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“Hart Carroll?” Jonathan sat at the table in his lab, scribbling figures in a notebook. “Never heard of him.”
“He owns the property Autumn lived in.” Connie walked through the aisles of plants, peeking inside the plastic bins.
Jonathan turned his chair straight ahead, shooting a lustful gaze at Dee. “What does this have to do with Autumn’s murder?”
“We spoke to her neighbor.” Dee faked a cough, the scene of Jonathan pleasuring Asia flashing in her head. “She says LJ Witt, the man who lived in the house before Autumn and Carroll didn’t get along. Yet, Carroll acted like he barely knew Witt.” She moved from the door but kept her distance. “We wondered if Autumn mentioned anything to you about Witt or Carroll.”
“Nope.” He shook his head.
“We found out Carroll lied about not being in contact with LJ,” Dee said. “Suzanne, Autumn’s neighbor, said Witt and Carroll had a fist fight. Autumn told her.”
Connie popped from behind the plants. “We have a strong feeling that Witt’s disappearance and Autumn’s murder is connected.”
Jonathan clasped his hands, wearing a relaxed expression. “Is Carroll a suspect or something?”
Dee smiled.
“Ah, right. You can’t tell me anything about the case. Am I still a suspect?”
She smiled again.
“That’s unfortunate.” He stood from the stool. “I was hoping you’d know me better than that.”
“I don’t know you at all.”
“Sure you do.”
Connie walked from the aisles, glaring.
Dee caught Connie’s expression and cleared her throat. “Thanks for your cooperation, Jonathan. Ready, Connie?”
“Deidra?” Jonathan rushed after Dee, grabbing her arm.
Connie gaped.
“May I speak to you for a moment?”
“We have to go,” Dee said.
“Just for a moment.” He let her go. “Please wait outside, Detective Wilks.”
Connie hesitated and then left.
“What the hell are you doing, Jonathan?” Dee pointed to the door. “The last thing I need is her more suspicious—”
With a deep growl, Jonathan smashed his mouth over hers. “Mm.”
Dee clawed at his shirt, trying to push him away.
He shoved her to the wall and forced his hand up her blouse, caressing her breast through the bra.
Dee moaned as World War III broke out between her mind telling her to leave and her pussy begging her to stay.
Jonathan ran his hand across the back of her bra, pulling at the snaps.
Not sure of how far she’d let things go if he didn’t stop, Dee pushed him as hard as she could but it didn’t move him. “Jonathan. No.” She grunted, thoughts of Winston forcing their way into her head.
Yet, Jonathan’s kisses felt so damn good.
I can’t do this to Winston.
I won’t.
“Stop.” She pushed Jonathan off, breathless.
He stood back, huffing and puffing and wearing her lipstick.
She wiped her mouth.
“When I was pleasuring Asia, you watched.” His eyes darkened. “And, you liked it.” His voice held an authoritative edge. “You wanted that to be you.” He licked his mouth clean of her lipstick. “You want this.” He turned, the imprint of his giant boner displayed in the center of his black slacks. “I want you in The Circle, Deidra.”
She ran to the door, reaching for it.
Jonathan walked toward her as she closed the door in his face. “You belong here!”
Dee collapsed on the wall when she got into the hall.
“It’s too late, isn’t it, Dee?” Connie sighed. “You going tell me again that you won’t get hooked?”
“Leave me alone, Connie.” Dee pushed away from the wall. “You have no right to judge me.”
“I’ve been here, remember? What you’re going through.”
Dee passed her. “I’m not you, Connie.”
“Yes, you are.” Connie caught up with her. “You’re exactly like me.”
****
“Ah, shit!” Winston grabbed Dee that night as they watched Final Destination III. “Man, how can you watch this gruesome stuff? Ugh.”
Dee chewed popcorn, her mind still on Jonathan’s advances.
“Oh.” Winston wrapped his arm around Dee, crushing her.
“I can’t breathe.”
“Sorry.” He slapped his hands over his eyes. “I can’t take any more of this.” He turned the channel. “How can you watch those over and over?”
