Wicked Release Read Online Free Page B

pouring himself a highball of straight whiskey, neat, instead. “I could hire you to photograph images of my buildings that are on the market and slowly put the money into your account as a paycheck. You’ll have to pay taxes on it, but considering you were going to turn it over to the police department, I’m going to guess you’re okay with that.”
    There was a knock at the door as another man, also in an immaculate three-piece suit, poked his head into the office.
    â€œExcuse me a moment,” Elliot said, and followed the man outside the office keeping the door propped open with his foot. There were murmurings, but Jess wasn’t listening.
    Her cheeks burned hot as she stared at his marble floors.
    Elliot finished with his colleague, coming back in and shutting the door behind him. Jess opened her mouth to speak but Elliot cut her off.
    â€œJust think about my offer. Don’t answer now.” He swirled his tumbler in his palm, and whiskey sloshed along the side of the glass. “So. What else did you find?”
    â€œWhat else?”
    â€œWell, you found the money. Her passport. Obviously, you found me.” If Jess hadn’t been so utterly convinced this guy had no sense of humor, she would have thought she heard a twinge of amusement in his voice at that. “So, yes. What else?”
    Jess racked her brain . . . other than the skeleton key and the tunnel, there was nothing else.
    Elliot’s rigid shoulders tightened around his ears. “You didn’t find her stash?”
    â€œStash of what?”
    He cursed before tossing his head back and swallowing the rest of the copper whiskey in one motion. “Jesus, Jessica. Her stash. The drugs she’s been sneaking in and out of the house—hell, probably even the country.”
    â€œThere are drugs still in that house?”
    Elliot pressed his lips together, not answering. Not that he needed to.
    Jess fell back into the club chair that was behind her, landing on the soft leather. It groaned in protest beneath her weight. “What—what do I do?” she asked herself more than Elliot. She knew exactly what she needed to do. She needed to call Sam. Get the DEA in her house immediately and sweep it.
    A hand on her knee caused her to jump and she looked to find Elliot on his knees in front of her. His velvety, dark blue eyes seared into her. How the hell did he move so quietly? Or was she just that zoned out?
    â€œYou came to me for help, Jessica. Let me help.”
    She nodded. “Can you c-call the police for me? I don’t think I can do it.” Even as she reached for her cell, her hand trembled. Pulling it from her pocket, she handed it to Elliot. The screen felt smooth beneath her quivering touch.
    He gently took her phone, but instead of calling anyone, he tucked it into his back pocket. “The police in this town are dirty, Jessica. There’s a mole down there. Maybe more than one. Calling them will only get you killed. Especially if you show knowledge of the drugs. You need to trust me.”
    â€œTrust you?” her voice cracked with a bitter laugh. “You mean like Cass did?”
    Sadness washed over his face, the waves of sorrow pulling his expression deeper under water. “And I’ll never forgive myself for not trying harder. . . .” His voice faded away, eyes drifting somewhere over Jess’s shoulder. “She trusted me as much as she could,” he finished, bouncing back into his usual hardened demeanor.
    â€œWhy would she do this? Why did she allow herself to get caught up in this? And who—”
    His jaw tensed. “I don’t know.”
    Right. Yeah, fucking right . “Bull. You know something. Okay, fine. Don’t tell me. But then don’t sit there and wonder why I can’t trust you when you won’t tell me everything.”
    â€œLook,” Elliot growled “The less you know, the safer you are. Why do you want to find