Page 119 of Maneater
“A tan line, huh? Seems like it at least used to be exclusive.” The smile makes me wonder if he’s remembering that night in the bar when I told him my tan line trick, the way I am now.
“Oh, well, I was engaged up until recently,” she says, a hint of embarrassment or hesitance in the words.
My heart stutters, and I turn to Rory, whose body has the same tense hold as mine. That never came up in our investigations. Immediately, Rory moves to her computer and starts digging.
“Oh? What happened?” Rowan asks, and Tanya waves her hand.
“Oh, you know, the normal thing. Girl meets boy, girl falls for boy’s shit, boy gets far too possessive and controlling.” She shrugs as if she doesn’t care. “Girl gets dragged around for a bit before she realizes she needs to get out.”
“That’s too bad. I hate to see a good woman locked down,” Rowan says.
“Cool it, girl,” Rory says, looking at me as she types away.
“What?”
“You look like you’re about to break a tooth.”
I roll my eyes once more but loosen my jaw, not bothering to argue because she’s…not wrong. I focus on breathing as I watch the screen some more, as Tanya sighs in a way that tries to get sympathy. Her free hand moves to her necklace, playing with the small charm there absentmindedly.
“You know, it’s been really hard. I moved out of the place we shared, and he’s been contacting me nonstop. I feel like I can’t getaway from home. I could really use a friend.”
My body stills, not because of her obvious come-on, but because of the hint she dropped.
“Rory,” I say, not moving my eyes.
“Already on it,” she responds.
“Oh? Where are you living now?” Rowan asks, leaning forward. I don’t miss how he pulls his hand back from hers, resting his fist under his chin.
Tanya doesn’t notice the brush-off and shrugs. “Oh, Daniel has been kind enough to let me stay with him for a bit while I figure things out.” She pauses, then shakes her head. “We’re not an item or anything, though. I’m totally single.”
“Do you feel safe?” Rowan asks, giving her a soft, worried smile. “I want to make sure you feel safe.”
Her eyes go wide and dreamy, and her lips form a soft smile before she shrugs.
“I mean…he’s been a bit overbearing. Always has been, but lately it’s even more. Reaching out, trying to keep in touch with me even though I told him I’m done. I just…I worry, you know?” She looks from side to side before her voice lowers again. “Sometimes I think he’s keeping an eye on me.”
My pulse speeds.
“Why do you feel that way?” Rowan asks, looking genuinely concerned, and in a way, I’m sure he is.
“I just…when we were younger, he would always get really possessive. If he saw me even talking to another guy, he would make a big thing about it. That’s why we broke up. He said he saw me talking to Daniel, but I swear, we were just talking. We work together, you know?”
I roll my eyes at her exaggeration but stay focused.
“The listed address in her employee file is a rental. I’ll have to hack into the system of the housing company to see who is on the lease,” Rory says, and I continue to watch Tanya and Rowan on the screen, endorphins racing.
“That’s hard,” he says.
“Well, you know, I’m grateful I have such a great support system here at Daydream. Like you,” she says, reaching out to touch his hand.
I don’t even care, not now. Not when Rory whispers a little yes, not when she smiles because she just got into the system she needed. Not when she starts speaking.
“Tanya’s last known address was in an apartment complex called Seaside Meadows.” Rory keeps clicking, doing what she does best. “The lease was signed with a Randy Short.”
“Short?” I ask, the name ringing a bell, but my brain can’t move nearly as fast as Rory’s can.
“It looks like Carter Short is his younger brother.”
