Illusions of Love (9 page)

Captain
Hilliard stood when we walked out into the main room. “It’s good to see you are
out of the hospital Winters,” he said smiling.

“Thank
you Captain. Is there anything new?” I asked instead of waiting for Cole to
speak.

“Nothing
much. Whoever hired him covered their tracks. We are not sure if it is related
to a case you worked or your personal life. Is there anything you can think of
that might help?” he asked watching me.

I
shook my head. I had been racking my brain while I was in the hospital, and I
couldn’t come up with anything. I never really made anyone mad enough to kill
me. At least I didn’t think I did.

“I
am looking into threats made towards me and my company, but as far as I can
tell there isn’t anything there either,” Cole said quietly.

“Captain
Hilliard, when can I come back?” I asked hoping he would say tomorrow, but I
knew better.

He
smiled. “You know it is mandatory you take at least a week; then you have to
have an evaluation. I suggest you take more time than that. You haven’t taken a
vacation since you started on the force.”

“But
Captain…” I started and he raised his hand.

He
raised his hand cutting me off. “A week at least, as long as you pass the
evaluation.”

I
sighed. “Yes sir,” I said softly relenting.

“Keep
us updated,” Cole said sounding slightly amused. I was sure he was glad I
couldn’t go back yet.

Captain
Hilliard nodded. “If you think of anything Winters don’t hesitate to call.”

I
nodded and he walked toward the door. Eric showed him out. I ran my fingers
through my hair. “I was hoping I could go back to work, but I knew he wouldn’t
let me.

Cole
put his arms around me and kissed my neck. “Let’s go to bed. We can order
dinner in tonight.”

I
wanted to go to bed with him and forget everything, but the thought that he
wanted more from me bothered me. He even mentioned renewing our vows and I was
pretty sure he was going to ask me to move to France. I didn’t want to move to
France. I loved my house and my job. I wasn’t leaving. “Ok,” I said softly
pushing the feelings aside.

“Go
get in bed, I’ll be in there soon,” he said softly then he kissed my cheek and
gently smacked me on my rear.

I
undressed and climbed in the bed. I found a movie to watch on TV. It had
already been a long day and it wasn’t even close to over. After a few minutes
he climbed onto the bed. My back was too him and I was attempting to focus on
the movie. He kissed my shoulder. His breath on my skin made my body heat up.

“How
many men?” he asked quietly. He sounded like he wasn’t sure if he wanted to
know.

“What
do you mean?” I asked feigning ignorance. I had tried avoid serious
conversation with him. I wasn’t even sure why I was avoiding it. I just was.

“Come
on Kate. You know what I mean,” he said testily. When I didn’t immediately
answer he sighed. “I’ll go first. Since our wedding night I have been with
around ten women. None of them were serious except one, but even that only
lasted a few months.”

I
felt a twinge of jealousy. I knew he was with other women. It would be stupid
for me to assume he wasn’t. That didn’t make it any easier when he confirmed
it. “I don’t really want to talk about this,” I muttered.

He
laughed nervously. “Is there that many?” he asked trying to make it seem like a
joke.

I
sat up slightly annoyed. “It’s more like there were none,” I said as I pulled
my running pants on, then my bra and shirt. He didn’t speak which surprised me.
“I want to go for a run,” I said as I opened one of my suitcases and put the
gun on my hip.

“It’s
not safe,” he said softly.

“I’ll
be fine. Have your guards follow if you are worried,” I said firmly.

“Katelyn,
I’m sorry,” he said softly.

I
looked at him not sure what to say. He had already apologized several times.
“The past is the past,” I said quietly then walked out.

Running
turned out to be a bad idea. The pain returned full force once I started. Eric
had one of his guys named Dan follow me. He was dressed in running gear and he
ran alongside me. It was early evening and it was beautiful out. He didn’t
speak and I didn’t speak to him; it was actually kind of nice.

I
only made it about a mile before I had to turn around. Even then I ended up
walking back toward the hotel instead of running. I felt ridiculous. I was a
cop and I could barely run a mile. I approached the hotel and a man with a
camera came toward me. Dan put himself between me and the man.

“Mrs.
Davis I only want a minute of your time,” he said watching me.

“What
do you want?” I asked trying not to sound too annoyed.

“I
advise against speaking to him Mrs. Davis,” Dan said firmly.

“It’s
Detective Winters first of all, and what is it you want? Some sensational news
story? Well I am sorry to disappoint, but there isn’t one,” I growled and
walked toward the hotel entrance.

“Wait,
Detective, do you know who attacked you?” he asked coming closer despite Dan
looking like he was ready to attack.

I
turned and looked at him. “No, do you?” I asked watching him.

He
shook his head. “I do have some information that might interest you.”

