Page 106 of Claws & Cover Ups
I tilt my head in confusion.
“He heard us back at your apartment, remember? Maybe he thought you suspected him of the murders.” Matt nods.
Well, in that case, he’s smarter than I am, isn’t he? And that’s as good an explanation as any. But something else hits then.
Was it my conversation with Matt that shifted his interest away from that stupid game and to Elliot?Fuck. AmIthe reason Elliot is in danger?
I shake my head and ask Serena to send a team to Elliot’s place and find Dominic’s known addresses on the down low. It’ll be quicker to find them legally.
My phone lights up again, this time with an unknown but familiar number.
“Please tell me he’s with you,” Sam pleads as soon as I pick up.
“He wasn’t home. But I'm sure he’s fine,” I say. It comes out unconvincing even to my ears.
“Fuck,” Sam groans. “Tell me what’s happening, Nicholas.” His voice is commanding.
Matt raises an eyebrow in a ‘what the fuck?’.What the fuck, alright. But I try to be nice. People behave unusually in emotionally distressing situations. I can give him the benefit of the doubt. “We’ll find him. Don’t worry,” I say softly.
Matt parks the car in front of a small cottage-style house. I get out and close the door behind me.
I look around, ignoring Sam. It’s a well-maintained house. Trimmed bushes, clean yard, and bright paint.
“I’ll check if he’s in,” Matt says, walking up to the porch.
I nod to him.
“...condescending. I can help,” Sam is saying when I focus on him again.
“Listen, Sam, I’m already working on finding him. I’ll call you when I have something,” I say, interrupting whatever Sam was on about, and I go to disconnect the call.
“Is it the killer who murdered that actor and another person?” I hear him before I can disconnect.
I immediately pull the phone back to my ears and walk afew feet away, out of Matt’s earshot. “What do you know about him?” I ask quietly.
“It’s him, isn’t he?Fuck,” he groans again. “I was sure my theory was wrong. How could this be happening now? When we stopped?” he rambles.
“What theory?” I ask.
“Nothing, okay. Just tell me if you have anything. I promise I can help,” he says, his voice desperate.
“I think it’s the new LAPD officer, Dominic Adler,” I blurt. I don’t know what compelled me to tell him. Maybe it’s desperation recognizing desperation.
“Why?” he asks curiously. But it sounds more like a professional curiosity than a general one.
“Because I’m sure he found out what Elliot was doing. His girlfriend was killed by a drug-induced heart attack last year,” I say. Sam clearly knows a lot more than I’d let myself believe.
“What will you do if you find Elliot?” Sam asks, sounding helpless.
“I haven’t decided yet, but it won’t be worse than what Dominic has planned for him,” I say matter-of-factly.
He sighs. “Alright, give me a few minutes,” he says, defeated. He disconnects before I can ask what will happen in a few minutes.
I shake my head and walk over to Matt, who’s now standing near the small shed next to the house.
“No one’s home, but the place smells off,” he says, his eyes trained on the shed.
I walk closer to the shed and take a long whiff. “Too much disinfectant,” I say.
