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“WHAT HAPPENED?” WINSTON asked when Dee got into her car.
“What do you think?” She fumbled with her keys. “He got mad that I’d accused him. He said he’d never do anything like that.”
“You expected him to admit it? You were supposed to gage his reaction when you asked. Did it look like he was lying?”
“Grayson didn’t do this.” She put the key in the ignition.
“You can’t dismiss him so quickly, Dee.”
“It was hard to be in there with him, Winston.” She sobbed. “He looks like he’s in so much pain. I feel terrible for how I did him.” She got a tissue from her purse. “That’s why I’ve been avoiding him. I knew if I saw him it would be too much to take.”
“It’s okay.” Winston rubbed her back. “You did the right thing breaking it off. What good would it have done to lead him on?”
“It still doesn’t make me feel better.” She sniffled as a man rode up the sidewalk on his bike. “I shouldn’t have gotten involved with him in the first place. Look at me.” She dabbed her eyes. “Probably messing up my makeup. Crying like a baby.”
“It’s good to cry.” Winston’s big hand clasped her shoulder. “Sometimes being vulnerable is the strongest thing you can be.” He touched her damp cheek with his thumb. “I like this,” he whispered, stroking her hair. “I like you vulnerable like this.”
She made eye contact.
He’d never looked at her like this before.
“What do you mean?” she whispered.
“You never let anyone see this side of you.” He glanced at her lips, and she wondered if he wanted to kiss her.
Is this really happening?
“There’s a difference between being vulnerable and stupid.”
He moved his hand from her hair. “I knew you’d bring out the shield again.”
“You think I’m hiding myself under thick skin but this is the real me, Winston.”
“No, it’s not. The woman who was just crying is the real you. Why are you afraid to let people see that side of you or is it just me you don’t want to see it?”
“Maybe I don’t trust your motives.”
“My motives?” He scratched through his curls. “What the hell you talking about?”
“All this attention you’re suddenly showing me. Was Grayson right? You finally got bored running after a woman you can’t have so now you’re here?”
He huffed and puffed through tight lips.
“What am I? Some easy ass you think you can get because you can’t have Lisa? I’m the substitute?”
“Why did I come here?” He pulled on his seatbelt. “What the hell was I thinking?”
“You’ve been sniffing under Lisa all this time and now you’re in my face every time I turn around. If you think I’m easy prey—”
“Stop it.” He grabbed her. “I am your friend. I care about you so stop treating me like this.”
“Why do you care now?”
“I’ve always cared.” He let her go. “Why are you so difficult? Does everything have to be a battle with you?”
“You mean why I’m not like Lisa?” She studied his pissed off expression. “The sane and calm one?”
“You know what? Go to hell, Dee.” He got out the car and slammed the door.
She leaned over and stuck her head out the passenger window. “What are you doing?”
He walked down the sidewalk.
“Winston?”
“I’ve had enough of the attitude,” he yelled still walking. “I’ll catch a bus.”
“You’re gonna catch a bus back to the station? That makes no sense!” Dee started the car and crept up beside him. “Winston, get your ass in the car.”
He kept walking.
“I’m sorry. I’ll watch the attitude. Please get back in the car.”
He stopped, keeping his eyes ahead.
“I’m sorry.” She stopped the car. “Please get back in.”
He turned toward the car. “I don’t wanna hear any more of this petty shit or you can do this on your own. I’m the one helping you, Dee. You notice no one else is here.”
She nodded. “You coming?”
He got in and she drove on. “We can’t lose sight of what’s important.”
“You’re right.” She stopped at a stop sign then continued.
“Let’s put Grayson aside where this profile is concerned.” Winston hooked the seatbelt. “I’m not saying I buy he didn’t do it but we need to think of someone else.”
“There isn’t anyone else.” Dee made a left. “Not outside of some criminal I’ve arrested or something.”
“What about someone who creeps you out? Any people who wanted to date you and you rejected them? Think, Dee.”
“Well, there’s this one guy, but I don’t know if he’d do something like this.”
“Who?”
“Armando Urena.”
“Isn’t that the guy who was involved in the Gilbert case?”
“Yeah, he was a childhood friend of the murder victim. He has a crush on me. I told him I wasn’t interested, but he’s starting to get on my nerves.”
“Isn’t he a photographer?”
“Yeah.”
“Damn, Dee. How could you not think he might be the guy?”
“It’s because he’s a photographer that I thought it probably wasn’t him.”
