Page 28 of Starving Butterfly
“We dusted for finger prints, and well that’s why we called you.” Jerry said as he passed over a mobile scanner.
Mia Williams lit up on the screen along with the list of charges and outstanding warrants. I had no idea it had gotten that serious, but I suppose when a suspect goes missing from custody —
I shook my head, “Thanks.”
I calmly walked out of the hotel room, leaving them to their work, vaguely aware of Simmons beside me as I smashed the elevator button downward.
We stepped in, and as soon as the doors closed, she smashed the emergency stop button.
A low sound emanated from the speaker, and she turned toward me.
“I will only say this once, if she’s innocent than I will give her the benefit of the doubt. Not because I think she is, but as a favor to you. So tell me now if there’s something I need to know.” Simmons looked so serious and ready to fight for me. I hadn’t expected her loyalty to be so fierce, and a part of it warmed my heart.
I turned toward her, my hands shaking slightly.
“I don’t know if she’s innocent, but she doesn’t deserve to be in prison.” I spoke low and calm.
“Bodies keep piling up with her name on them, it doesn’t look good for her.”
My mind flashed to Isabella, the woman who had legal custody of the kid. Her charred body burned, and there was no clear indication of what had caused the fire. If it wasn’t Summer, it was someone in the syndicate cleaning up after her.
“I know.” I pulled the emergency switch off, and the elevator resumed.
Both of us stood in mutual silence.
22
WORST COMES TO WORST
December 8th
Laughter bubbled up my throat. I didn’t know if it was the seriousness with which Dr. Avery had said the words or the look he used when he said them. Karter snorted and bent down to set the cat down. The flap of the carrier opened, and theorange fur ball stretched, coming out. I watched as the little cat stretched and yawned, thinking about how a single decision could change a person. The cat didn’t belong in this room like I didn’t, and yet we both stayed.
Gabriella’s whereabouts sat heavy on my chest with the news of Summer’s pregnancy; the truth was I hadn’t even begun to process how utterly fucked up this had become. She was my wife, and she was pregnant. Again. I rubbed the muscles on the back of my neck, itching to grab a cigarette to settle my nerves.
We’d been intimate in the warehouse, before shit hit the fan, but it wasn’t that kind of closeness. Clearly, I was lacking her trust for her to be pregnant yet again with another man’s kid.
A slow laugh bubbled up my throat.
“What’s so funny?” Karter asked.
“A cop, a lawyer and a doctor walk into a bar.” I replied.
“Sounds like the bad end of a joke.” Summer hummed.
“Logically it doesn’t make any sense,” Dr. Avery started.
“Give the man a break, he’s going through a tough moment.” Karter elbowed him, and I just shook my head and laughed.The absurdity of this situation was getting to me.
“How many dicks does it take to please a pussy?” I asked, shaking my head bitterly.
“Four?” Dr. Avery had his hand on his chin in thought.
“None, it takes a lesbian and a few drinks.” Karter snickered.
“So are you going to finish this up or are we going to make childish remarks about cunnilingus?” Summer asked a bit defensively. The cat walked straight for her, jumping up on the bed and putting its paws across her thigh. A soft purr emanated from the cat, and Summer absently stroked its fur.
“May I?” Karter offered, and he shrugged.
