Decoding a Criminal Read online

  That could be enough for a guy like him to target her. She made a note to ask Dash if they could swing by Stuart’s house after he got off work. She didn’t know Dash’s habits, but Layla would. Speaking of Layla, Raina needed to see that her friend was okay with her own two eyes.

  The elevator doors opened and interrupted her thoughts. Dash walked into the room, wearing a frown.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked, sitting straight up, thinking it felt a little too right to be here.

  “We have a name to add to the list.”

  Chapter Eight

  Dash set the box of tacos down on the table and then walked over to the sofa and sat on the edge. He was too antsy to commit to the seat, and they weren’t sticking around for long anyway. “Have you ever met Calum’s wife?”

  Her sky-blue eyes bright, Raina perked up at his question. “Yeah, sure. I mean, I’m sure I have at some point. She would have been at Christmas parties. But, no, I don’t know her personally.”

  “Rikki said Layla was paranoid and that she skipped her last couple of appointments.” He filled her in on the conversation he’d had with Rikki and the similar one he’d had with Hun roughly twenty minutes later.

  “‘Paranoid’?” Raina blinked at him. “I guess I never picked up on that. But then, honestly, I’ve had to practically force myself on her lately. Before she ended the relationship with Calum, she was with him more than not, so I gave her space.”

  “It shouldn’t be too difficult to find out his wife’s first name,” he said.

  “While we’re on the subject of suspects, I’d like to swing by Stuart’s place after we visit Layla. See how he reacts after everything that’s happened.” She stood. “Right now, I’m starving.”

  “Tacos are on the table.” He was pointing out the obvious.

  She took in a deep breath. “They smell amazing.”

  Dash walked over to the table with her, taking his gaze off her sweet, round bottom. He’d lost his appetite after talking to Rikki. Forcing himself, he managed to take down a six-pack of tacos.

  “Mmm. These are the best. Where did you get them?” she asked, and he tried not to let the purr of appreciation distract him.

  “Taco truck.”

  “I would have known if I’d had one of these before.” She polished off her fourth, and he liked how she felt comfortable enough around him to really eat.

  “Ready?” Raina was studying him.

  He’d been so lost in thought he hadn’t noticed she was done eating. “Almost. I just want to check one thing before we leave.”

  He palmed his cell phone and walked over to the setup in his living room. He tapped the screen a couple of times, bringing up the video of Alec and the suit onto the TV. He grabbed the remote and slowed the video to a crawl so he could watch the suit’s lips move, see if he could catch what he said.

  Dash intensified his gaze on the screen and replayed the video a few times. The suit’s head was tilted just enough to make it next to impossible to read his lips. That was unfortunate. Dash pulled up the program he’d written for just such an occasion and launched it. He fixed the video on a play loop, set down the remote and walked over to the elevator.

  “Let’s go see Layla, then Stuart,” he said.

  “Did you figure out what he was saying?” Raina’s head was cocked to one side.

  “Not yet.” Dash held his hand out for Raina to go first.

  She collected her purse and then entered the elevator. The ride down was quick. Despite living on the top floor, the elevator was rigged not to stop off at any of the other floors if the penthouse button had been pushed, and vice versa. It came in handy and was one of the many reasons he’d bought the apartment in this building. The reno job it had required was extensive. He’d hired the best, and the end result was better than he could’ve hoped for. Lately, though, he was restless there. Was it time to move on? Find a new project to tackle? A new reno to get lost in? He needed some kind of change in his life. Was a change of address enough?

  Raina started toward the sports car, but he grabbed on to her elbow to guide her in the opposite direction.

  “I thought we were driving,” she said.

  “We’re taking the sport utility.” He pointed to the black-on-black Lexus.

  “Oh. Nice.”

  “I thought it might be easier for you to get in and out of, considering what you’re wearing,” he explained, ignoring the jolt of electricity from their contact.

  “That’s really considerate of you, Dash.” He didn’t want to like how his name sounded rolling off her tongue.

  Rather than respond, he walked her to the passenger side and opened the door for her.

  “That’s not necessary,” she said quickly. “This is not a date.”

  “Common courtesy,” he mumbled, wondering why it felt like he’d just taken a hit. The situation with his sister had him off-kilter. That was the only explanation for how drawn he felt to Raina. Don’t get him wrong, she was a beautiful woman. She was wicked smart. She could be funny and charming. Don’t even get him started on those sky-blue eyes of hers. He could look into them for hours.

  He walked over to the driver’s side and claimed his seat, then zipped out of the parking lot and onto the road headed toward Seattle Women’s Correctional Facility, where Layla was being held.

  “When was the last time you spoke to her?” Raina asked.

  “She won’t speak to me,” he said. “But she will now.”

  “What makes you so sure?”

  “First off, I have you this time. Secondly, I already know what she didn’t want to tell me herself. Now that I know about Calum, she won’t refuse to see me.” He was confident in that fact. But just in case, he had Raina.

  “What makes you believe she’ll see me?” she asked.

