Page 107 of Petty's Crime

It’s then I realise he truly thought he was helping his lover right a wrong. I hope the Devils show mercy on him, and from the slight shift in Red’s stance, think that he has come to the same conclusion.

“I don’t need no fuckin’ relationship with my sister. She deserves to experience the life that I’ve known.” He stamps his feet so hard the chair rocks back. “She’s been living my life. She fuckin’ stole it. She deserves to die for that, or better still, become someone’s sex slave.” He grins evilly at that thought, then his face reddens again. “And as for what she did to Saul—”

“Saul got sent down for assault,” Elton says calmly, “You know this.”

“Little Miss Perfect set him up.” Thorne isn’t having any of it. “It’s all her fault. Everything is her fault, including being fuckin’ born first else I’d have had her life. Just get me out of here and I’ll fuckin’ kill her.”

My dad is standing wide-eyed while Elton’s paled. “You told me you just wanted to befriend her. That she was your sister who you wanted to get to know. You were trying to find the best way to approach her. You lied to me. I knew you were still chasing Saul, but knew he’d never look twice at you.” The cop’s eyes glisten. “But I didn’t know you were plotting with him to hurt RoseLyn. I’d never have helped you.”

“You stupid ugly fuck. You think I’d have let you touch me if I hadn’t wanted something from you?” Thorne looks at the cop in disgust. “I nearly vomited every time we had sex.”

Elton, if possible, has lost even more colour from his face. “I risked my career for you.”

“Your career?” Thorne sneers. “You can’t even do that right. You didn’t see what I was doing right under your fuckin’ nose. You were just so pleased to have a dick in your ass that you didn’t look further. You’re so fuckin’ weak.”

Elton hangs his head, and I hear a choked sob.

“What did you do for him?” Red steps up to Elton, and raises his chin with his hand. The cop’s eyes are brimming with tears, a few escaping down his cheeks. “I need you to tell me, Elton. Did you use the police databases to find information on RoseLyn’s whereabouts? Used your badge to get into the hired car records?”

Elton nods.

“Words, I need words.”

“Yes, yes. I did all that. I thought he was finding his long-lost twin. I…” he breaks off as another sob escapes. “I thought I was helping him.”

Red produces his phone and shows it to Elton. “I’ve recorded this conversation. As far as I’m concerned, you were abusing your position, and if RoseLyn had been harmed, this would have ended very differently. But I’m willing to let you go, as long as you understand that one word out of place, I can ruin your career. And, just promise, next time you need a hole to sink your dick into, you choose more carefully.”

Elton turns wide eyes up toward Red. “You’re letting me go?” His incredulous gaze turns calculating. “I suppose you’re looking for a dirty cop to have on your payroll.”

Red snorts. “Not at all. If I want information, I’ve far better ways of getting it, and better contacts than you have. And as what we do is all legal, we don’t need anyone in the law to look the other way.”

They killed someone in front of me, but I suspect Red’s got confidence he’s got everything handled. I wonder if he’d be so lenient if it wasn’t for my father bearing witness to what they are doing.

But Elton doesn’t believe him. “I’ll just be waiting for the hammer to drop.”

Red shrugs. “At least you’ll still have your job in the meantime.”

“Why?” Elton’s still not buying it. “Why would you let me go free? With your reputation—”

“What fuckin’ reputation?” Red yells. “You got us pinpointed for anything?” He waits for Elton to shake his head, then he puts away his phone and folds his arms. “You were a man taken in by someone who used your emotions against you.” His eyes rise and land on Petty for a moment. “You’re not the first and won’t be the last to be taken in.”

Personally, I suspect if there’s ever a need, Red won’t waste the chance to use what he’s got on him. But I’m pleased that he’s giving the man another chance. There are similarities between him and what’s happened to Petty. Maybe there’s a way out for Elton, and like Petty, he’ll be more careful next time who he gives his heart to.

“Untie him,” Red instructs Hammer.

Within moments, a bemused cop is shaking out his hands, and standing. When Hammer indicates the stairs, he starts to walk, turning his head as if unable to believe he’s going to be allowed to go free.

But his progress isn’t impeded. As he comes level with my dad, Dad shoots out his hand and grasps his arm. “You could have gotten my daughter killed.” His growl is a tone I’ve never heard from him. “One step out of line, and it won’t just be these men gunning for you. I heard your confession, and my word won’t be discounted, I assure you.”

Elton staggers slightly as he’s released, then he takes the stairs two at a time as if all the demons of hell were after him.

“You going to let me go now?” Thorne asks, sneakily. “I mean, I can’t help who I am. It’s not my fault, I was abused.”

“I hope to God setting you free is not in these men’s minds,” Dad states, sounding bloodthirsty. “You were going to chop up my daughter and send me the pieces. I hope the Devils have plans for you.”

“It was all Saul,” Thorne says quickly. “Find him and he’ll tell you. He encouraged me. He told me what I should do to get revenge on Rose.”

“There was nothing to seek vengeance for,” Red tells him. “Sure, your life could have worked out differently, but we all have to deal with the cards as they fall.”

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