Duke, page 7
He waited outside for Stone’s truck to drive up the gravel path. He inwardly cursed when he saw Bowie wasn’t his only passenger. They didn’t need to add more people to his list of people involved with Sage’s hiding.
“If you installed tires like Dax’s, you would own the gravel road. This piece of shit was like driving off-road in a Porsche.” Slate Patino, Stone’s father, grumbled as he climbed out the passenger’s side. The retired champion fighter walked around the truck and made eye contact with Duke. He wore an amused smart-ass look on his face. “Whatever shit you’re into has Bowie in a panic.” He slapped Duke’s shoulder and continued inside. “Good luck with her. She’s a feisty one, but I guess I don’t have to tell you that.”
Shit.
Bowie’s heated eyes found his the second her sandals hit the ground. She walked toward him and pointed her finger at him. “What’s going on? Where’s Susan? And don’t try the whole you’re staying here for your vacation story because Stone already pitched that empty line.”
“I am staying here.”
“Why?”
“The company and good food.” That wasn’t a lie.
She cocked her hip to one side and stepped into his personal space. “Are you on the job?”
He wouldn’t lie to her. “Yes.”
“What kind of job? Security or protection?”
“Protection.”
“For who? Susan? Emerie? Are they okay?”
“Yes. It’s not them. Or it wasn’t...”
“What does that mean?” Stone walked to Bowie’s side, carrying a handful of bags and balancing a box on his side.
“Are you two planning on staying longer than the morning?”
“Don’t change the subject. Who are you protecting?” Bowie asked.
“You know I’m not able to discuss my clients—”
Her eyes flared wide and she stormed past him into the house before he had a chance to finish his sentence.
“If you have someone in Susan’s house, your damn straight it’s my business,” she shouted over her shoulder before the door slammed behind her.
Stone stopped beside him. “This is only the beginning. You know she’s going to freak when she finds out it’s Sage.”
“Yes.” But not as mad as Sage when she discovered Bowie’s presence.
They followed her inside the house.
“Susan? Susan?” Bowie called around the empty area. She kicked off her sandals and started down the hallway, stopping abruptly midway. Duke could still hear the water running and if he timed her shower right, they had ten minutes tops.
“I recognize that smell.” Bowie sniffed the air. “It’s lavender and—” She gasped and covered her mouth. “Do you have—No.” She whipped around to face Duke. “Is she here?” She lowered her hands from her mouth. “Is Sage Ellis your client?”
Duke closed in the distance between them and caught her elbow with his hand. He rushed her into the bedroom he shared with Sage and closed the door.
“Yes, Sage Ellis is my client.”
“Are you kidding me? I let you go and the first person you run to is Sage Ellis?!”
“It’s not like that.”
“I can’t even form a thought of what it could be like. Are you protecting her, sleeping with her or picking up where you left off with her? I wonder if she’s really that stupid to let you back into her life after”—she held her palm at him—“I can’t even talk to you right now I’m so angry.”
“Sage’s father is dead.”
Her mouth parted in shock and a wave of sympathy washed through her eyes. He didn’t understand how she—social media queen—couldn’t have seen the details. “Dean’s dead? How?”
“Drive-by shooting two nights ago, only it wasn’t random. That night Celeste received a death threat and she and Sage are next on the list. She contacted me and asked for my help.”
“And you chose Susan’s house for their hideaway, inevitably putting her life in danger too?”
The water in the bathroom shut off. They were running short on time.
“I didn’t know the seriousness of the situation until yesterday morning. Celeste was shot in Sage’s condo before the pick up.”
The rest of the color drained from Bowie’s face. “Is she okay?”
“She’s in recovery. I have to take Sage to the city today to talk with detectives. With Celeste being shot, I need Stone to stay here and watch Susan.”
“Because you put her life in danger.”
He couldn’t argue with her anymore so he asked, “Do you trust me?”
Her lips clamped together and she sucked them in while her angry breaths slowed. He knew the answer, but he waited for her quiet, “Yes.”
“No one is getting hurt. I’m asking Stone to stay here while I’m in the city, but I’ll be back. Susan is as safe as Sage, Reed, your father ... anyone I’m responsible for. Do you trust that?”
She sighed and her defensive shoulders fell. “I wouldn’t have paid you the money I did if I didn’t trust you. I’m just angry that you involved Susan and especially now. Today’s her first chemo treatment. Emerie isn’t here and now you’ve dropped a load of stress on her that she doesn’t need.”
“I can’t change that now. I can only move forward.”
“All right. What do you need?”
“I need you to get out of sight until Sage and I are gone.”
Her defense lifted her shoulders again. “Why does your head grow stupid every time that woman is near you? I’m not hiding from her.”
The door behind them opened. “I think you were always hiding more than you let on,” Sage said.
Bowie’s head turned sideways. Sage tightened her grip on the top of the burgundy towel wrapped around her glistening wet body. Duke’s mouth watered. He wanted to lick away the droplets of water her damp hair left on her bare shoulders.
