on the couch and fell asleep, hoping my dreams would be
untouched by the events of the day. I came awake suddenly as I felt myself
being lifted up. I opened my eyes to see Griffin looking down at me with that
same worried expression that seemed to be on his face far too often.
“You’re home.”
He kissed me on the forehead. “Yes,
sweetheart. Go back to sleep, I just figured you’d be more comfortable in bed.”
“Thank you,” I said as he laid me down on
the mattress.
I waited for him while he was in the
bathroom getting ready for bed. When he stretched out beside me I turned to him
and felt safer as his arms wrapped around me.
“How is Ramos doing?”
Griffin took in a deep breath. “She’s
holding it together. I had to tell her about Jolena cheating on her. I didn’t
want her getting blindsided by Fletchall with that little piece of
information.”
“Did she have any idea?”
Griffin shook his head. “Seems Jolena had
issues in the past but Ramos thought that they had worked through them. From
what I could tell, Ramos didn’t know Jolena was cheating but she wasn’t
completely shocked.”
“How did she know her?”
“Jolena’s a model. Not an overly famous one
or anything. Seems she did a bit on the side, enough to keep her going but not
enough to hit the big time. She was also starting to do some acting work, small
bits really. Ramos met her in some coffee shop they both go to and they hit it
off. It seems they went from there. Ramos thought it was exclusive but from
what I’ve been hearing, Jolena was a bit of a wild one. She liked moving in
certain circles. Partying with musicians would be right up her alley.”
“I hope she’ll be okay,” I said quietly
against his chest.
“She’s strong,” Griffin murmured. “She’s
got a lot of family around her and they’re helping.”
“Good.”
“I got a scare today, sweetheart.”
“I’m sorry.” I held onto him a little
tighter.
“We got a call about a female body at that
property and I knew that you were the only woman they have working there at the
moment. I honestly thought I’d lost you. I never want to feel that way again. I
never want to go through what Ramos is going through right now.”
I knew I couldn’t say anything that was
going to make this better.
“I know you don’t do anything to cause
this. I know it’s just my fears but I wish I could find a way to wrap you up
and keep you safe.”
“Monique is worried too. She is looking at
putting on a second security person until they find out what happened.”
“Good. I know Jorge keeps an eye on you but
I wouldn’t mind somebody else there to watch your back as well.”
I felt a light kiss on the top of my head.
“Just stay safe for me, sweetheart.”
I nodded and felt myself drifting off,
secure in his arms.
Chapter Eight
“Wake up, sweetheart. You need to get ready
for work.”
I opened my eyes slowly and found Griffin,
fully dressed, with his hand on my shoulder.
“Not going to work today. Monique told me
they didn’t want me.”
I turned over and pulled the covers over my
head. Griffin pulled them away and I grumbled in his general direction.
“What’s going on? Have you been fired?”
I really didn’t appreciate the hopeful
quality in his voice.
“No, I haven’t been fired. I’m just not
going to work today. The band is in crisis talks with their management over
what happened with Jolena. My input is not considered necessary in those
circumstances.”
Griffin’s face tightened. “So, they’re
circling the wagons, are they?”
I nodded. “Probably. Once management,
public relations and lawyers get involved, that’s what they seem to do.”
“And our chances of finding out the truth
get more and more unlikely.”
Griffin sounded bitter and I didn’t blame
him. It was bad enough when he was investigating a normal case, let alone one
where he had an emotional stake in it.
“Are Detectives Fletchall and Pickett any
good?” I
Learning to Kill: Stories