Page 102 of Ricochet

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Lenora’s heels clacked as she was scanned for weapons, drugs, or God knew what else. “Prisons smell like piss.”

“Never get used to it.” The guard waved her in and down the corridor.

Lenora had thought a decade ago she might’ve been used to the disinfectant smell they tried to use around the front door to mask the scent of humans rotting in a hole, but it all smelledlike putrefied body odor with the hint of watered-down bleach.

“How you doing, Lenora?” The same guard who’d manned this door for the last five years unlocked and buzzed her through.

“Good, Lenny. How’s your wife this week? Any news?”

“Baby’s coming soon.”

“Let me know.” She’d send a basket and a casserole. It paid to have friends on all sides. Flicking a wave, she promised to keep them inher thoughts, but the only thoughts she’d had recently were about Cullen Blackburn.

The next door opened, and she walked into the holding cell, waiting for Mayhem’s most notorious inmate. He walked in in his prison stripes and a shit-eatin’ grin, his wrist and ankle chains clanging.

“Can we get these off him?” she asked, even though there was no way the guard would agree. It was the thoughtthat counted.

“How nice of you.” Cullen took his seat, holding his hands for the guard.

“Not a chance, Blackburn.” He walked toward the open door. “Holler if you need me.”

“My, my, my.” She let her head wag. “I’d say color me impressed.”

He applauded himself. “I’ll take all the credit. They love me around here. But that’s not why you’re here.”

Lenora eased her chair back. “Someone died.”

“Not just someone though.” Cullen leaned the metal chair onto its back legs, and the chains on his ankles clanged.

The Mayhem communication system was still as powerful as ever if Cullen could find out this quickly about Ethan.

“I want to know how you knew that…” She thought better of using Ethan’s name, even in a holding cell where they were supposed to be afforded attorney-client confidentiality.“He would be killed. And what I’m missing, because I could guess, but I think there’s more to it.”

“I always see the way plays will work out.” He smirked. “You know that’s why you’re back here, Lenora.”

“Why?”

“You did a respectable job with me, with everything you’ve done for Mayhem, and you know nothing is ever what it seems.”

She pursed her lips, not ready to admit he was right and wishinghe’d get back to what she came here for, but not pushing him. That would get her nothing.

He grinned like a Cheshire cat. “Get me out of here again, and I’ll see what I can do for you on the outside.”

“Didn’t we try that once before? But you screwed up.”

“Maybe that was my plan the whole time.” Cullen clacked his teeth together.

A couple years back, Lenora had worked a huge deal to get Cullenout of federal lock-up, and she had no idea how he’d spent most of his time—other than pestering the hell out of Seven—but she suspected that the information he gave up was profitable, and that he was the one who had been ready to come back here. They were all playing in Cullen Blackburn’s world. “I put my ass on the line for you last time.”

“I know I’m an asshole,” Cullen continued. “But I’mnot lying to you this time, hot stuff.”

“Cut the flattery. It gets you nowhere with me.”

“I’m brushing up for the bar scene.” Then he shrugged. “But hell. I’ve got three squares, no headaches, and my entire day to relax. Why do I want to go anywhere?”

“Shut up, Cullen.” She clasped her hands. “I have no patience any more. Zero time.”

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