RELENTLESS (Runaway) by Ray Lexie

Author:Ray, Lexie [Ray, Lexie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2014-01-14T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

“Shimmy, I’m asking if you want to press charges. It’s a yes or no question.”

I bit my lip and stared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror. All I was wearing was a camisole and panties, and the bruises where Ben had grabbed me stood out sharply on my upper arms despite my mahogany skin.

I was on the phone with Fitch, the police officer who had taken me from Mama’s nightclub during the raid.

At first, he chided me for not calling him right away like I said I would. I apologized, explaining that I’d been busy and regaling him with all of my recent successes.

Then, I told him my plan.

“I don’t really understand what pressing charges will do,” I said. “I just want the authorities to get a warrant to search the house. I think there were drugs in there.”

Fitch gave a long sigh. “Without probable cause, I think we’re going to have issues getting that warrant,” he said. “Plus, the Paxton’s have a lot of connections.”

“Wait, you know them?”

“Sure,” he said easily. “They’re one of the biggest donors at the NYPD.”

“Shit,” I breathed, resting my hot forehead against the cool glass of the mirror. This was getting much more complicated than I thought it would be.

“Maybe we can do something if you decide to press charges,” Fitch said, his voice hopeful. “That’ll probably get you the warrant.”

“I don’t want to press charges,” I said firmly. “I think that’ll only go badly for my son.”

“If you press charges, you can get a restraining order,” Fitch said. “Then he’ll have to stay away from you.”

“I’m not concerned about my safety,” I said crossly. “Everything’s about getting my son back.”

“Well, it sounds like you’re on a personal vendetta and need a bodyguard,” Fitch said. “I regret to say it, but the NYPD’s not really in that line of work.”

“You wouldn’t happen to know anyone who is, would you?” I asked glumly, staring at the bruises. If they were that bad one day after the incident, how would they look tomorrow? The black streaks looked like I’d been mauled by a bear.

Well. This grizzly bear mama wasn’t about to back down. I was getting ready to bring the fight.

“You know, I just might.”

“What’s that?”

“I might know someone more in your line of work,” Fitch repeated. “You got something to take a number down?”

“Shoot,” I said, uncapping a lipstick. I wrote the number that Fitch recited on the mirror, repeating it back so I could make sure it was right.

“His name’s Tyler Marlowe,” Fitch said. “Ex-FBI.”

“And he’s in my line of business now?” I asked, staring at the number and at the bruises on my arms.

“Private investigator,” Fitch confirmed. “That’s what you need. Unless you want to press charges against Ben Paxton. And then the NYPD will more than take care of you.”

I shook my head even though he couldn’t see it. “It’s too risky,” I said. “I want to press forward and see if I can get some evidence against the Paxton’s. If this doesn’t pan out, I’ll think about the charges.

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