Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 125681 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 628(@200wpm)___ 503(@250wpm)___ 419(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125681 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 628(@200wpm)___ 503(@250wpm)___ 419(@300wpm)
West placed his hand on his laptop and pressed a button. The music shifted to a slow moody blues song. The melody was gentle and sad. The bass thumped. Heartbreaking lyrics started and then faded into the background. The drums beat at a steady tempo while the piano added a sultry tone.
West looked up. “How’s that?”
Nodding, I exhaled. Smoke left my nose and swirled in front of me.
“Perfect.” I leaned over and passed the blunt to him.
West grabbed it and gestured at Phoenix. “No handcuffs or rope?”
“It’s fine.”
Phoenix widened her eyes, but kept silent.
West shrugged. “I just don’t feel like repeating these past weeks of hunting her. It was exhausting.”
“She’s not running.”
The doorbell rang.
“That’s the pizza.” West rose, took a puff of the blunt, and then gave it to Phoenix. “I’ll get it.”
She took the blunt.
West walked off.
Griff and Pandora headed over.
Here we go.
Chapter 23
Cupcake
CAIN
G
riff and Pandora stood in front of us.
A nervous expression covered Griff’s face.
Meanwhile, Pandora’s face boasted confidence. She wore a blue sundress and sandals. A diamond cupcake dangled from her neck. A towel wrapped around her head. Her gaze went to me, then Phoenix, and remained right there.
Both women studied each other.
“Alright.” Appearing uncomfortable, Griff ran his fingers through his hair. “So, Pandora, go ahead and say what you came to say, so we can get back to partying.”
Pandora said nothing. Instead, she stared at Phoenix.
And Phoenix simply gazed back as she handed me the blunt.
I took it. “What do you have to say?”
She turned to me.
“How did Johnny die?” I inhaled the blunt.
Pandora pointed at Phoenix. “Should we be discussing this in front of her? I mean. . .I don’t even know who she is or why she is here.”
I blew out smoke. “How did Johnny die? Who murdered him?”
Pandora switched to Spanish. “Who is this woman?”
Annoyance hit me. “Speak in English only.”
Phoenix quirked her brows.
“Hey, Pandora. We can say anything in front of Phoenix.” Griff let out an odd chuckle. “Just go ahead.”
“I don’t know who killed Johnny, but. . .I found him in the shop. It was so horrible.” Pandora put her attention back on me. “Someone had dressed him up as a queen and stacked donuts all around him. At first, I thought it was some weird prank. Johnny liked to fuck with me, but when I went up to him and touched his face. . .it was warm, but stiff. I yelled and ran out of there.”
I leaned my head to the side. “Warm, yet stiff?”
“Yes.”
“The first 3 hours after death, the body will be soft and warm.” I took another hit of the blunt and tried to give it back to Phoenix. She shook her head. I inhaled more and blew out smoke from my nostrils. “After about 3-8 hours the body starts to stiffen. 8-36 hours it will be stiff and cold.”
Griff looked at Pandora. “When did you find him?”
“Early this morning. It was around 7am.”
“If the killer took the time to dress up the body and create a scene, then you must have just missed the killer.” I offered the blunt to Griff.
Horror covered Pandora’s face. “I-I don’t remember hearing anyone in there.”
Griff grabbed the blunt. “Was the door locked?”
“Not the back door. However, the front door was.”
Griff looked at me. “He probably was still in there marveling at what he’d done. The body is still warm too. Probably touched it a little. Maybe even jacked off on it.”
Pandora frowned. “What?”
“Just some hypothetical thoughts.” Griff shrugged. “And you said the killer dressed Johnny up like a queen. That’s fucking crazy.”
I eyed her. “How do you know he was supposed to be a queen?”
“He had a big silk and velvet gown on his body. And there was a wig and crown on his head.”
I raised my eyebrows. “And you have no idea who did it?”
“No idea.” Pandora turned her attention back to Phoenix.
I frowned. “Who was the last person to see him? Do you know?”
“I don’t.”
Griff spoke up, “What about that Asian guy that came up to talk to him when we were there?”
“Leo had nothing to do with it.” Pandora waved her hand. “He’s one of the founders of the Syndicate. He’s fiercely loyal.”
I could feel the marijuana dulling my senses. Needing to anchor myself, I lowered and sat down next to Phoenix.
Griff took a puff of the blunt and then grabbed a chair for Pandora. She sat down. Griff got another chair and positioned himself next to her.
I leaned back in the chair. “What do you know about the job that Johnny wanted me to do?”
“Everything.” Pandora smiled. “Honestly, it was my idea. Lush isn’t just a brothel. It’s a big, towering building with shops, restaurants, a nightclub at the bottom, and tons of luxury suites on the top floors. It’s full of money. And the owner. . .well. . .let’s just say I have a bone to pick with him and his family.”