“This is like déjà vu, isn’t it?” Sage leaned her hip on the side of the door frame and tapped a lone fingertip on her chin before pointing between Bowie and Duke. “Isn’t this almost the exact way it played out when you ended it with me? Bowie at your side, me caught off guard, and Stone nowhere to be found.”
“Your jealousy sure feels like déjà vu,” Bowie said. “Misdirected jealousy all over again. Let me stop this whole thing right here. Duke and I never slept together. Not once. Not before you started shacking up with my bodyguard or after. Never. Point your jealousy at someone else because now that you’ve dragged Susan into whatever mess you’re in, Stone and I aren’t leaving until you’ve cleaned it up, roomie.”
Sage lowered her wet, black eyelashes to glare at her old friend. “You always did point the blame at someone else. Sage gave me the vodka. Dad dragged me into the underground fighting scene. Cry, cry, cry. Poor Bowie. You took the drink. You stepped back into the fighting scene when you were old enough to take responsibility for your own actions. The only person you’re fooling is yourself.”
“At least I understood the rules when I stepped into a situation. You went and fell in love with the man you were supposed to be having a ‘casual fling’ with.” She lifted her fingers in air quotes. “Then blamed me because he didn’t want you.”
Duke stepped between the two women before a fighting match commenced. Bowie had no idea how mistaken her accusation was. He’d wanted Sage. More than anyone in his entire life. That had been the demise of their casual fling.
“Bowie, give us some privacy,” he said.
Bowie had a stare down with Duke, chewing the inside of her cheek before walking to the doorway. Angry aura scorched between the women but Sage didn’t give an inch of room, forcing Bowie to squeeze between her and the door frame.
Duke took two steps, pulled Sage inside, and shut the door. He drew her against his front, in his space—he’d never tire of her being in his space—lifted her arm, forcing her to her tip-toes, and brought her face close to his. “Act civilized, we’re at their mercy.”
Her tongue darted over her wet, swollen lips. “What did you tell her about us?”
“Nothing. I don’t talk about my personal life.”
“Maybe this one time, you should have. Maybe you should’ve told her I didn’t say I love you first.”
He’d made mistakes he wouldn’t repeat. He sure as hell didn’t need them thrown back in his face while on the job. “It’s not her damn business.”
“Did you hear what she said? She thinks I’m the stupid girl who fell for the emotionally unavailable guy. She pities me and you let her.”
“Sage, all of this is in our past. A past neither of us care to relive. We can’t change it, but we can go to the city, talk to the detectives, and find the person who shot your mom. Isn’t that our priority goal?”
“Yes.” She leaned so close her lips were centimetres from grazing his. “Excuse me while I change?”
Chapter Twelve
THEY ARRIVED AT the city less than two hours after leaving Susan’s house. Unlike the country, which always seemed asleep, the city was alive even early morning, like it had been awake all night, which in some cases were true. The action didn’t stop when the sun set The bars rocked steady until two a.m., and you could always catch a bite to eat at a late-night diner.
Sage would know after living the clubbing life for a lot of years. The best, hidden clubs were in the old part of the city in the direction Duke was headed.
She shifted sideways in her seat to face him, lifting one leg up against her chest. He hadn’t shaved and she liked his morning stubble. “Just out of curiosity, with you trying to keep me alive and all, do you really think it’s wise to take me to Reggie’s place? I mean, yesterday you didn’t even want to stop at a gas station two hours from where my mom was shot and now you’re taking me right into the city.”
“Do you have to question my every decision?”
“Call me crazy, but our track record makes me wary of your decisions.”
His jaw tightened and the vein in his neck pulsed at her questioning. “Yesterday your mom was shot and you left the building where she was shot. Anyone could’ve followed you from there. Reggie and I have an agreement. He doesn’t see who I bring into his bar and his drunken regulars don’t pay enough attention to notice. If Bowie could frequent the bar for over fifteen years without anyone ever recognizing her, it makes me confident you won’t be recognized either. My judgement is diligently generated.”
“That makes sense now that you’ve voiced it. I’m interested in hearing the diligently generated judgement that was yours when you broke up with me.”
“Your time would be better spent recapping all the details of yesterday morning.”
“That’s a better reply than I was expecting.” She’d been anticipating a strong no.
The rest of the drive through the city was quiet. Reggie’s bar looked the same as she remembered. Even with her mom’s shop in the old part of the city, she’d steered clear of Reggie’s since Bowie had frequented the bar with Duke.
He parked the truck behind the bar and looked at her. “Ready?”
She nodded. Duke came to her side, placed his hand on the small of her back, and directed her to a back door. He produced a key to unlock it and the hinges squeaked as he pushed it open. Inside, the smell of body odor and deep fried foods made her wonder how anyone could order food and eat here.
Duke locked the door from the inside. “No one can come in and out of this door. In the event you are recognized or something is off, we’ll exit this way.”
She wasn’t so sure that was reassuring.
He led her down a hallway to a reclusive booth hidden from the rest of the bar. “Sit down and wait here.”
She slipped into the booth. The dim lights along the wall were depressing, like the idea of relying on security for the rest of her life, like Bowie had lived for so many years. If Sage had stuck by her dad’s side, if he’d been a better father, she would’ve had a “Duke” as a permanent fixture in her life.
