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“Grayson, we’re not here to stroll down Memory Lane,” Dee said. “Autumn Stuart is dead and we’re on the case.”
He sat back, mouth open. “What did you say?”
“Autumn Stuart is dead,” Connie repeated. “Her property manager found her this evening. She’d been strangled.”
“Oh my god.” Grayson covered his mouth, rocking forward. “Jesus Christ, who would do something like that?”
“That’s our job to find out,” Dee said. “Her property manager says you and her were dating.”
“Yes.” He gripped the edge of the table, holding a deadpan expression. “For about three months, but it ended.”
Dee got out her notepad. “How did it end?”
“Uh...” He fidgeted, eyes moving from left to right. “It just ended.”
“Relationships don’t just end, Grayson,” Dee said. “Is there something you’re hiding?”
“Why am I not surprised that you’re suspicious of me yet again? I didn’t kill Autumn if that’s where you’re going.”
“How did the relationship end?” She tapped the pencil on the table. “It’s not a hard question.”
“Okay.” He exhaled into his hands. “She broke it off a few weeks ago.”
“She dumped you?” Connie asked.
Grayson focused on her. “You can say that.”
“That must’ve irked you, huh?” Dee crossed her legs as she wrote. “You don’t take breakups too well.”
“No one wants to be dumped.” He squinted at her with a scowl. “But, I didn’t feel half for Autumn what I felt for you.”
Dee looked away, clearing her throat.
“I didn’t strangle her. Why don’t you check out Jonathan Wild?”
Dee batted her eyes. “Where have I heard that name before?”
Connie tapped Dee’s arm. “That’s the guy that runs The Circle.”
“That cult?” Dee wiggled her pencil. “They’ve done stories about him on the news from time to time. His daddy was famous, right?”
“His daddy was Montgomery Wild,” Connie said. “He was a scientist and invented that herbal medicine and became a multimillionaire.”
“Jonathan is a botanist from Harvard.” Grayson rolled his eyes. “He concocts all these herbal medicines and things on his compound outside Baltimore. That’s who you should focus on.”
Connie set her elbows on the table, staring at Grayson as if he were a movie. “Autumn was in The Circle?”
He nodded. “She and Jonathan became involved, and that’s why she quit things with me.”
“That still gives you the motive,” Dee said.
“I was fine with the breakup, trust me.”
“Have you been here all day?” Connie asked.
“Yes, I haven’t left. Tammie’s been here most of the time. You can ask Sylvia.”
“May we have access to your security cameras to confirm you were here?” Connie asked.
“He doesn’t use security cameras,” Dee said. “He’s not into them.”
“I don’t want cameras all over my house.”
“A big, beautiful home like this?” Connie whistled. “What did this cost you, a couple million at least?”
“Like I said, I was right here.” He exhaled. “A woman disappeared before from The Circle.”
Dee and Connie exchanged glances.
“It was a few years back. Autumn told me the woman left, but no one has heard from her since.”
“What was this woman’s name?” Dee asked.
“Autumn didn’t even know.” He pulled a flower from the centerpiece. “She heard about it when she’d go to Jonathan’s compound. He built that place, and it’s like his own little city where he commands all these women. She says he’s possessive.”
Connie’s eyebrows dipped. “Jonathan?”
“When she first told me she was involved with the group, I couldn’t believe it. Jonathan manipulates women so he can have control over them and keep them as his sex slaves.”
Dee grimaced. “Sex slaves?”
“What do you call it? He has all these brainwashed women locked away, promising them the moon and the stars. I tried to get Autumn to leave him alone but she wouldn’t. No matter what Jonathan does those women remain loyal to him. More loyal to him than even to themselves.”
“We’ll check him out, and I hope you’re telling the truth for your sake, Grayson.” Dee rose when Grayson touched her hand.
“Can I talk to you alone?”
She relaxed back in the chair and nodded at Connie.
