Page 50 of Demo
We stare each other down for a beat. I know exactly what he’s getting at. “You want me to stop asking around about the Jerome King case.”
With a stare that could cut glass, Scott gives me the tightest, slightest nod.
Keep your cool, Lizzie. Keep it together …
I lean over and place the piece of paper he gave me back on his desk, then, with two fingers, slide it across to him. “Sorry, Chief, but that’s not gonna fly with me. I appreciate the tip, but what I decide to pursue is not up for negotiation.”
“It wasn’t a request.” The sentence is clipped and cold and comes out through clenched lips.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me.”
Just then I hear the click of the door shutting behind me and turn to see Henderson and Clark blocking it. I suppress an eye roll as I rise to my feet. “Seriously? You need muscle to keep me in check. What is this, intimidation tactics?”
The chief stands along with me and comes around the desk in a non-aggressive way. Hands on his hips, he stops in front of me and lets out a sigh. Head down, he casts his eyes up at me.
“Look, this isn’t how I meant for this to go. You just aren’t doing anyone any good by opening up old wounds. I know Mrs. King approached you. She’s got her case against the city which, to put it out there, will go nowhere. Her son was guilty.”
I shift my weight from one foot to the other as I remain aware of the men behind me.
“I need you to stop, Lyzbeth. I need you to just let it go.”
“No.”
“No?”
“No,” I say. “Frankly, the fact you are asking me to let it go makes me want to dig even deeper.”
Scott exhales through his nose and his nostrils flare.
“What are you hiding?” I ask. “What really happened? Why not tell me the truth?”
He just stands there.
“OK, well, this has been real fun, but I’m going to go now.” I step around him and hit the wall of muscle hiding the door. “Mind getting your bodyguards to step down?” I ask without looking back at the chief.
He must give them a silent indication because they separate, but not before Henderson gives me an apologetic look.
“Oh, please,” I say to him.
I storm out the door and down the hall. As I pass Reggie, I hear him yell after me, “Hey, Lizzie, what’s the rush?”
At least he wasn’t in on the ambush, too.
Chapter 15
LYZBETH
Iwaslitupwhen I left headquarters after being cornered by the chief and his goons, and I felt like I couldn’t get back to the office fast enough to fill Monty in on what had just happened. But, of course, my gas tank was on empty, so I pulled up in front of the nearest gas station and am now fighting with the fucking pump that keeps giving me an error message and telling me to go see the cashier.
After a third failed attempt I realize I’m going to have to go solicit the help of an employee, and head toward the door. Head down, I juggle my keys and wallet in my hands as I crash into someone coming out of the door, hot coffee splashing all over us both.
“Oh, shit! I’m so sorry!” I offer as I throw my full hands up, accepting all fault. I glance up and lock eyes with Knox.
“Lizzie.”
“Knox?” I look around, unsure why. I would ask what he is doing here, but there really isn’t a reason he wouldn’t be at any gas station in the city. “Where’s your truck?” I crane my head around. Surely, I would have seen it.