I
considered it for a minute. I didn’t really want to talk to him. Then again I
did want to follow every lead. “Dan give us a minute,” I said quietly.

Dan
looked at me startled. “Mrs. Davis, I don’t think Mr. Davis will like this.”

“And
I don’t think he tells me what to do. Now give me a minute I am not a fucking
idiot,” I growled.

He
looked a little embarrassed, but he moved away from us. He stayed out of
earshot, but close enough so he could react if he needed to. “Security is tight
huh,” the guy said amused.

“You
could say that. Now talk because I am sure it won’t be long before Cole and his
entire team is on your ass,” I said starting to get annoyed.

“Right,
well my name is Matt Jenson. I am a reporter for Don’t Tell magazine,” he said
nervously. When I didn’t speak he continued. “Your husband was supposedly
involved with a woman a year or so back. Word is he got her pregnant, but she
lost it. As soon as he found out he got a vasectomy and dumped her. She has
been making threats to him and his corporation since then. He has a restraining
order against her and everything. I just thought maybe she would be a possible
suspect in your attack.”

I
narrowed my eyes at him. I had my cop face on. I was furious, but I was able to
hide it well. I couldn’t see how Cole could keep something like this from me.
“I am a detective. I work off proof not gossip.”

“I
have proof. I just didn’t bring it because I didn’t think I would get to talk
to you,” he said quickly.

“Fine,
do you have a piece of paper?” I asked watching him.

He
nodded and reached in his bag for a notepad and pen. I wrote my email address
and phone number down. “Email it to me then maybe I will believe you,” I said
and went to walk away.

“What
do I get if I give it to you?” he asked quickly.

I
turned on him and glared at him. “You won’t get thrown in jail for hindering an
open police investigation.”

He
blushed. “I didn’t mean it like that. I would just like an interview with you.
No one has one. If I could get that then my career would take off.”

I
watched him for a second. I really wanted to know what he had. “Fine, if it is
not some made up bullshit, then I will give you an interview.”

He
smiled. “Thank you. You won’t regret it,” he said then glanced behind me. His
expression changed to fear as he turned and ran.

Like
is suspected Cole and his crew was advancing on us. I was actually surprised he
wasn’t here sooner.

“Why
were you talking to him?” Cole asked angrily.

“He
claims he can help me,” I said simply.

“He
is a lair. Why would you believe anything he has to say?” He sounded like he
was worried. I was beginning to think the guy new something.

“I
don’t. I told him to get me proof and we’ll go from there,” I said simply. I
walked back toward the hotel and he didn’t say anything. I was a little
surprised I thought he would at least ask me what the guy said; unless he
already knew.

I
walked back up to the hotel room. Neither he nor his security team followed
which I thought was odd. I was beginning to think Cole wasn’t telling me
something yet again. I hated that I didn’t feel like I could trust him. I
decided to shower and wait until Matt sent me his supposed proof. I would have
to go to the station because I had the email sent to my work address. I wanted
to use a secure server just in case someone was watching me.

I
finished showering and dressed in my usual jeans and shirt. I called Mandy and
asked her to pick me up. She protested, but I eventually won like I usually
did. I put my gun on my hip. Cole walked in the room as I was finishing up.
“What happened to staying in?” he asked as he leaned in the doorway.

“I
need to go to the station. I won’t be long,” I said as I made sure I had
everything.

“Hilliard
said a week,” Cole said firmly.

“Hilliard
knows I don’t listen,” I said smiling. “I’ll be back in a little bit, then we
can do dinner.”

I
went to walk past him and he caught my arm. “Come to me before you make any
conclusions,” he said softly.

I
smiled tightly. “Is there something so horrible that you are hiding? Shouldn’t
you tell me before I find out on my own?”

He
watched me for a second, then he looked away and released me. “No there is
nothing.”

“I’ll
see you later,” I said then walked out. I didn’t believe him and I couldn’t
shake the feeling.

Mandy
was waiting for me. She was on duty so she was in a police cruiser. A mob of
photographers surrounded me as I made my way to her car. I kept my head down in
an attempt to avoid all the cameras. I slid in the passenger seat and Mandy set
off.

“I
don’t know if I would like all that,” Mandy said as she watched the mob in her
rear view mirror.

“I
don’t like it,” I muttered.

“Uh
oh trouble in paradise?” she asked.

I
shrugged. “Same old bullshit.” I didn’t feel like telling her the details until
I knew for sure they were true. I was hoping they weren’t. I wanted children,
and if he didn’t that would be the end of everything. On top of that he had
some psycho ex. He told me he had been with other women and it bothered me more
than ever now. “How’s Jack?” I asked changing the subject.

She
smiled. “Good, I really like him. We are meeting later. How did you not end up
with him? He is an awesome guy.”

I
shrugged. “Jack was a great friend, but he isn’t my type I guess.”