Connie got Dee’s keys and pushed her chair against the table. “I’ll be in the car.” She waved at Grayson and left through the gate.
“What do you want?” Dee struggled to keep the edge in her voice though a part of her missed Grayson very much.
“I wanted to say I’m so sorry for your loss.” He flattened his warm, soft palm over her hand. “I know how much your dad meant to you.”
“That’s nice of you.” She stiffened. “Is that all?”
“I still miss you.” He touched her hand. “I still want you.”
“Stop it.” She tried to move her hand but couldn’t. “I’m tired of going through this song and dance every time we see each other. It’s been a year and a half.”
“I don’t give a fuck if it’s been ten years, Dee. I love you and we belong together.”
“If that were true we’d still be together.” She snatched her hand free. “Please, don’t do this. I’m with Winston and happy.”
“Winston.” He rubbed his fist. “It’ll never last.”
“It’s lasted a year which was longer than when you and I were together.”
“That fire you had with me, you don’t get that with Winston.” His jaws clenched. “He’ll never love you like I do. I bet he still wants Lisa and is using you to get close to her.”
“I said stop it.” She stood. “I refuse to have this conversation with you again. It’s over, Grayson.”
“I don’t agree.” He stood, grabbing her hand. “Make me believe it’s over, Dee. You can’t.” He stroked her cheek. “Because deep down you don’t want it to be.”
She bumped into the chair on her way to the pathway. “I gotta go.”
****
After an hour ride to Broadville Port the next day, Dee and Connie arrived at Jonathan’s compound, which included multiple dwellings and over ten thousand acres of landscape.
Dee drove through the steep road leading to Jonathan’s Mediterranean-style mansion in the middle of yards of fresh grass and regal, porcelain statues. She stopped at the wrought iron gate and looked up at the building, its roof reaching the clouds.
“My god.” Connie’s lip hung on her lap. “It looks huge on the website but that doesn’t compare to seeing it in person.”
“Are you the Detectives?” a man asked before Dee could push the button on the intercom.
“Uh.” Dee chuckled. “We are.”
“Please pull up to the house,” the man instructed.
The gates opened and Dee crept through the lengthy driveway.
“It’s so beautiful.” Connie turned left and right. “How much you think this place costs?”
“More than we’ll ever see in our lifetimes.” Dee followed the curves of the driveway while losing herself in the mansion’s warm, beige palette accented by bursts of orange, red, and green.
A petite Asian man with slicked-back salt-n-pepper hair and a cleft chin, came down the orange-bricked steps as Dee and Connie got out the car.
“Hello.” A smile inched its way onto the man’s stern face, one eye bulging. “I’m Tran.” He held out his hand to the detectives, his head reaching their bosoms. “It’s nice to meet you.” He took Dee’s hand, and his was so tiny it made her feel gigantic.
“Nice to meet you.” She inhaled the bitter and sweet fragrance of the flowers sitting in front of the mansion. “I’m Detective Dee Quarter and this is Connie Wilks.”
Connie bowed and then fidgeted.
Dee and Tran gaped at her.
“Why are you bowing?” Dee whispered.
Connie took Tran’s hand with a tight smile. “I meant no offense.”
“I’m not offended.” Tran pulled back his hand. “You’re the one who looked like the fool, not me.”
Dee laughed under her hand.
Connie closed her eyes, sighing.
“Welcome.” Tran clasped his hands. “This is your first time here so you need to learn the rules. We don’t allow guns inside.” He gestured to their holsters. “Please remove your weapons.”
“I’m not removing anything,” Dee said. “We’re police officers who have every right to carry our weapons.”
“It’s no big deal,” Connie said. “We can put them in the car—”
“The hell we will.” Dee moved closer to Tran. “I’m not taking my gun off. It’s your problem if you don’t like that.”
“It’s not my problem.” Tran smiled, batting his eyes. “You’re the ones who need answers. If you want to come in, then leave the guns outside. If not then you can leave.”