The Butcher (28 page)

Pit Bull One's smile seemed genuine, but he didn't budge. “I totally understand, sir, but building policy is that the side door code is for residents only. All guests do need to be signed in. Which apartment are you visiting?”

“Is this really necessary?” Matt did his best to sound put out. “Clearly if he gave me the code, he doesn't mind me coming up to see him.”

The doorman's smile never wavered, but it did tighten, and he turned back to glance at the bored security guard, who suddenly didn't seem to so bored.
Jesus Christ, put guys in uniforms and they automatically think they're in control of the universe
.

“I do understand, sir, but I still need to check your ID and notify the tenant that you've arrived. Otherwise, I can't let you up.” Pit Bull One looked pointedly at the phone in Matt's hand. “You're welcome to call your friend to check that I'm giving you the correct information. I'm sure he'll understand, too. The residents all know the drill.”

You've got to be fucking kidding me
. “No, that's fine, if anyone's going to call, it might as well be you.”

“Which guest did you say you were visiting?” the doorman said as he headed back to the lobby desk to where the security guard was
seated. Pit Bull Two picked up the phone, finger poised above the number pad, appraising Matt from behind the desk.

“I'm here to see Jason Sullivan. Tell him it's Matt Shank.”

“Mr. Sullivan, in penthouse A,” the doorman said to the security guard, who nodded and punched in a code. “I assume then, that you have a key for the elevator?” he said to Matt. “The penthouse floor is only accessible with a key.”

“I don't.”
Shit. Forgot about that
.

“Then it's a good thing we're here to call for you.” Big smile.

Matt didn't smile back.

The security guard cleared his throat and spoke into the phone. “Good evening, Mr. Sullivan, it's Troy from downstairs. You have a friend here to see you?” He listened a moment and then said, “He said his name is Matt Shank.” A nod. “I will. You're welcome, Mr. Sullivan.” He nodded to Pit Bull One.

The doorman accompanied Matt to the elevators and pushed the button. When it opened, he stepped inside, one hand holding the door open for Matt to follow. He inserted his key card into the slot and then pushed
P
for penthouse. “You're all set, sir. Have a good evening.”

“Thanks,” Matt muttered. When the elevator door finally closed and he was alone, he looked up at the camera mounted in the corner and said, “Blowhards,” as clearly as he could enunciate.

Yes, it was immature, but whatever. Did these yahoos in polyester uniforms actually think he was a stalker or some kind of criminal?

But you are a criminal,
his mind whispered.
You're a murderer
.

He caught a glimpse of himself in the elevator's mirrored walls, and had to admit, he'd seen better days. His dark circles were getting worse, and his face was looking craggier. He needed sleep.

The elevator chimed softly as it flew upward to the thirty-fourth floor.
When he stepped out, the door to Jason's apartment was open slightly. He took a deep breath and knocked before pushing it open. “Jase?”

The penthouse hadn't changed much at all since Matt had last been here, though he still couldn't remember exactly when that had been. Twelve-foot ceilings, light walls, dark furniture, all very simple and all very expensive. Way above Matt's current pay grade.

“Matt!” Jason came out from the kitchen area, open bottle of beer in hand. He offered it to Matt immediately, seeming surprised to see his friend, but not particularly nervous. Matt noticed a woman's purse sitting on the kitchen counter, but it wasn't one he recognized. Had Sam bought a new purse, or was it someone else's? “Good to see you, buddy. Were you in the neighborhood?”

“Sorry for just dropping in. I tried calling you but your phone's been going straight to voicemail all evening.”

“Oh, shit. Yeah.” Jason looked over his shoulder quickly and lowered his voice. “Lilac's here. She hates it when I get calls during ‘our time.' ” He used his fingers to make exaggerated air quotes, his lips pursed in displeasure. “I fucking hate having it off, but I'm trying to be respectful of what she wants, you know? We don't get a lot of time alone together. I mean, you know how it is.”

“Lilac's here?” Matt suddenly felt very uncomfortable, and okay, more than a little bit foolish. He'd come primed for a fight and wasn't expecting that the reason he hadn't been able to get a hold of Jason was that he was actually with his
own
girlfriend, and not Matt's. “Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt. Shit, I should go.” He moved to put his untouched beer on the breakfast bar.

