“He gave Jace his phone number, so I’ll get it for you.” Royce checked the flow of water into the drain. “I think we’re good to go now, big guy.”
They worked together to remove the old tank and set the new one in place. Royce pumped his fist in the air when everything lined up correctly, and he didn’t need to cut or solder anything.
“Maybe your luck really is changing,” Royce said.
“I deserve a break after the crazy week I’ve had.”
“It’s only Wednesday,” Royce pointed out. “Plenty more time for fuckery to ensue.”
“God, I hope not,” Jonah said. “What do I owe you for your time?”
“I don’t accept money for helping my friends,” Royce said, patting him on the back. “I will accept food or booze, however.”
“Sounds like a backyard barbecue to me,” Jonah said. “Do you prefer ribs, steaks, or chicken?”
“Yes,” Royce replied.
Jonah laughed. “How does Saturday sound?”
“I’m not aware of any plans, but I’ll check with Sawyer and let you know when I get Jerry’s number for you.”
“Perfect. Thanks, Ro.”
“Anytime, big guy.”
It felt like the most protracted few hours of his life while waiting for the tank to fill and the water to heat up so he could take a long shower. He vowed to never take hot water for granted ever again.
When he stepped out of the shower, he found Avery sprawled on his bed. “Kendall said I could come up. I hope you don’t mind.”
Kendall hadn’t been home yet when Jonah got in the shower, so he must’ve arrived minutes before Avery showed up.
“Mind?” he asked, loosening the towel around his waist and dropping it to the floor. He strolled to the bed, loving the way Avery’s gaze raked over his body.
“It was a bit presumptuous of me,” Avery said breathlessly.
Jonah stopped at the side of the bed and ghosted his fingers over Avery’s heated cheeks. He took Avery’s right hand and placed it against his hardening erection.
Jonah slid his hands in Avery’s hair and placed a kiss on his neck. “How was your day?”
Avery’s breath hitched. “It sucked because you weren’t there.” Jonah’s heart tripped over itself. “Do you really want to talk shop tonight? I can think of better ways we can spend our time together.”
Jonah popped open the button on Avery’s jeans. “Such as?”
Avery released Jonah’s balls to pull his shirt off over his head before reaching for his zipper. “You wrecked my ass good. I felt you all day, and I want you to make sure I feel you again tomorrow.”
Jonah stilled Avery’s hand so he could be the one to strip him bare. “You wrecked my world, so we’re even.” Jonah placed Avery’s hand on his chest. “Just don’t wreck my heart.”
Avery’s eyes widened as if it never occurred to him that Jonah would give him that kind of power. “Never,” he whispered.
Could it be that easy?
Did he dare believe?
Avery licked his plump bottom lip invitingly.
Yes, goddamn it. He fucking dared.
Jonah walked Avery to his car the following morning, intending to give him a brief kiss before he left, but Avery melted against him. Short and sweet turned into long and lazy. Avery made a happy little humming sound when Jonah broke their kiss.
“Keep making those noises, and you’ll be really late for work.”
Avery’s eyelashes fluttered before opening to reveal a lust-drunk gaze. “You can’t possibly be ready to go again.” Oh, the funny things that came out of those sexy lips.
“You’re pressed against my body, so you tell me.”
Avery closed his eyes again as a full-body shiver rolled through him.
“Aren’t you the one who said you wanted to feel me all day?” Jonah whispered in his ear before biting down on the lobe.
Avery’s sexy gasp drove Jonah crazy. He slid his hands beneath the hem of Avery’s T-shirt. He wanted to kiss that cinnamon-colored freckle once more and was just about to drop to his knees when a sharp whistle split the air, snatching Jonah out of his fantasies.
“Lord, child,” Marla said from her front porch, “take the boy back inside and do it right.” Betty, who’d been squatting to pee, straightened her hind legs and gave two short barks. She agreed with her human, who was dressed like she was going to church.
Jonah narrowed his eyes as he cataloged everything about Marla and this moment, unwilling to forget even a second. The ivory dress with yellow and pink flowers looked terrific against her dark skin. She’d matched it with a yellow cardigan, a straw hat with a pink ribbon and yellow flowers, and high-heel sandals. He thought they were called wedges. “It’s Thursday,” Jonah called out across their yards.”
Marla lifted her white-gloved hands and slowly clapped them. “That’s good, honey. Now tell me what year it is.”
Avery, who’d rested his forehead against Jonah’s chest, laughed hard.
“Don’t encourage her,” Jonah admonished playfully.
