort,” she huffed.
He reached over and took her hand. “You’re right, but this isn’t our fight.”
“True, but…”
“What, sweetheart? You can talk to me.” He soothed her by caressing his finger over the backs of her knuckles.
“Phyllis suspected that he was cheating and I convinced her how crazy the idea was,” she admitted, feeling a tug in her chest and stinging in her eyes. “He was distant, different, smelled of a woman’s perfume…all those signs we’re told to watch for. How will she forgive him? How will she see that what he did wasn’t a betrayal, but an eye-opener? Doesn’t anyone take relationships seriously any longer?”
“They’ll work it out.”
“Will she forgive me for not telling her? Am I making the right decision?”
He was quiet.
“What are you thinking, Phoenix?” she asked.
“I think he’s an idiot to even risk losing his family over temporary gratification, but what I’m hoping is that you’ll see there are good men out there, Ria. Men who cherish their relationship. Men who’d rather take their last breath than hurt someone they love.”
“I believe you. I’ll never understand. Phyllis is a beautiful woman. Sure, she admitted that things had gone from five stars to a one star in the bedroom with Troy, but that was because of their jobs and they just had a baby.” It tore her apart to know her friend was facing this issue. She’d been there for Ria when Jamie cheated. It would be only right that Ria be there for Phyllis when she heard the news.
Because Phoenix didn’t want Ria sitting outside alone, he led her inside to sit in the lobby of the station as he went to speak to his friend. Although she was probably at the safest spot she could be, he made sure she had her cell in her hand in case she needed anything. She found his concern sweet. He was one of the good guys, but why did she feel that she could easily overlook any wrong he did?
She could because she was falling for him. Heart and soul.
How did this happen?
~~~**~~~
Phoenix reached for a paper towel and dried his hands as a short, stocky, balding man stepped up to the sink to wash his hands. He turned on the water and scrubbed his hands, continuing to look at Phoenix through the mirror.
Irritated and curious, Phoenix dropped the towel into the wastebasket and met the other man’s gaze. “Can I help you?”
“You’re Sheriff Cade, right?”
“Yeah.” Phoenix had a memory like an elephant, and he was certain he’d never met the man before.
“We’ve never had the pleasure.” He shut off the water then dried his hands off. Phoenix caught a whiff of smoke from the man.
“Nope, ‘fraid we haven’t.”
The man stuck out a beefy hand. He was missing his pointer finger. Phoenix accepted his hand. “Are you Chief Brody?”
“I’m flattered, Sheriff.”
He’d heard a lot about the Chief. He’d worked his way up from the beat and became a hero after he caught two Irish mob men. He had lost his finger after one of the men had cut it off then shot Brody in the side, but he still brought the bastards down. “What brings you to the city, buddy?” Chief Brody narrowed his gaze.
“I’m investigating a case and wanted to speak with Detective Marx. Too bad I just missed him.” And too bad his buddy’s name was on the list Tammy had given him. It proved to Phoenix no matter how much a man thought he knew someone, there was always room for error. He didn’t know how this connected the dots of the case, but instinct warned him he was getting hotter. No one could be trusted, not even the man standing before Phoenix wearing a grin that rubbed him the wrong way.
“Ahh, yes. Marx is on vacation. Is that the first double homicide you’ve had over there in Abbie?”
“First one and, as far as I’m concerned, the last.”
Chief Brody rubbed his temple. Or was he wiping sweat away from his brow? “I hear you’re keeping the county clean, Sheriff. I could use a good man like you here. Have you thought about switching hats? Trading in the star for a detective’s badge?”
“I’m happy where I am.”
He chuckled. “I guess you would be.” He looked to the door and shifted in polished boots. “Is there anything I can help you with?”
“No, nothing of importance. Can you tell Marx I’ll be looking him up? He’ll know what it’s about.”
“Sure thing, buddy.”
“I should be on my way. I’d like to get back to town before night falls.”
He patted Phoenix’s shoulder and headed for the door. “If you need any help from our department, just give me a holler. You hear?”
“Thank you.” He stepped out of the restroom with the Chief and tipped his hat.
“You take care of yourself, you hear? A double homicide ain’t nothing to fool with.”
Phoenix met Ria in the lobby. “Ready?” he asked.
“Who was that man?”
“The man I was speaking to?”
“Yes.”
“You could hear us talking in the bathroom? Either you have spectacular hearing or the walls need to be thicker.
“He stopped and spoke to me, asking who I was waiting on and something about the weather, and then I heard him enter the bathroom.”
“That was Chief Brody.” Seeing her confused expression, he took her by the elbow and led her over toward the door so no one would overhear their conversation. Once they were out, he asked, “What is it? Do you recognize him?”
“There was something familiar about him.”
“Familiar?”
She shrugged. “Yes, but I can’t place it.”
“Like you’ve spoken with him before?”
“Maybe. Or the cologne he was wearing. He also smokes heavily. Oh well. Did you speak to your friend?”
“He wasn’t in. Are you ready?” Once they were outside, Phoenix sighed. “Detective Marx, the friend I came to see, his name was on the list Tammy gave me.”
She stopped and tilted her chin upward. “Your friend? He’s on the list?”
“I really wanted to see him.”
“Do you think he knows something that can help you solve the case?”
Phoenix looked over his shoulder toward the building. “I don’t know. I’m running on instinct here, but something just isn’t right. Do you care if we make one more stop before we head out of town? I’d like to speak to that surgeon, face-to-face if possible.”
“I don’t mind. I could get used to being your sidekick.” She smiled and his heart lit up. He put his arm around her waist as he steered her toward the truck, removing his arm only to grab her hand. She squeezed his hand lightly and their fingers entwined so easily…so right.
“So, you mean it? You could get used to this?”
“I do enjoy your company.”
He helped her into the passenger side, neither of them aware that from inside the building they were being watched through a second story window. When Phoenix climbed into the driver’s seat, Chief Brody stepped back a few inches so he wouldn’t be spotted by the perceptive Sheriff. Brody knew the lawman suspected something.
After the truck was gone, Brody turned, slamming his fist onto the desk, knocking over the pencil holder. Dropping down into the chair, he reached for his cell and dialed a familiar number.
On the second ring, it was answered. “Guess who was at the station today? No, you idiot. Not the President. Sheriff Cade. Shocked are you? Not as much as I was to see him in my county. You’ve had your chance, asshole. Now I’ll take care of him and the blind woman myself.” He clicked off and threw his phone across the room. It hit the wall and shattered. Sweat beaded his brow and he rubbed his forehead as the door came open.
“Chief Brody, is there something wrong?” The Officer asked.
“Get out!” he said in a rough voice.
She wasted no time as she closed the door behind her.
Brody turned back to look out the window, looking at where the truck had disappeared. He’d make it disappear alright. Reaching for the phone receiver, he made another call.
Marx finally answered.
“I think the Sheriff is onto us. Yeah…he came in. Seemed mighty fishy to me. What do I want you to do? Catch that sum’bitch, Snake, and his brother and bring them in. I don’t give a damn. Make something up. Fuck, I don’t care if that bitch deputy is your girlfriend and she’s knocked up. She’s served her purpose and didn’t even know it. Blabber-mouth she is.” He slammed the phone down.
Getting up, he walked over to the safe, spun the lock and opened the door. He shuffled through the contents and found the letter that started the beginning of the end. The letter from Cox, blackmailing Brody. Taking out a cigar from the wooden box, he lit it, not caring that no smoking was allowed in the building.