Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 28259 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 141(@200wpm)___ 113(@250wpm)___ 94(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28259 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 141(@200wpm)___ 113(@250wpm)___ 94(@300wpm)
It’s okay. I can do this. If he says he didn’t see it, then I can let it go.
I gather every ounce of courage to bring myself down to Reading Road where I stand in front of Lay Pipe Plumbing, but there’s no one here when I arrive. A sign on the door says the plumber is out for the day. There’s an entrance around the corner, reminding me that Roy lives in the back apartment. I ring the bell and instantly hope Roy doesn’t answer.
A wave of relief washes over me when no one comes to the door. I look at the doorknob and jiggle it a few times. Of course, it isn’t open. No one leaves without locking their door.
“Locked out again?” A deep voice that makes my nipples hard asks from behind me, and I know the face and sexy mouth it’s coming from.
Spinning around, there he is. All six feet-something inches of Hendrix Haven—my favorite locksmith who kissed me senseless last night and left me stirring with desire. Long black hair stops just under his ears with a trim goatee and brown eyes I can stare at all day.
An audible quiver of my voice comes out before I spit out an absolute lie. “Kinda. It’s a friend’s place. I stepped out and locked myself out. Can you help me get inside?”
3
HENDRIX
Why in the world is Havana lying to me?
Her energy is skittish, and her eyes are looking everywhere but mine. I’m curious as to what’s inside this apartment she wants me to break into, but it has to be important, or else, why involve me?
It takes me about ten minutes to mold the lock and make the key. I have this process down to a science by now. Once we’re inside, the stench is the first thing that hits me. The second is the messiness of the entire apartment.
It’s a studio with an unmade bed and dishes in the sink. There’s a dresser and a tall wardrobe in the corner. The door to the bathroom looks like it’s ready to come off the hinges.
Havana’s face reveals this is the first time she’s been in here, and in that moment, I refuse to let this go on any longer.
“Havana, what’s going on, baby girl? Don’t lie to me.”
She looks around unsure of what to do or what to touch. “I’m sorry, but I just had to get inside here and look around.”
“Let’s go,” I tell her and leave the apartment, being sure to lock the door behind us. The sun is beating down on us as Havana paces in circles. There isn’t anyone out here, and from the look of the shop in the front of this apartment, the guy who lives here isn’t someone worthy of Havana’s company.
“So, are you going to tell me whose apartment you just made me break into?” I ask her. “And, why?”
“Hendrix,” she huffs and shakes her head from side to side. “When I got up this morning, my landlady was at my door with this plumber guy. He lives here. He was in my apartment–”
“In your apartment alone? Or with you?” I ask her.
“Lucille didn’t leave me alone with him in the apartment. He’s a bit of a creep.”
“So you had me break into a creep’s apartment. Why?”
She sighs, “Because I think he took my necklace. My parents gave it to me, and well, it’s the only thing I have of them before everything went to shit. Now this piece of shit took it. Stupid Roy.”
“Roy? He got a last name?”
“Jonas. Lay Pipe Plumbing.” She nudges her chin at the shop in the front of the building. “I really didn’t want to have to deal with him again, but I just couldn't let it go that he came into my apartment and took something.”
“And you thought he’d come right back here with stolen jewelry to hide it in that shitshow in there?”
“That’s my point. I didn’t know. I don’t know what to do, and I just feel so icky about him being inside of my place.”
“I understand. It’s one of the things I come across in my line of work. People need new locks after old ones get busted during robberies. I knew a guy named Roy Jonas when I was around 16. He got me into some shit that got me sent to jail for a few weeks. If it weren’t for my folks sinking money into some hot-shot lawyer, I would have been held a lot longer.”
“From what my landlady said, this Roy guy is bad news. It sounds like he’s forcing her to use his plumbing services. He doesn’t even look like a plumber. You think this is the same guy?” she asks.
I shrug. “Most likely. Ain’t too many people with the same name running around Conklin. And you’re sure he took it?”