Distortion Control (A Makayla Rose Mystery Book 3) (14 page)

Chapter Fourteen

I was just taking down plates in my little kitchen when someone knocked on the front door. I paused, listening to the shower running. Spencer had stayed over again—on the couch—and he had just risen. Since the water didn’t stop, I assumed he couldn’t hear. While my stomach stirred with nerves, I didn’t figure the killer would knock, especially knowing Spencer was there and it was eight thirty in the morning.

I checked the peephole and blew out a breath of relief before swinging the door wide. “Ash! Where have you been?”

He smiled and strode by me into the apartment. “Did you miss me, darlin’?”

I put my hand on my hip. “Not really, but you have a habit of disappearing. If Spencer can’t depend on you, I can’t either.”

I found myself boxed in after I shut the door and turned to face him. Good thing I had put clothes on. Ash was tall, just as tall as the man I had seen in the lobby of the church. He stood too close for me to see if his arm was injured. Several days had passed since the incident, so it was possible the pain had lessened.

“So you’re still in love with my brother?” He stepped even nearer. “Shall I make you forget him?”

“As tempted as I am—”

Ash was jerked backward by the collar of his coat and spun around. A crack resounded through the apartment, and Ash landed on his bum. My eyes bugged, and I pressed both hands over my mouth.

Spencer stood above his brother, fist still clenched, and eyes burning fire. “Start explaining yourself.”

“Bro, violence isn’t necessary.” Ash ducked his head and pressed knuckles to his lips. I feared he tasted blood right about then.

I grabbed Spencer’s arm. “Cool down, Spencer. Let him explain.”

“Oh he’ll explain all right.” Spencer crouched and jerked his brother in the front of his jacket again. The pull was so strong, Ash’s head snapped back, and Spencer bared his teeth. “So that’s your issue! Ash, you know better than this.”

“Better than what?” I asked, looking from one brother to the other. What, did they read each other’s minds?

“It’s not necessary to—” Ash began.

“Tell Makayla that you’re on drugs?” Spencer finished for him.

I gasped.

Spencer released Ash and stood up. “I can see it in his eyes. My brother is high as a kite. My guess is that’s why he kept disappearing, when he needed a fix too bad or when he was getting one. Bastard! You’re a police officer. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”

“You know it does,” Ash shot back.

“Apparently not enough.”

“Boys, stop it.”

I rested my hands on Spencer’s chest. He let me push him back, but I felt the charged energy rolling off him. He was spoiling for a fight, and he wanted to make Ash his opponent. From the way Ash looked, I had the impression the man would let himself be a punching bag, maybe from guilt.

“Let him get up, Spencer,” I begged. “He might be able to explain himself.”

“There’s no way he can explain this away.”

“Come off your high horse!”

Spencer stared at me. “You’re okay with him doing drugs?”

“No, of course not. I’m just saying being his judge and jury isn’t going to get him better.”

Spencer made an impatient sound and strode across the room to sit on the couch. He’d thrown on clothes, probably hearing his brother’s voice. His skin was still damp, and so was his hair.

Ash took his time rising. “So the two of you are together again. I’m glad.”

Spencer flared his nostrils. “Why don’t I believe you? You were coming on to Makayla when I walked into the room. I’m assuming you also neglected to tell her you’re married?”

I gaped, mouth hanging open. “Married?”

Not that I had seriously entertained seeing Ash, given my feelings for Spencer, but really, did I have a magnet for all married men in the world? I know I was being dramatic, but I couldn’t help it.

Ash dragged a hand over his mouth, and this time I saw the stain of blood when he brought it away. “Jeez, you know how to bring a man down.”

“You’re doing that all by yourself.” Spencer had backed away physically, but he still wasn’t willing to give an inch. I looked at him, but rather than the superior expression I expected, I saw sharp disappointment and sadness. He wasn’t judging his brother. Finding out Ash was doing drugs devastated him.