“You see how you get all scared and grabby?” She snickered, chewing. “That’s why.”
“So, you like it when I grab you?” He took the bowl of popcorn and set it on the table. “I can do a lot more grabbing.” He tried to kiss her and all she thought about was how she’d betrayed him in Jonathan’s lab.
As soon as Winston’s lips touched hers, she turned her head. “We need to talk.”
He stretched out his legs underneath her. “Sounds serious.”
“It is.” She slid off his lap and turned on the lamp next to the couch. “I’ve been hiding things from you.”
His eyebrows rose.
“I love you very much.”
“Dee.” He laid his arm on the back of the sofa. “Did you cheat on me?”
“No.” She slammed her eyes shut.
“Do you...” His voice cracked. “Do you want to cheat on me?”
“No.” She leapt on him, grabbing his T-shirt. “I swear I don’t want any man but you.”
“Then what is it?”
“I’ve been going to Jonathan’s compound.”
“You mean besides for the case?”
“I’m sorry, Winston.”
“Wait, a minute.” He stood, leaning over her. “Explain this.”
“I’ve seen Jonathan outside the investigation.”
“You what?” His forehead crinkled. “Why?”
“I had dinner at the compound and then went to a birthday party for a woman in his group.”
“Hold on.” He stood straight, locking his hands behind his head. “Am I hearing this, right?”
“I’m sorry—”
“Just tell me why it’s okay to do shit like that.”
She stood. “Nothing happened, but I didn’t want to hide it from you.”
“You didn’t tell me when it happened. Isn’t that hiding it from me? What made you tell me tonight?”
She turned away from him, staring at the table.
“Dee.” He grabbed her. “Did something happen?”
“I saw him today, and he kissed me. I told him to stop.”
“How could you be so irresponsible? Not only is this about our relationship but this is a suspect in your case. Then again you seem to have a habit of fucking guys you investigate.”
“That’s way out of line. Grayson is the only man I got involved with during an investigation. Jonathan kissed me. I couldn’t stop it.”
“You could’ve by staying away from the bastard.” He jumped in her face. “He has feelings for you doesn’t he?” He blinked. “You knew this all this time, and you kept going over there? Sounds like you need an excuse to see him.”
“It’s not like that. Be fair. I was trying to find out if he killed Autumn.”
“Bullshit.” He threw up his arm. “You keep going over there because you like him, Dee.”
“No.” She shook him by the shirt. “I don’t want Jonathan Wild. Winston, I’m confused, and this happened so fast. He’s been manipulating me.”
“Don’t give me that.” He sat on the table. “You wanted to see him, Dee. How could you do this?”
“Please, honey.” She knelt in front of him, rubbing his jeans. “I love you so much. Don’t be mad at me. I didn’t wanna hide it from you. It was killing me.”
“You’re the one always demanding trust but you’re going behind my back like this?”
“Winston.”
He stood, pushing her away. “I gotta go.” He got his keys off the table and left the living room.
“No.” She ran behind him. “Winston, wait!”
“There’s no damn reason for you to see Jonathan anymore.” He turned from the front door. “Not after this. I don’t care about the case.”
“Okay.” She pressed her hands together, nodding. “Okay. I won’t go back over there unless Connie—”
“I don’t want you going back over there anymore period.”
“He might be the killer and—”
“If he’s the fuckin’ killer why are you letting him kiss on you?” he screamed, his breath blowing her hair. “Does this make sense at all, Dee?”
She shook her head. “Believe me; none of it does.”
“He’s sucking you in.” He opened the door, pressing against it.
“He’s not sucking me into that cult. You crazy?”
“You’re hiding things and lying.” His face turned crimson. “Things you weren’t doing before you met him.”
“I need you, Winston.” She hugged him, pushing her face into his chest. “Please.”
He unhooked her arms from him. “Why do you keep going over there?”
“I won’t anymore, I promise.” She kissed his hand and laid it upon her cheek.
He pulled his hand away. “I’m so mad I can’t see straight.”
“Please don’t leave like this.
He walked out and slammed the door.