“No!” Jason said, his voice filled with good-humored urgency. “Stay. Please. We've been together all afternoon. All. Afternoon. So please, just stay. Hang out. For me.”

Matt finally allowed himself to laugh, and immediately felt his whole body relax. “Okay, okay. I'll hang out. Nice to see you, my friend. Got any food?”

“Yes I do,” Jason said promptly. “And I love how you own your own restaurant, and yet you're always hungry. There's leftover pizza. I ordered it before Lilac got here.” His voice dropped and he leaned closer. “Totally forgot she was a vegan and I had them, like,
pile
it with sausage. She picked it all off, but she was so grossed out.” He chuckled with glee. “I'll pop it in the oven; there's still half of it left.”

“Jay? Baby?” An unequivocally girly voice floated out from the bedroom. “Did you say something? Who's here, honey bear?”

Jason looked at Matt, stricken, and Matt lost it. He burst into laughter, trying to hold it back, unsuccessfully, behind his hand. “Oh shit, dude. She actually calls you
Jay
? And
baby
? And . . .
honey bear
?”

“Yes, and you know I hate it, and don't you say a fucking word,” Jason hissed.

“Are you kidding? I'm going to record this for ESPN.”

“Bite me.”

A second later, Lilac appeared from the bedroom. As she crossed the living room floor toward them, Matt felt his mouth drop open slightly. Tall, maybe five foot ten, she was barefoot, wearing a simple cream dress that hung down to her ankles but was cut very low up top, showing her ample and well-defined cleavage. Her platinum hair was swept into a topknot that was designed to look casual, but still looked totally sexy. Her cheekbones were high, her eyelashes were long, and her lips were full. If she was wearing any makeup, Matt couldn't detect it.

She was smoking hot. So
this
was what had been keeping Jason busy the past little while. It all made sense now. Until she spoke.

“I'm sorry, we haven't met,” Lilac cooed in a little-girl voice, stepping toward Matt. “I'm Jay's girlfriend, Lilac Sills.”

Matt held out a hand, but she ignored it, instead wrapping her long, slender arms around him. He felt her breasts press against his chest, and wondered if they were real; they felt a tad too firm. He made a mental note to ask Jason about that later. “Matt Shank,” he said into her topknot. “Nice to meet you.”

He glanced over at Jason, who shrugged apologetically. Lilac pressed against him for a few seconds longer than was necessary before pulling away.

“Oh, wait. You're Matt Shank. I know you, Jay talked about you. The Food Network guy?”

“Fresh Network,” Matt and Jason said in unison.

“Huh?” Lilac said, looking back and forth between them. “What's that?”

“There's two different networks,” Matt said. “The Food Network's the big one. The Fresh Network is . . .” He paused, searching for the right words, feeling stupid.

“The other one,” Jason finished.

“Oh.” Lilac seemed mildly confused, and Matt couldn't help wonder if that was a common thing for her. “Well, at least you're on TV. You could be the next Naked Chef.”

“Sam would love that, I'm sure,” Jason said with a chuckle.

“Oh.” Lilac's face changed, her warm expression cooling. “You're
that
Matt. You're Sam's boyfriend. I met her the other day, right, Jay? She's . . . nice.” The last word rolled off her tongue dubiously.

“Is that right?” Matt said, and just like that, he felt his whole body stiffen again. “What, did you guys all go for drinks and forget to invite me?” He kept his tone light.

“No, we didn't go anywhere,” Lilac said, giving Jason a look. “She came by to hang out with Jay as I was
leaving
.”

Jason suddenly looked uncomfortable. Matt forced himself to smile. “Well, that's typical with those two. They've been friends a long time. Better get used to it. They're like brother and sister.”

Lilac's smile was frosty. “Not like any brother and sister I know, but if you say so.”

“Hey now,” Jason said, stepping in. “We've
all
been friends for a long time. Since grade school for me and Sam, and college for me and my boy here.”

“Sounds a little incestuous.” Lilac's pout was equal parts childish and sexy. “I feel left out.”