  “You’re her best friend. She’s been locked up for a week, with no one to speak to but her lawyer. I’m guessing she has a lawyer. She refused the one I sent,” he admitted.

  “Your sister can dig her heels in when she doesn’t want to do something,” Raina said.

  “That’s putting it lightly.” At least he understood why she’d refused his visits. She was embarrassed about the affair. She had done the same thing after being sent to juvie. Eventually, he got it out of her that she wanted to pull the plug on their relationship because in some ways he reminded her of their father, a cop, who was good through and through.

  Layla’s young mind had decided she wasn’t worthy of love after some of the things she’d done.

  Using voice tech, Dash sent a text to Madeline requesting she find out the name of Calum Langston’s wife and any other details about the woman in question. What sorority did she pledge? Where did she volunteer? What college did she go to? What kind of degree did she have? What were her technical skills? Who were her friends? Where did she live? More of those questions came, followed by the one Dash wasn’t certain he wanted the answer to, which was how many children did the couple have?

  He owed it to the team to bring them up to date about his visit with Rikki, and yet his protective instincts for his sister caused him to hold back. He’d brief them at the end of the day, after the visit with Layla. She had to know that news of the affair would get out, making her look that much more guilty. He could see the headline now: “Scorned by Company VP, an Underling Gets the Ultimate Revenge.” another nail in Layla’s coffin. He also requested the dirt on Calum Langston.

  Madeline’s response was immediate. “On it.”

  * * *

  RAINA SAT QUIETLY, listening and letting her own thoughts wander. The fact that Calum could deny Layla had been the one to sever romantic ties and it would be her word against his burned Raina up. She could see his response playing out. He’d made a mistake, he would say. He’d had an affair with a temptress in his office. Someone who practically threw herself at him. If
Layla’s background came to light, public opinion would be with Calum despite the truth.

  He could plead for sympathy, say his wife forgave him when he asked and play the whole we’re-starting-a-family-together card. He’d be forgiven. Layla would be skewered. She would lose her job and her reputation would be damaged beyond repair. The whole situation frustrated Raina. Despite all the strides that had been made in recent years in situations where men used their power to get women to sleep with them, Layla’s past would always haunt her.

  Plus, she’d had an affair with him willingly. He would be smart enough not to leave a trail—no text messages pleading for her to meet him. Dash would check into those just to make sure, but she doubted he’d find what they were looking for.

  Rikki’s and Hun’s revelations had Raina’s mind reeling. Layla hadn’t mentioned anything about being afraid. So that was news to Raina. It seemed her best friend had kept secrets, which was another reason for the public not to trust her. Would a court of law see through all the messiness to the real Layla?

  SeaTac, also known as the Federal Detention Center, was a prison operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. It was located in SeaTac, Washington—thus the name—near the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, twelve miles south of downtown Seattle. The facility housed inmates as well as those awaiting trial and other people Raina didn’t want her best friend anywhere near.

  She reminded herself Layla was strong and had survived being in juvie. She would know how to handle herself in any situation, including this one. And yet fear for her friend’s well-being kicked Raina’s imagination into high gear. Layla had cleaned up her act. She wasn’t the same person who’d spent time in juvie. Plus, that was a long time ago.

  Layla was used to the finer things in life now. She had a nice apartment. Granted, it wasn’t quite as nice as Dash’s, but he had almost a decade head start. Other than his cars and penthouse, he lived a low-key life. Given a chance, Layla would surpass him.

  Driving up to the nondescript white building made of sharp angles and very few windows made this nightmare a little too real. Dash parked and then came around to her side. Before he could get there, she opened her door and exited the vehicle. There was no way she was confusing this for a date for obvious reasons, but there was no reason to blur the line. Their alliance was temporary and for Layla’s benefit only.

  Raina needed to remind herself of that fact because being with Dash felt like the most normal thing, even when her stomach free-fell and electricity jolted through her every time they had incidental contact.

  If Dash was put off by her getting out of the vehicle before he opened her door, he covered it well. In fact, his face was unreadable, and she figured that made him very good at his job when he had to interview someone.

  She walked beside him and gripped her purse strap so tight her knuckles turned white. Taking in a slow breath to calm her rattled nerves, she walked first into the lobby, where they were greeted by a detention officer and then taken to a visitor’s cell.

  It was surreal to think she was here, visiting her friend. Even crazier that Dash was sitting beside her.

  His back teeth were clenched so tight she feared he might crack a tooth. For all his smooth veneer, he was as stressed as she was about the visit.

  After twenty minutes, Raina spoke up. “Does this mean she is refusing to see us?”

  “Your guess is as good as mine,” he admitted. “I can pull a few strings, but she won’t be happy about it.”

  “No, she won’t.”

  “I guess it’s time to see just how angry she can get.” He started to get up when the adjacent door opened.

  Dash sat back down fast. He glanced at Raina, and her heart did that free fall thing again. But she couldn’t focus on him right now. Instead, she watched as her best friend was walked into the room, hands cuffed in front of her.