Duke returned with a man a foot shorter than him, wearing a grey suit and looking scrawny in comparison.
“Miss Ellis, I’m Detective Banks.” He offered a hand which Sage took in a firm handshake. “I’m sorry about your father and I hope your mother recovers quickly.”
“Thank you.”
The detective sat down across from her while Duke took a step back with his grave stare directed at the bar.
“Let’s start with the day Celeste was shot. Start from the beginning, where were you, what had you done that morning? Every detail could be important.” He clicked the end of his pen and scribbled on the notepad his set on the table in front of him before looking back at her.
“I got up around six that morning, showered, and was on the phone when my mom arrived at my condo.”
“Who were you on the phone with?”
“My assistant and my mom’s employee.”
“Names.”
“Linda and Ally Kent. Linda has worked for my mom for almost five years and her daughter Ally started working as my personal assistant last year.”
“What do you know about Linda and Ally Kent?”
“What do you mean? Like their phone number or where they live? Duke has my phone so he has all that information.”
“When did you find out that Ally is your half sister?”
Sage blinked, unsure she’d heard him correctly. “Excuse me?”
“Ally is Linda Kent and Dean Ellis’s daughter.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Are you saying you didn’t know?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying.” Sage looked up at Duke. “Did you know?” The shake of the head and tiny flash of sympathy eased the forming panic inside her.
“As far as you were aware, did your mother know who Linda and Ally were?”
“Is that a trick question? If I didn’t know, how would I know whether my mom knew or not?”
“So she could’ve known?”
“She could’ve not known.”
“But you don’t know for sure.”
“Neither do you.” She felt railroaded, unsure where the detective was headed with this information.
She felt Dukes hand squeeze her shoulder. Was she being defensive for no reason or was this cop drilling her like she was a suspect? She couldn’t tell with the surge of emotions pulsing through her.
She had a sister? Ally? Why hadn’t they said anything?
“Fifteen years ago, Linda Kent was charged with harassing your father and sending him death threats when he wouldn’t acknowledge Ally as his daughter.” The detective paused and scrutinized her. “Did you know about that?”
“No.”
“How would you describe your relationship with Linda Kent?”
Family, but Sage didn’t dare say that. What would that imply? What was he trying to imply?
“She’s worked with my mom for five years. Friendly, good.”
“And your relationship with Dean Ellis?”
The implications were growing and she felt herself closing the man off. A cold chill ran through her as she answered his question, sharp, emotionless.
“I didn’t have a relationship with Dean.”
“You call him Dean and not dad?”
“He’s never acted like a dad so I guess the title doesn’t suit.”
“Would you say you get along better with Linda and Ally than your father? You claim to not know your half-sister and have no recollection of Linda being charged with sending Dean death threats?”
“Yes. I also know my mother was shot yesterday and my top priority is finding the person who shot her.”
“That’s why we’re here.”
“Is it? Because it sounds like you’re more concerned with who shot my dad in the drug center of town where drive-by shootings are a regular occurrence than with who aimed a gun at my mother from a high-rise condo.”
“Why do you think someone would want to shoot your mom?”
“I don’t know. The only enemies she would have would be a result of Dean’s lies.”
“You think she had enemies?”
“None that I’m directly aware of.”
“Do you have enemies, Miss Ellis?”
“None that I’m directly aware of.”
“Do you owe anyone money?”
“No.”
“Who would benefit from both your dad and mother’s death?”
Sage felt the blood rush from her body. He was indirectly pointing the blame at her. She’d benefit from her parents’ deaths. She’d get everything as she was Dean’s only known daughter ... only she wasn’t anymore. Ally was his daughter too.
“Miss Ellis?”
She couldn’t speak, couldn’t reply to such an accusation.
“Miss Ellis?”
“Sage?” Even Duke’s voice couldn’t draw her voice back.
“All rright,” the detective said. “Let’s get back to your witness statement on the day Celeste was shot.”
Chapter Thirteen
DUKE DIDN’T LIKE the silent accusations that Sage hadn’t missed. As the detective continued to interrogate Sage, it created a list of questions in Duke’s mind. But the way Banks was conducting this interview, Duke wasn’t prepared to ask him.
The detective finished reading Sage’s witness statement and asked, “Does this sound accurate?”
“Yes.” Her guard had constructed too and her answers were blunt and straightforward, leaving no room to pick apart.
“Sign here.” He slid the pages across the table and tapped the “X” with the end of the pen. Sage scribbled her signature and slid it back. The detective took the pages and secured them inside his folder as he stood. “If anything else arises we’ll be in touch. If you think of anything, contact me.” He left a card on the table.
Duke watched Banks walk away and then escorted Sage out the back door and into the truck.
“I need to see my mom.”
He didn’t reply, still trying to piece together the random information he’d picked up. If Linda and Ally had hired a hit man to do their dirty work, and Celeste hadn’t known Ally was Dean’s daughter, had she told either of them about hiring Duke for the job? If she had disclosed Duke, a quick online search would connect him to Bowie and another one would connect Bowie to Stone and Stone to Willow Valley and eventually lead right up to Susan’s doorstep.