“So do I,” Matt muttered.

“Anyway, I'll be on my way.” Slipping into her shoes, Lilac reached up and pulled out the elastic band holding her topknot in place. Long blond hair tumbled over her shoulders in waves and she tousled it lightly. Damn if she didn't look like a Victoria's Secret model. Matt knew he was staring, but there didn't seem to be any way not to, and it didn't seem to bother her a bit. In fact, she seemed to expect it. “I'll see you boys later?”

“I'll call you tomorrow.” Jason leaned over and pecked her on the lips. In heels, she was almost his height so he didn't have to bend down. “Have fun tonight at the yoga thing.”

Lilac wiggled her fingers at Matt before walking out the door. He didn't know if she always walked like that, but it was hard not to notice her perfect ass cheeks under the clingy fabric of the dress. Once she was gone, Jason breathed a sigh that sounded a lot like relief.

“
That's
Lilac?” Matt said, turning to his friend. “You never said anything about her looking like that. She's the yoga instructor?”

“Why do you diminish it?” Jason reached into his fridge and pulled
out a beer for himself. “She's not just a teacher, she actually owns a bunch of studios. I know she doesn't seem like it, but she's actually pretty smart. When she's not being completely jealous and annoying and smothering the shit out of me, that is.”

“If she looks like that, who gives a shit if she smothers you? You poor, rich, ex-football player. If it's too much for you, she can smother me instead. Be happy to take one for the team.”

Jason smiled and shook his head. “Don't be deceived. It gets old after a while.”

“I feel your pain and suffering. Jackass.”

The two sipped their beers in silence for a moment.

“So what brings you by?” Jason finally said. “Oh hey, I guess I can turn on my phone now. Hooray.”

There was no way Matt could admit that he'd come by to try to catch Jason alone with Sam. Because—and this was no way a knock on his girlfriend—what would Jason want with good old Sam, when he clearly had his hands full with Lilac? Who looked like
that
? Not that Sam wasn't pretty, because she was a beautiful girl in her own right, but let's be real here. Sam wasn't five foot ten with legs from here to China.

And there was something to be said about legs from here to China.

Goddammit, Matt really needed to get his shit together. Some days it felt like he was losing his mind.

“I just wanted to see how you were doing,” he finally said. “I wasn't able to get a hold of you today. Your phone didn't ring.”

“Aw, you missed me.” Jason was scrolling through his phone, which was pinging with all the texts and emails that had accumulated over the day. “Yeah, sorry, man. Lilac and her rules. We're going to have talk about this later, she and I, because I'm not sure I like this particular rule. I missed three business calls, one of which I really needed to take.
Shit. Oh, and it looks like Sam's sent a bunch of texts . . .” Jason's voice trailed off, his eyes widening. He put the phone up to his ear.

“What is it?” Matt said.

Jason held up a finger while he listened.

Matt pulled out his phone, beginning to seethe again. Nope, there was still nothing from Sam. So his girlfriend had called Jason at some point today but not Matt, her actual boyfriend? And they weren't sleeping together? Right.

“She called me as she was heading to the police station,” Jason said, putting his phone down. “Apparently they called her in to give a witness statement.”

“For what?” Matt's mind flew to PJ Wu, but it couldn't possibly be about PJ. He wasn't even sure Sam knew what had happened to PJ.

“They wanted to ask her about that lady who came into town, the one who knew her mother,” Jason said. “They found her body the other day. She was murdered.”

“What lady?” Matt had no idea what Jason was talking about.

“From the forum, that serial killers website.”

“What website? I have no fucking idea what you're talking about.”

“She didn't tell you about it?” Jason looked just as confused as Matt felt. “About meeting Bonnie?”

“Who's Bonnie?” Matt could hear himself getting loud but he couldn't help it. He had no idea what Jason was referring to, which was bad enough, but what he hated more was that his friend knew things about Sam that he didn't know. It wasn't right, and it was making him angry. Gritting his teeth, he said, “Obviously she didn't say anything to me about any of this, Jase, or I would know what the fuck you're talking about. So could you please just explain before my brain explodes?”