When Spencer noticed me watching him, he schooled his features to a blank expression. Too late, I thought. I’d seen the look and knew the truth. In a way, it comforted me to know he was not as cold toward Ash as he had sounded.

Then I recalled Spencer’s claim that Ash was married, and feeling sorry for Ash’s weakness was the farthest thing from my mind. I folded my arms over my chest and pursed my lips. Ash sighed and moved toward the doors leading to the balcony. “My marriage is in trouble…because of the drug use.”

Spencer leaned forward. “You’re not getting a divorce?”

Ash chuckled, a humorless sound. “Is that a demand or a question? I don’t know. I came here to help you. Instead, I ended up in an old cabin in the woods…”

We knew what he had been doing there and didn’t need it spelled out for us. Disappointment and anger tightened my gut. Spencer had desperately needed Ash’s expertise as an officer of the law, and he couldn’t be there.

“Where did you get the drugs, Ash?” Spencer asked.

“Around.”

“Where?”
Spencer slid to the edge of the couch, and I worried he would go after his brother again.

“Stop acting all high and mighty. You’re not the law anymore.”

Spencer stood up. I took a step toward him, ready to cut him off if I needed to. This was too much excitement for early in the morning when I hadn’t even had a donut and coffee yet.

Ash shrugged and named someone I didn’t know. I imagined it was the man I had seen him with.

Spencer frowned, and I wasn’t sure if he recognized the name or not. He was as new as I was to the area, but probably had reason to interact with more of the citizens. “How did you know he would sell you drugs when you’re here for the first time?”

“An addict can pick it up like a sixth sense.” Ash didn’t sound proud of the ability but stated it matter-of-factly.

“I’ve got to make a quick phone call,” Spencer said. He stabbed a finger in Ash’s direction. “Don’t leave!”

When Spencer disappeared into my bedroom and shut the door, I turned to Ash. “Did you really have an affair with Penelope, or did you tell me that to cover the real problem you have?”

Ash’s silver eyes were duller than when he had come in. He turned away from me to look out onto the grassy area behind my apartment. “No, I didn’t. I’ve done a lot of cruddy things, but I wouldn’t betray Spencer like that. I suppose he doesn’t think a lot of me now.”

“I’m sure he still loves you.”

His shoulders shifted as if he were uncomfortable with what I’d said.
Men.

“Makayla, don’t tell him. She gave me money all the time.”

I gasped. “Why would she do that?”

He faced me. “Because she was dumb enough to love him. She also thought leaving would make him change. He won’t change. Not for anybody.”

My heart hurt. “So you used her?”

“I never said I was a good guy. Spencer is good enough for the both of us.”

“I agree,” I snapped. “I guess you’re not.”

Spencer walked back into the room, and Ash and I dropped the subject so he wouldn’t know we had been discussing Penelope.

* * * *

“I was surprised you accepted my invitation,” Spencer said as he held my seat and I sat down at the table.

“Thank you.” I offered him a coy smile and angled my head. “Why wouldn’t I? You’re paying, right?”

He glared, and I smiled. “You know what I mean, Makayla. Our misunderstanding left us both unsure of where we stood, and every time I tried to talk to you, you shrugged me off.”

I widened my eyes. “‘Our misunderstanding?’ Is that what it was?” I dared not get into further debate about the breakdown of our arrangement lest my true feelings come through. I didn’t have the gift he and Ash had of hiding my emotions.

He reached across the table and took my hand. I let him. “I want to go back to the way it was.”

“I—”

A chair scraped the floor as Ash dragged it from another table to ours and sat down. “What are we having? I’m starving.” He nabbed Spencer’s menu from beside his elbow and opened it to study.

“Ash,” Spencer ground out. “What are you doing?”

Ash flicked an innocent gaze at his brother then back to the menu. “Looking for something good. Why the heck did you choose this place? Where’s the burger and fries?”

