Jaded by Karin Tabke Read Free Book Online Page B

Opus.”
    The kid nodded and started to turn, but Jase put his hand out and stopped him. “After you bring the case up, let’s talk.”
    Rusty shrugged and said, “Okay.” Then he scampered away.
    Jase turned questioning eyes back to Mac. “What is your full name?”
    He scowled and refilled Jase’s cup. “William Trent MacDonald. Most people call me Mac, here they call me Mr. MacDonald.”
    “Who’s the kid?”
    “A stray. Rusty Daniels.”
    “A stray?”
    “Yeah, Jade has a penchant for them. He showed up one day looking for a handout. Jade gave him a job. So far he’s worked out.”
    “So tell me what Jade and Townsend did last night.”
    Mac shrugged again. “Dinner, I think, not here, though. But they came in around ten. Date over.”
    “So she rarely dates but has dinner with that lowlife?”
    “Probably a favor.”
    “For who?”
    “You’d have to ask Jade.”
    “What was Townsend’s condition?”
    “He’d had a few scotches.”
    “In your opinion, was he under the influence?”
    Mac nodded. “I’d say he shouldn’t have been driving.”
    “When did he leave?”
    “Not sure exactly, maybe around midnight.”
    “Did he leave alone?”
    Mac scowled again. “He left with Genevieve.”
    “Genevieve?”
    “Yeah, she’s new.”
    “I thought he just came off a date with Jade.”
    “Jade likes to keep things clean and separate.”
    “So, Townsend was looking for some extracurricular action, Jade shot him down, he got pissed and settled for the new girl, Genevieve?”
    Mac ignored the question and stepped to the end of the bar, taking the case from Rusty, who found the floor more interesting than his surroundings.
    “Rusty, I’m Detective Vaughn, I’d like to ask you a few questions about last night.”
    The kid looked to Mac, who nodded.
    It was obvious to Jase the boy, or more accurately the young man, was a few lightbulbs shy of a full fixture. He wrung his hands and shuffled his feet under Jase’s scrutiny.
    Jase reached out a hand and clasped the younger man’s shoulder. “I’d just like a few answers. So just take a deep breath and relax.”
    Rusty took Jase at his word. He took a big deep breath and composed himself. He even smiled. Jase squeezed his shoulder, then released him.
    “Did you see Mr. Townsend here last night?”
    The kid nodded.
    “Did you see him with Miss Jade?”
    The kid made an odd sound similar to a cat’s meow. His right foot moved back and forth.
    “It’s okay, Rusty, just tell the truth,” Mac offered.
    Rusty looked up and his eyes narrowed. “Miss Jade had a drink with him.”
    “Did they argue?”
    Rusty’s eyes dropped to the floor. “I don’t know.”
    “Did you see who Mr. Townsend left with?”
    Rusty glanced up at Mac, then the floor, then finally back to Jase. “He left alone.”
    Mac cleared his throat. “Don’t you remember he left with Genny?”
    Rusty stepped back, shaking his head. “No, Genny left first.”
    “Do you remember what time that was?” Jase asked.
    Rusty nodded and closed his eyes, his brows furrowing. He looked to be in pain.
    “He gets migraines when he gets confused or upset,” Mac explained.
    “I’m sorry, Rusty, I didn’t mean to upset you. I just want to find out what happened to Mr. Townsend. What time did he leave?”
    “It was late. I think after midnight.”
    “Did you see him again?”
    “No.”
    “What time did Miss Jade leave last night?”
    Rusty pursed his lips. “I don’t know. I left around one and she was still in her office.”
    Jase took a card from his breast pocket and handed it to Rusty. “My number is on the back. Call me if you remember anything, okay?”
    Rusty smiled and slipped the card into his back pocket. “Okay.” He scurried off and Jase looked up to find Mac watching him.
    “He’s a good kid.”
    Just as Jase was about to settle back into the barstool and pump Mac some more, Ricco came up behind him.
    “Jase my man, we need to talk.”
    Jase excused himself and