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Shit. He wasn’t old enough to feel this tired from carrying a woman a hundred feet, even if she was dead weight. He turned on the overhead fan, made sure the security camera pointed at the bed so that he’d know when she woke up, and set a bottle of water on the nightstand. Then he rejoined Dewey outside.
The man would make the perfect distraction for NOPD this week.
“I was going to sell Aaron’s boat for ten grand,” Corey told him. “You got that much?”
Dewey shrugged. “I got it.”
“One other thing.” Corey couldn’t have Dewey thinking he was completely soft. Dewey would know something was up. “I want veto power on whoever you choose as your new partner. My friends and I come up here for relaxation and I don’t want to be looking over my shoulder if you bring in some Mexican cartel type.”
Dewey bobbed his head from side to side, considering it. “I guess that’s fair enough.”
“Also, we can’t have you using our construction trucks anymore. I only let Aaron do it for Liam’s sake. If we’re caught hauling your stuff, we could all go to jail with Aaron.”
Corey had never charged Aaron a single penny for his time or the use of his equipment, asking only that Dewey do the maintenance for free. Corey had done everything for Liam. At least that was what he’d thought. He’d thought every penny Aaron made went to the doctors.
Aaron had used him. It still made Corey want to rip Aaron’s head off.
Dewey frowned, then nodded. “I guess that’s fair, too.”
Corey let his expression soften, preparing his first question about Rick. “I’m not trying to bust your chops, Dewey. I’m also worried about Rick. He’s been using.”
“He didn’t get it from me,” Dewey denied quickly.
Corey didn’t know that he believed the man, but it really didn’t matter. Dewey wouldn’t be a concern after today, either. “I think he was stealing from Aaron. Y’know, since Aaron started keeping the shit in his and Dianne’s house.” Since Liam died. Aaron had at least been careful about having drugs in his home when Liam had still lived. “Rick didn’t have any money of his own. I’ve got to get him off that junk.”
“It’ll fry your brain, for sure,” Dewey agreed heavily. “I kept trying to tell Aaron not to dip into the product, but...” He eyed Corey warily. “And what’s with Rick? What was he trying to do last night?”
Corey immediately saw what Bobby had been talking about. There was a cagey air to the older man, like he already knew the answer to the question he’d asked. Like he’s trying to play me. “I don’t know,” he lied. “But I’m about to find out, so if you’ll excuse me.” Without waiting for an answer, he turned back to his cabin. His brothers were waiting in the comm room with Bobby, as they’d agreed on the phone.
He hoped Bobby hadn’t started questioning them without him. If he had, Rick and Jace might be carved up like jack-o’-lanterns already. Corey wanted to do some of the damage himself. Emancipation, my ass.
“Corey,” Dewey called, his voice sounding uncertain. “Jace couldn’t have come up with that idea. So... maybe go easy on him.”
Dewey had always had a soft spot for Jace and had shown the kid how to rebuild engines. Jace wasn’t good at book learning, but he had a real aptitude for machines. Corey had let Jace hang out with the old man when Dewey was working on their trucks. At least the kid would have a useful skill. He was never going to graduate from high school. Hell, Jace hadn’t graduated from elementary school.
“I’ll see” was all Corey would promise. He went back in the house, first locking the front door’s interior dead bolt with his key. It would keep Dewey out and Dianne in, should she wake up before he was finished with his brothers.
He’d stepped around the air mattress on his living room floor on his way to the comm room when his business burner vibrated in his pocket. Dread prickled at his nerves as he dug for the phone, coalescing into a solid wave of panic when he saw the number on the caller ID.
It was Trevor Doyle.
He hadn’t heard from his client since yesterday evening, shortly after Rick’s video had gone viral. The text had simply said: Fix this.
Drawing a breath, Corey hit accept and lifted the phone to his ear. “Yes?”
Don’t cancel the contract. Do not cancel the contract. This was the biggest job he’d ever had and he needed the win. With everything spiraling out of control around him, his job was the one thing he uniquely controlled.
“I saw your interview.”
Corey swallowed, his mouth suddenly dry. “And?”
“I told you last week to stay out of the spotlight.”
Doyle had, minutes after the video of Aaron killing the doctor had gone viral. “I was in the spotlight, whether I liked it or not. I did the interview to redirect the spotlight.”
“Was the part about your brother and Sixth Day true?”
“The police believe that it is.”