“It’s a small world!” David appeared at the table all smiles. “What are all of you doing here?” He waved a hand and also found a chair to add to the table. “Never mind. This is my second time here, and I thought I would have to eat alone. I’m glad I was wrong. Makayla, honey, I love the hair and dress. Fabulous.”

I had put my hair up, leaving a few tendrils down to soften the nape and temples. The blue dress with low cut bodice had been something I had picked up before Spencer and I had our problems but I hadn’t been able to test it out until tonight. Spencer’s narrowed gaze of interest had pleased me when he picked me up. Now it was all going to waste. We weren’t alone.

“I didn’t know anyone knew about Chelle’s,” I told David. “Not in my circle. Oh, but I keep forgetting you’re from the Hillrise side of town.”

David made a noise of protest. “I like the finer things now since I can afford them, but I wasn’t born this way. Chelle’s is no Zekey’s, that’s for sure.”

“Zekey’s,” Ash moaned. “That’s the restaurant I got that mushroom burger from the other day.”

“Then why didn’t you go there?” Spencer snapped at his brother, and I hid a smile.

“And miss out on hanging with my bro?” I knew Ash was playing dumb on purpose. The amusement in his gaze wasn’t lost on me or Spencer, but Spencer didn’t order him to leave.

“Do you know David, Ash?” I gestured. “David, this is Ash, Spencer’s brother.”

David practically sparkled. “Hello, nice to meet you finally. I’ve seen you around town. You look so much like Spencer.”

“Ash is the older brother,” I informed David, and my friend edged closer to Ash.

“Interesting. I hear you’re in law enforcement too,” David simpered. “I love a man in uniform.”

Ash raised an eyebrow. “I don’t usually wear one, but thanks.”

“In…out…” David said, and Ash coughed. I laughed.

“I’m kind of married,” Ash told him, “but I’m flattered.”

“Aw, too bad.” David bumped his arm. “If anything changes, give me a call.”

Conversation turned, and Spencer seemed to accept that we weren’t going to get time alone. Ash went ahead and ordered what he called “fancy food,” and I settled for directing the occasional glance over at Spencer just to enjoy the thought that he had wanted to go out on a date with me.

“We need to figure out what Makayla knows,” Spencer said out of the blue, and all conversation around the table stopped. Spencer sat straighter, and the slight smile he been wearing as we chatted disappeared.

“I agree,” Ash said. “She may have clues she doesn’t know she has.”

“I’ve told you all I know.”

“Go over everything that’s happened up until now,” Ash instructed me, and his brother nodded. I sighed. They were both focused on me, determined something had been missed. I had no desire to rehash the fear and danger I had experienced. However, with the two Norwoods flanking me, it was doubtful I would get away with staying silent.

“Well,” I began, “when you called to ask me to come by your house, I—”

“Hold,” Spencer ordered.

“Are you going to listen or interrupt, Spencer?”

He ignored my complaint. “
When
did I call you?”

“You know when. The day it happened.” I swallowed. “When I was kidnapped and… I was talking to you on your porch. Who has memory issues, me or you?”

His silver gaze intent on my face made me fall silent. “I didn’t call you, Makayla.”

“Spencer, if this is a joke, it’s in very poor taste.”

He said nothing, so I pulled out my cell phone. I had saved his voicemail and played it on speaker for everyone to hear.

“That’s you, bro,” Ash said.

Spencer’s hand clenched into a fist on the table. “I agree, that’s my voice, but I never called.” I felt sick because I had thought Spencer phoned me after waiting so long. Hope had sprung in me that what he now called a misunderstanding was just that. “But, I was glad to see you.”

I didn’t know what to think of that last sentence, whether he had thrown it in to help me save face in front of everyone.

“We ended up having an argument,” he added, “and you left.”

I nodded. “I remember that part but nothing afterward.”

“Penelope was missing by then. I found out later because I had been too busy to speak with her.” A muscle twitched in his jaw. I laid my hand over his, knowing he blamed himself.