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Two Days Later
After sneaking Dee through the backyard of Jonathan’s compound, Rena took her in the garden behind the massive, two-floor shed.
“Thanks so much for coming, Detective.” Rena’s dress clung to her large breasts, flowing from the waist down. “I used my approved phone call to contact you.”
“I’m glad you did.” Dee observed the vinyl shutters of the gable window.
“Sorry I had to sneak you in, but I didn’t want Jonathan to know and I can’t leave the compound.”
Dee got out her pad and pencil. “What did you have to tell me about Autumn?”
“Autumn was in danger.” Rena swallowed, her full lips glistening from pink gloss. “Least, she thought she was.”
“Why would she think she was in danger?”
“She didn’t say, but I think someone was after her. She didn’t want to go into details because she didn’t want to endanger anyone else.”
Dee nodded, writing what she’d said. “When I spoke to you before, I got the feeling you were closer to Autumn than the others were.”
“We were very close.” The brown freckles spread apart on Rena’s cheeks when she smiled. “Like sisters. We told each other everything.”
“If you care so much, why didn’t you tell me this before?”
Rena sighed, her chest heaving. “Because Jonathan told me not to.”
“He did, did he?” Dee rushed from behind the shed.
“Detective Quarter?” Rena chased her. “Where are you going?”
“To see Jonathan.”
Rena pulled on Dee’s arm. “You can’t.”
“The hell I can’t.” She snatched from Rena. “I’m gonna find out what the hell Jonathan’s hiding if it kills me.”
****
“I don’t care if Jonathan’s busy.” Dee stormed toward Jonathan’s office with Tran on her heels. “This is police business and if you interfere in my investigation I’ll arrest you.”
Tran stopped in the middle of the hall. “But...”
Shauna came from around the corner as Dee reached Jonathan’s office. “What are you doing here?”
“I didn’t come to see you that’s for sure.” Dee reached for the door but Shauna blocked her. “You really don’t wanna do that, Shauna.”
“I’m doing it.” She held her waist. “I don’t remember Jonathan saying he was expecting you.”
“That’s because he’s not and this is official police business. So move.”
“I don’t think so, Detective.” Shauna grabbed Dee’s arm and Dee whipped around, twisting Shauna’s arm behind her back. “Ah! My arm. Let go!”
“Don’t you ever touch me, okay?” Dee bent Shauna’s wrist.
“You’re hurting me!”
Dee let her go.
Shauna fell to the floor, holding her arm. “That’s police brutality.”
“You grabbed me first.” Dee wagged her finger at her. “That’s assault on a police officer.”
“Ooh.” Shauna whimpered. “Jonathan!”
He burst out the door. “What’s going on out here?” He glanced at Dee and then Shauna. “What are you doing on the floor?”
“She twisted my arm.” She reached for Jonathan and he helped her up. “She almost broke it.”
“Oh, please,” Dee said. “If I’d wanted to break it, I would’ve.”
“She’s crazy.” Shauna took sharp breaths. “It really hurts, Jonathan.”
“It’s not broken.” He looked it over. “Go to the infirmary and let Neumann look at it.”
Shauna whined, “It really hurts.”
“Go let him check it out.” Jonathan kissed her cheek. “You’ll be all right.”
Shauna muttered as she went on her way.
“Who’s Neumann?” Dee asked.
“He’s our doctor. What are you doing here?” He held a lopsided grin. “Not that you need an excuse.”
“I wouldn’t be smiling if I were you. This isn’t a personal call.”
“No?” He moaned, sticking out his lips. “I’m disappointed.”
“I need to talk to you concerning Autumn’s case.” She pointed to his office. “May I come in?”
“Sure.”
Dee entered the room, overtaken by the bright red walls and vivacious prints on the sofa and chairs. “This is beautiful.” She did a quick turn to check out the place.
In the mist of all the brightness sat a large, wooden desk engraved with sophisticated carvings.
“You have to give me the number for your decorator.” Dee joked, sitting in the cushioned, blue chair across from his desk. “You love color.”
“Color equals excitement.” He sat at the desk, his gaze searching her face. “But, nothing brightens this room up more than you.”
She observed the shelves of books and medical journals behind him.
“You’re a botanist. Why all these herbal medicine books? Interested in it because of your father?”
“Maybe.” He swept his hand over his buzz cut. “We only use herbal and natural medicines here so these books are essential for treating different ailments.”
Dee bobbed her head, scoping out the portrait of a swan on a lake.
“I got that from my last trip in Wales.” He leaned back in the chair, pointing to it. “I didn’t tell you, but I’m building another home there. It’s much bigger than this one.”
“Bigger than this one?” She grinned. “What’s it look like, Buckingham Palace?”
He cocked his head, staring at her. “Maybe I’ll show you one day.”
“Sure, show me a picture.” She rolled her eyes.
“I mean in person.” His eyes narrowed. “Would you like that, Deidra?”
“Is it true that you told Rena not to tell me about Autumn being afraid of someone?”
The arrogance drained from his face. “Yes.”
“And, you think it was a good move to lie to me?”
“I didn’t lie.”
“You told me you didn’t know any reason someone would kill Autumn.” Dee held the arm rests of the chair. “Rena told me she was scared and maybe someone was after her.”
“Rena came to me, and I didn’t want her involved. She didn’t know for sure what Autumn meant and I wanted to protect Rena.”
“I could arrest you for meddling in this investigation like that.”
His skin glistened under the subdued, yellow lightning. “But, you won’t arrest me. Though, I must confess I’m hiding something and it has nothing to do with Autumn’s murder.” He snickered, rocking his head. “I have a crush on someone. You think she knows it?”
“Tell Shauna if she touches me again, she’ll be missing her arm next time.”
“Wait.” Jonathan rushed from his chair and grabbed her as she rose. “I’d love to see more of your moves myself.”
Scoffing, she started for the door. “I gotta go.”
“How you been feeling lately? Still stressed?”
“I’m trying something new.” She dropped her head, back still to him. “I’ve been meditating.”
“Meditating, huh?”
She felt his grin.
“What made you do that? Let me guess. Would it have been me?”
She turned around. “You didn’t invent meditation, Jonathan.”
“Were you doing it before you met me?” He gravitated to her. “What did you think of dinner with us?”
“Interesting to say the least.”
“You think that was something, you should see how The Circle really gets down.” A muscle twitched in his jaw. “Our parties definitely keep you up at night.”
“I’m sure.” She turned to leave.
“Asia is turning twenty-five tomorrow and we’re having a birthday celebration for her.”
“What does that have to do with me?”
“I want you to come.”
She turned up her nose. “Are you serious?”
He moved closer, sniffing her. “Yes.”
“Why would I come to this party?”
“Because no matter how you fight it, you’re interested in us. Something draws you here. You can’t deny it.”
“You’re so full of yourself.” She laughed. “Nothing here impresses me or interests me. I keep coming here because of the investigation. That’s all.”
“If you say so.” He pressed his palms together. “At the party you can talk to the guests. Might be a good way for you to find out something.”
“As if I believe you want me there just for that.”
“You have to admit though...” He leaned into her, pressing his hand in the curve of her back. “Spending time with me is quite the distraction.”
She pushed him away and left.