She
laughed. “What is your type? Cole?”

I
sighed. “I guess.” I was a little worried she was right. Cole was my type. I
was crazy about him even when I was angry with him. I never did get over him
even though he obviously got over me.

Mandy
pulled up to the station and I climbed out. “Thanks for the ride.”

“Hey
if you need me call me,” she said firmly as she leaned over the seats and
looked up at me.

I
smiled. “I will.” I waved one last time and walked up the steps and into the
station.

I
managed to dodge Captain Hilliard. I settled in my office chair and turned the
computer on. I felt sick and nervous as I waited for the computer to boot up. I
already had trust issues because of Cole. I didn’t need to add to it with more
lies. Honestly I didn’t even know what I was doing anymore. I didn’t know why I
continued to try to see him. He kept trying to see me too even though it was
obvious we weren’t meant for one another.

I
pulled my email up and clicked the message from Matt Jenson. I spent the next
hour going over doctor’s bills, police reports, and other miscellaneous
letters. Everything Matt said was true. The girls name was Tiffany Daniels. I
did a search on her and she was in a psychiatric facility. She had no contact
with outsiders according to the reports so I doubted she had anything to do
with the attack on me. I didn’t understand how Matt got all the information.
Someone close to Cole had to be leaking it. There was information that was
extremely private. My phone rang startling me a little. “Detective Winters,” I
said answering it.

“Hey,
it’s Matt, so did I get the interview?” he asked sounding hopeful.

“Sure;
I’m at the station. I will give it to you now,” I said as I scanned over the
information. I was going to find out where he got all this stuff.

“Excellent,
I’ll be there in thirty minutes,” he said excitedly.

“See
you then,” I said and hung up.

My
door opened and Captain Hilliard came in. He gave me the look he always did
when I was doing something he told me not too. “Do you not know what a week
is?” he asked as he shut the door behind him.

“I
know, I know. I got a lead and I needed to follow it,” I said quietly.

“What
kind of lead?” he asked suddenly very interested.

“A
reporter, Matt Jenson, he claimed to have information about Cole and a past
girlfriend. Their relationship went south and she went nuts. Jenson thought she
might be the one who hired the thug, but I think there is someone else. This
guy Jenson has all these private forms that only someone in a personal position
with Cole would have,” I said softly as I continued to scan.

“Like
a lawyer?” he asked a little confused.

As
soon as he said it the blond lawyer that acted like she hated me when I went to
sign the divorce came to mind. “Yes just like a lawyer. Can I have room three?
I just need a few minutes with this guy. I need to know who is giving Cole’s
information away.”

Captain
Hilliard sighed. “Fine but when you find out you are taking a month off,” he
said firmly.

I
opened my mouth to protest. He raised his eyebrows like I shouldn’t say
anything. I pressed my lips together. “Fine,” I said quietly.

He
smiled like he had won. “Good, I expect your full report.” He stood as he
spoke. He really was a pain in my ass sometimes.

I
nodded. “Thank you.”

He
left and ten minutes later the front desk called to tell me Matt was out front.
I gathered all the copies I made and walked out to greet him.

“Hey,
so you want to do it here?” he asked as he looked around nervously.

I
nodded. “Right this way,” I said and walked toward one of the interrogation
rooms.

He
followed me in the room then looked around. “I have a feeling I am not going to
be the one doing the questioning,” he said watching me.

“You
would be right. Please sit,” I said indicating the chair across from me.

He
sighed and sat down. “I haven’t done anything wrong,” he said quietly.

“No,
but someone has. I want the name of the person who gave you this information,”
I said watching him.

He
slumped down in his chair. “I don’t know a name, just a face. She gave me a
folder and that was it.”

“Is
this her?” I asked showing him a picture of Leslie Carter, Cole’s evil blond
lawyer.

He
looked at it and nodded. “Ya that’s her. I thought you were interested in
finding who was trying to kill you.”

“Did
you pay her for the information?” I asked hoping to make a case against her.

He
nodded. “Ten grand. It was all I had.
What about Davis’s
crazy girlfriend?”

“She’s
not a threat. I want every bit of information you have on him. I want all the
originals or I will make your life hell,” I said angrily.

“Why
do you even care? You and Davis have been apart for years. He is an asshole and
you deserve better. Here I don’t want it,” he growled as he tossed a folder on
the table. “I will delete the file off my computer as soon as I get home.”

I
nodded. “Thank you. I’ll be in touch.”

“Whatever,”
he muttered as he stood and walked out.

I
sat back in my chair wondering what to do next. I could bring her in for
questioning. That would probably piss Cole off, but he didn’t seem to care
about what pissed me off. Besides I was technically trying to save his
reputation. I decided to get clearance from Captain Hilliard before I did
anything.