“Oh, please, do encourage me, baby,” Marla quipped.
Jonah looked down into Avery’s smiling eyes, and even though he hated to let him go, Avery needed to head across town to get ready for work. He couldn’t afford to be late and give Trexler a reason to make his life hell. “I better see what she’s up to today,” Jonah said, then kissed Avery’s lips once more. “She rarely gets up before noon, and she’s dressed like she has an appointment with the queen.”
“I do have an appointment with my drag mother, but she’s always a queen to me,” Marla said, laughing when Jonah looked at her. “Ain’t nothing wrong with my hearing.”
Avery laughed again. “Good luck today. I hope you blow the case wide open.”
Royce had texted Jerry Locke’s number to him that morning. He’d also said he and Sawyer had plans for Saturday night if the criminals of Savannah behaved long enough for the busy homicide detectives to have the night off. He asked if they could get together the following weekend instead, and Jonah agreed.
He’d shared his enthusiasm over both bits of news with Avery, who seemed more excited about the potential interview than attending the barbecue. Not for the first time, Jonah wondered about Avery’s past with the Savannah Police Department. How had he come to know his aunt and the two detectives who made him as nervous as a whore in church when they visited the GBI offices. He’d seen Royce and Sawyer speaking to Avery in hushed tones more than once. Their body language was always engaging and noncombative. Avery never looked scared, but dark shadows appeared in his eyes for a little bit after each encounter.
He could’ve asked Avery how he came to know his aunt and detective buddies, but Jonah had a good idea. Right before he’d met Avery, a vigilante group called The Purists had pervaded the city of Savannah with chaos. They used arson and various intimidation tactics to terrorize people they felt betrayed those who believed in them. Ellen had sent Royce and Sawyer to meet with Jonah to develop a criminal profile on the mastermind behind the group. The Purists had started off by sending threatening letters to their victims but quickly moved on to the internet when their need for attention grew. Jonah had promptly recognized the person cutting out individual letters from magazines and newspapers wasn’t the same individual who had created an untraceable website. The skillsets and mindsets for the two approaches were vastly different. Jonah quickly realized The Purists had found themselves a very gifted hacker.
Ellie had decided Jonah needed an intern soon after Royce and Sawyer solved the case. Avery was the most skilled hacker Jonah had ever met. The timing could be a coincidence, but Jonah didn’t believe in them. He’d been hesitant to take Avery on as his intern, but then he met Avery and understood why Ellie wanted to help him. Recognizing Avery’s potential, Ellie would’ve wanted to give him a second chance. Jonah was certain that if Avery had done The Purists’ hacking, he hadn’t done so willingly.
“I better go. Call me later,
” Avery said, stepping out of Jonah’s arms to open his car door.
“I will.” Jonah watched Avery back out of the driveway and waved as he drove off. Turning his attention to Marla, Jonah asked, “Why are you dressed up for Sunday church on Thursday morning?”
Marla snorted. “As if. The building would catch on fire if I crossed the threshold.”
“Bullshit,” Jonah countered. “Why are you dressed for the Kentucky Derby, then?”
Marla laughed hard at his remark. “Stop acting like a fool,” she said, stepping off her porch and walking toward him with Betty right on her heels. The French bulldog ran to Jonah, who scooped her up and kissed the top of her head. “You two are going to be just fine,” Marla said. Jonah didn’t hear sadness in her voice; he heard relief.
“Amos will be here in a while to pick me up. We have some business to take care of—things I should’ve done before now.”
“Do you have time for a cup of coffee on the porch?” Jonah asked.
“I’ll make time.”
Time. There was that fucking word again.
“Oh, good. I can bring you up to speed on the investigation,” Jonah said.
As if someone lit a fire beneath her, Marla increased her stride, and the familiar spark returned to her eyes. “Tell me all about it, baby.”
“Do you want your coffee with or without booze?” Jonah asked.
“Without. I can’t have alcohol on my breath when Amos gets here, or it will give him the wrong impression.”
Jonah went inside and fixed two cups of coffee and joined her in the rocking chairs while Betty gnawed on a stick in the yard.
“Do you know a good place to get tea?” Jonah asked her.
Marla looked at him curiously before rattling off the name of a specialty store.
“Do you think they sell chai?” he asked.
“Are you converting?” Marla asked, sounding genuinely appalled by the idea.
“No, but Avery refuses to change his wicked ways. He loves chai, but I don’t have any here.”
“You are the sweetest thing,” Marla said. “You look so big and mean, but you have a marshmallow center.”