  “Layla,” Raina said under her breath. The shock of seeing her best friend in an awful orange-colored jumpsuit would stick in Raina’s mind for a long time to come.

  Layla’s gaze narrowed as she locked in on her brother. “You shouldn’t have come.”

  “Well, I’m here now, so why don’t you take a seat so we can clear the air.” His voice was a study in calm.

  Hands clasped, Layla didn’t so much as give the slightest glance at Raina.

  “Are you staying or going, Ms. West?” the guard asked.

  For a hot second, Raina expected Layla to tell him she was leaving. And then she exhaled.

  “I’m okay,” she said.

  “You know the rules. You have to take a seat.” The guard looked to be in his late forties if he was a day. He had a bulbous nose and a face scarred from acne.

  “Fine. I’ll sit.” She did, scooting the seat across from her brother.

  The guard nodded, chained her to the desk and then stood sentinel next to the door leading back from where she came. The way he stood there reminded her of a Buckingham Palace guard. Eyes forward, back erect. He certainly looked the part except for the general lack of color of his uniform.

  Layla’s, on the other hand, was so bright Raina could use a pair of sunglasses.

  “What do you want to talk about?” Layla fixed her gaze on her brother like she was daring him to speak the awful truth out loud. She was an inmate. She’d messed up big time. This was a side to Layla that Raina had never seen before.

  Chapter Nine

  Instead of taking the bait, Dash raked his fingers through his hair. “We’re working on getting you out of here.”

  “No one is going to believe I’m innocent.” Layla had gone into self-preservation mode, just like she had when he’d visited her in juvie.

  “But you are, and we’re going to prove it.” Dash left no room for doubt in his voice.

  “Whatever. I have my own plan,” she retorted.

  “My team needs your passwords in order—”

  Layla was shaking her head before he could finish.

  “It’s the best way to help you,” he said.

  “Fine.” She rattled off a few faster than Dash could memorize them.

  “Slower this time, Layla,” he said.

  She complied but not without an attitude.

  “Why did you bring her?” There was a crack in Layla’s tough exterior despite how quickly she recovered.

  “I asked to come,” Raina said. “Your brother just gave me a ride over.”

  “You shouldn’t be in a place like this. It’s not safe.” Layla’s chin quivered. Her tough-girl routine was dissipating faster than fog when the sun came out.

  “Layla. I’m here for you. I care about you. Besides, I have your brother to watch out for me. You’re the one who is—”

  “No, I’m fine.” She might tell herself that a hundred times, but Dash could see it in her brown eyes. His sister was definitely not okay.

  “Who did it?” he came right out and asked. She had to have her suspicions.

  “Short answer?”

  He nodded.

  “I don’t know.”

  When he didn’t respond, she added, “All I do know is that someone has been following me for a couple of weeks.”

  “Like a private investigator?” he asked.

  “Or hit man,” she said a little too quickly. Her fast response gave him the impression she was being completely honest. She glanced around like she didn’t want the guard to hear her, and he realized part of her initial tough-guy act was probably to maintain some credibility inside.

  Dash balled his hands into fists at the thought that he was going to get up and walk out of here without her when their time was up.

  “You’ve already been set up for embezzlement. You’re the one in federal prison.” The last time he sat across a table like this from her, she’d seemed so small and vulnerable. Angry too. The anger had come across immediately. The hard
outer shell had come out, making him wonder if there would be anything salvageable in there after talking to her.

  Now? She was a grown woman. Still angry. But capable and smart. Also savvy.

  “You need a good lawyer. I have names,” he started, but she was shaking her head.

  “I hired one,” she said.

  “Who?”

  “Edward McConnell,” she supplied.

  “How are you paying him?” Her assets would be frozen, pending a full investigation.

  “He owes me a favor,” she said.

  “He’s connected, Layla. Hiring him makes you look guilty.” McConnell handled high profile cases involving wealthy—and very guilty—people.

  “Everyone already thinks I’m guilty, Dash. In case you hadn’t noticed.” She tried to throw her hands up in the air but was stopped by the chains. The clack sound echoed across the room.

  “I don’t,” Raina spoke up.

  Layla exhaled and it was like a balloon deflated in her chest. “You’re my best friend. No one is going to believe you. Plus, you should distance yourself from me, Raina. You’ll lose your job.”

  “I don’t care,” came Raina’s response.

  “I do. I won’t be responsible for ruining two lives.”

  “I’m a big girl, Layla. I’m fully capable of ruining my own life. I don’t need you for that.” Raina’s attempt to lighten the mood fell flat.

  “We both know you need that job. Plus, you won’t get a reference if they think you’re still hanging out with me. Listen carefully. This is what I want you to do.” Layla leaned in. “Go back to work and pretend like I never existed. No one has seen us together lately. Tell them you found out about—” she flashed her eyes “—and demanded that I break it off. When I didn’t, you cut me out of your life.”

  Raina was already shaking her head. “I won’t do it, Layla. Forget the idea.”