“Huh?”
“Why would he be dumb enough to do something like this knowing he’d be the first person I’d think of?” She slowed at a red light. “Yes, he’s creepy but I don’t know.”
“I think it’s time we pay Mr. Urena a visit.”
****
“DETECTIVE QUARTER?” Armando Urena abandoned the young woman he was photographing when Dee and Winston walked into his studio. “How...how are you?” He gazed at Dee through glasses that were twice as big as his face.
“Excuse me?” The woman in the white summer dress stood against a backdrop of a waterfall. “I need to finish these shots today. I have something else to do.”
“I’ll be there in a minute,” Armando snapped with his eyes still on Dee. “You look great.” He giggled with a wide smile that overtook his slim face.
“Uh, thanks.” Dee gestured to Winston. “This is Detective Winston Lewis.”
Armando wiggled his nose as his glasses slipped. “Nice to meet you, Detective Lewis.”
Winston nodded.
“Is something wrong? Hey!” He wrapped his sweaty hand around Dee’s. “Guess what?” I just got a new camera in, and I’d love for you to take a look.” He moved closer to Dee, his breath smelling like pepperoni. “You want to see my camera?”
She tried to free her hand. “Armando—”
“I haven’t even opened it yet.” He slapped his other hand on top of hers. “I want you to be the first person to see it.”
“We’re not here for a visit,” Winston said. “This is official police business.”
“Oh.” Armando’s face deflated, and he let Dee’s hand go. “Is something wrong?”
“Hey!” the woman yelled. “I paid for this appointment. I need to get these photos done.”
Armando whipped his head toward her. “I’ll be there in a second.” He faced Dee and Winston, huffing. “Some people. What can I do for you?”
“Have you heard of Find Your Fantasy?” Dee asked.
Armando pushed his glasses up. “That sex site?”
“You’ve heard of it?” Winston asked.
“Well...” He put his arms behind his back. “My cousin goes on there to look for women.” He rolled his eyes. “I don’t agree with that sort of thing but that’s him.” He smiled at Dee.
“Someone created a fake profile of me on there with doctored pictures and my contact information.”
“That’s horrible.” Armando’s forehead wrinkled. “Who would do something like that to such a wonderful person? Detective Quarter, I’m so sorry.”
“You don’t know anything about the profile then?” Winston asked. “Because we wondered if you might seeing that you have motive.”
“What?” Armando turned his head left and right. “Are you accusing me of making the profile?”
“Did I stutter?”
“I didn’t do it,” he spat. “I wouldn’t ever do anything like that.”
“You are a photographer,” Dee said. “I’m sure you can manipulate photos.”
“You ever heard of Photoshop?” He held his arms out with his palms to Dee and Winston. “Anyone can manipulate photos these days. There are tons of free software that show you how.”
“Yeah but these look incredibly realistic.” Winston scratched his head. “Maybe it took a professional’s touch?”
“Why would I want to do something to jeopardize Detective Quarter’s safety or reputation? I respect her.”
“Wouldn’t you say your behavior is strange, Mr. Urena?” Winston asked. “You repeatedly ask Dee out and she’s said no every time. To me that’s not normal.”
“Goodness you ever liked anyone in your lifetime, Detective Lewis?” Veins throbbed in Armando’s long neck. “Just because I asked her out doesn’t mean I faked a profile of her. This is insane. I’m a professional photographer and have more important things to do.”
“I’m sure you understand we had to ask,” Dee said.
“I’m not mad at you.” Armando’s expression softened. “I hope you find the sicko who’s doing this because you’re too good of a person to be treated this way.”
“Yeah.” Dee half-smiled. “We’ll let you get back to what you were doing.”
He jumped in her face. “You wanna come by later after I close? I have some new photography I’d like to show you.”
“I bet that isn’t all you’d like to show her,” Winston whispered.
“Bye, Armando.” Dee and Winston left through the glass door. “What do you think?”
“Whoa.” Winston blew a breath. “You talk about a weirdo. Did you see how he was looking at you when he kept asking you to see his camera?” He grinned. “Reminds me of some serial killer who collects animal carcasses in his mom’s basement.”
“That’s not funny.”
“Anyway, I don’t know if I believe he’s innocent.”
Dee got out her car keys as they walked to her car. “Until we have proof we have to go on his word.”
“Let’s get back to the station.” Winston stopped at the passenger’s side. “Hopefully contacting the other women on the site will lead us somewhere.”