Page 17 of Abra's Acquisition
“He was protecting me, you idiot.”
“I have a permit for the gun in my back pocket,” I tell him, not moving from my position.
I feel Max digging out my wallet. After a few minutes, he releases me and backs up so I can stand. Turning to face him, he scowls at me as he hands me back my wallet.
“Satisfied?” Rey demands. “Are you done harassing him?”
“I wasn’t harassing him, I was protecting you!” Max growls at her.
“It’s okay, Rey,” I assure her, rubbing my hand down her back. “He didn’t know if I was a threat to you. He was just doing his job as a cop and a brother.”
“Whatever,” Rey scoffs, but then she turns serious as she glances over her shoulder to the dead man on the ground. “You have a bigger problem. That cop you sent to bring me back my car is dead.”
“What?” Max explodes as he steps around us. He kneels to check the man’s pulse before standing and pulling out his phone. “I need a response team, officer down.” He gives whoever is on the other line the address before ending the call and turning back to face us. “Did you see what happened?”
I shake my head. “No, he was dead when we got here. Rey found him.”
“I saw something on the ground and thought it was my purse, but it was his shoes. God, this is awful. What do you think happened?”
“I don’t know. Someone shot him in the back of the head. There is blood and brain matter on your car,” Max winces when he sees Rey pale. I pull her back to my side and run my hand up and down her back to calm her. “Whoever shot him might have been trying to steal your car. He may have heard you coming and took off. Look, why don’t you guys head up to Rey’s apartment and wait there?”
“That’s a good idea,” I say, pushing Rey toward the building. The faster I get her away from the gory scene, the better.
Rey’s movements are robotic as she uses her key to open the door to the building. I press the button for the elevator and pull her inside when the door slides open.
“What floor, honey?” I ask her.
Rey reaches forward and presses the top floor.
“Penthouse?” I ask, impressed.
She shrugs. “It isn’t much different from the other apartments, just a better view. Max insisted I go as high up as I can. He’s always afraid someone will break in. In college, I lived on the ground floor for about a week before he insisted on something higher. I kind of want to be lower, in case of a fire, but he insisted.”
I’m standing at her back when she unlocks the door and pushes it open, so I see the scene before us at the same time she does.
“What the hell?” Rey splutters as she glances around what I assume was once a very pretty space. The view out the windows is spectacular, as she said, but the apartment looks like a war zone. Broken glass and pieces of furniture cover the floor. Someone incredibly strong or fueled by rage upended the couch and slashed the cushions. Not a single piece of artwork is on the walls. Graffiti fills the walls. Someone has sprayed the words ‘slut,’ ‘cunt,’ ‘whore,’ and ‘bitch’ onto every wall of the main room and even onto the glass windows. The words are repeated down the hallway leading to what I assume is her bedroom.
When Rey lets out a whimper, I shift my attention from the mess to her. Her beautiful green eyes fill with tears as she covers her mouth with her hand. I pull her into my arms and press her face against my shoulder as I stroke her back.
“I’m so sorry, baby,” I say as I try to comfort her. “We need to call your brother and tell him what we’ve found. It might berelated to the murder of that cop. Let’s go back into the hall and call him.”
I guide her back out of the apartment, but keep her close as I pull out my phone. Max picks up after the first ring.
“We’re not done here yet. Can this wait?” Max asks.
“No, I don’t think it can. Someone trashed your sister’s apartment. It’s a fucking mess. I don’t know if it’s related to what you’re dealing with downstairs, but I thought you should know.”
“Fuck,” Max grumbles. “Okay, I’m on my way up.”
“Do you need me to buzz you in?” I ask.
“No, I have a key. I’m on my way.”
Leaning against the wall, I pull Rey between my legs so she can rest her head under my chin. I run soothing circles over her back while we wait for Max to join us. It doesn’t take him long. Neither of us moves as Max passes us, stroking his hand down her hair. I hear him swear when he steps inside the apartment. For several minutes, the only sounds I hear are Rey’s sniffles and Max moving through the apartment. When he returns, I see the same rage and sickness in his eyes that I feel.
He studies my face as he strokes Rey’s hair.
“Do you think Erickson did this?” Max asks.
