Page 21 of Caged

“Possessive asshole or fucktard groomer?” he asked with a lift of his chin.

I laughed. He’d nailed the two directions I was leaning in the least professional way possible.

“I’m not sure.”

Both would be on their best and most charming behavior in the beginning. Both would lavish her with compliments and attention. Neither would reveal their true personalities or intentions until it was too late.

Zeroing in on Wendy’s neck, I remembered the empty jewelry drawer.

I looked closer at the picture. “When was this taken?”

“Three weeks ago, why?” They’d only been dating six weeks.

“I didn’t see that necklace,” I pointed, “when I was in her room.”

“It’s not like you were looking for it.”

“No, but I’d remember it.” The stone-studded chandelier necklace in question stood out from the others.

“Right, like you could remember every detail.” I could have done without his sarcasm.

Taking a deep breath, I refused to take the bait. Keeping my tone neutral, I said, “My point is, I doubt she bought it for herself.”

“Maybe it’s fake,” he argued.

“Fair point, but she didn’t have anything else like it. And that necklace,” I pointed at it, “would fill the empty drawer.”

We finished filling in the pieces with minimal arguments.I have no idea why Jaden takes pleasure in riling me up, but I refuse to give him the satisfaction.

Over the last eight weeks, Wendy had slowly faded away from her former life.

We compiled a list of people to question and messaged Doug, asking him to pull the GPS history from Wendy’sphone. It was possible she’d carried it while she was with Mr. R, even if only in the beginning. If we could ID a few places they’d gone, we might be able to get a better photo or our mystery man. I crossed my arms, tapping my fingers as I stared at our notes trying to connect the dots. There was something I was missing, something that was probably staring me right in the face.

But I can’t see it.

“Catie!” Anger welled up at Jaden’s use of the nickname I hated with every cell of my being. He knew, like everyone at SSI, that I preferred they use my last name. And I wouldn’t have reacted so strongly if he’d used Catelyn.

Spinning, I barked, “Don’t.” I fisted my hands to channel the anger.

“Don’t what? Call you Catie?” He said it again, his eyes sparkling with mischief, just to piss me off.

Don’t let him get to you. Through clenched teeth, I said, “Do not call me that.” Only two people had ever called me Catie. My mom, before she left us, and Gavin Nielson, when we were dating.

Before he fucked me over and destroyed my career.

Chapter 9

Jay

I’d struck a nerve when I called her Catie. Not that I could have known she didn’t like it, I was simply trying to get her attention. But the daredevil in me liked pushing her buttons, so seeing the anger flair in her intense blue eyes was all the encouragement I needed to pour gas on the fire.

“Aw, why not? Don’t you like it?” I teased.

Refusing to take the bait, she turned her back on me. Her perfect tight bun, so unlike my unruly wavy brown hair, taunted me.

I should’ve let it go, but I was itching for a fight and knew Maxwell could hold her own in a verbal match.Hell, she’ll probably wipe the floor with me. Which was part of the problem; I was tired of her, and everyone at SSI, treating me like I was stupid.

Just because the state of Texas required a year of on-the-job-training didn’t mean I didn’t have experience.I might not have a fancy degree, but I’d spent years in some of the worst hellholes imaginable. Environments where misreading body language or missing a clue resulted in death. Being observant was literally a matter of life and death.