“I assure you that I don’t.”
Marla snickered. “Chai is very popular, so I’m sure she sells it. One of my friends is a tea connoisseur, and he said they have hundreds of options from around the world.” She reached over and patted his leg. “Tell me about Earl’s investigation.”
Jonah told her every detail as he remembered, including his observations to make the retelling entertaining.
“I’d forgotten Earl briefly worked for the same concrete company as his father and brother,” Marla said. “I think it was only for a few weeks.” She started giggling. “I loved Earl Ison with every fiber of my being, but I’d never met a clumsier man than him. He lacked any sort of grace until he put on a pair of high heels. Then he became as captivating as Tina Turner.” She smiled at Jonah. “For a scrawny white dude, he did a fabulous job at impersonating her.” Marla giggled harder, making him laugh too.
Once they quieted again, Jonah asked, “Did Earl ever mention someone giving him a hard time at work? Coworkers, other subcontractors, or maybe a boss?”
Marla shook her head. “Never. It’s probably why I forgot he even worked there. You’re really convinced there’s a connection between Earl’s death and the subdivision, aren’t you?”
“Convinced? No. I just think it’s as likely as an angry lover. Yes, Earl pulling away from friends could mean the new guy in his life was possessive, but these past few nights with Avery reminded me what it’s like when a relationship is new and hormones are running rampant.”
“This is why I needed your help,” Marla said. “I was too close to the situation, and I let my emotions cloud my objectivity.”
“Does the name Mickey Reeder sound familiar to you?” Jonah asked.
Marla tilted her head to the side. “No, but so many of us went by our drag names back then. Who is Mickey?”
“He was Bo Cahill’s brother. According to Bo’s widow, Mickey was openly gay, and Bo loved him dearly. They were adamant he wouldn’t have killed Earl even if he hadn’t been incarcerated at the time.”
“That’s interesting.”
Jonah spotted a red Cadillac coming down the road. “Why does Amos dislike me so much?” It had always bothered Jonah, although he couldn’t say why. He wasn’t the kind of person who needed to make everyone his friend.
Marla cackled as she rose to her feet. “The old fool was jealous of you. Amos was convinced there was something more between us than friendship. He thought you were my boy toy.”
Jonah reached out and snagged her gloved hand. “I do love you.”
Marla beamed at him as tears filled her eyes. She patted his hand. “I know, baby. I love you too. Amos just didn’t understand the kind of love friends have for one another. I think that’s sad, don’t you?”
Jonah practically choked on the lump in his throat. “I do,” he agreed.
“Well, he understands things better now,” Marla said, pulling her hand free and patting her leg for Betty to follow her. “Come now, Betty. Mama needs a witness.”
Amos, who’d gotten out of the car and walked around to the passenger side, nodded at Jonah. It was a considerable improvement over the silent scowl Jonah typically received. He noticed Amos was dressed up in a pale gray suit, which accentuated the silver hair threading through the cobalt black strands. He’d paired the outfit with a yellow shirt and a floral tie similar to Marla’s dress, and Jonah knew it wasn’t a coincidence. Just what were they up to?
“Woman, a dog won’t count as a legal witness,” Amos said as Marla sashayed near.
“She will if I say so,” she countered sassily.
Jonah had a sneaky feeling he knew what was going on. “Give me five minutes to get dressed, and I’ll be your witness.”
Amos smiled at Jonah for the first time since they’d met, and Marla rocked on her high heels a bit. “Much obliged,” Amos told Jonah.
“Honey, you have a murder to solve,” Marla protested weakly.
“It can wait until after I give you away,” Jonah said. “Give me five minutes.”
“Take ten,” Amos said generously. “Our appointment isn’t for another half hour.”
Jonah darted inside the house and up the stairs. Before going to his closet to pick out an appropriate suit, he sent a group text to Marla’s wonderful friends he’d met on Tuesday. He didn’t expect them all to drop everything and rush to the courthouse, which was the only place they’d be getting married on a Thursday morning. Her friends could at least throw her a party to help her celebrate life and love. Wouldn’t it be better to do that with Marla while she was still alive rather than after she passed?
He didn’t wait to see what kind of replies they sent. Jonah had accomplished his goal and shifted his focus to getting ready. He chose a gray suit that was slightly darker than Amos’s and a yellow dress shirt he’d forgotten he owned. He completed his outfit with a simple gray tie and black dress shoes. He wished he had a hat to wear, but he wasn’t cool enough to pull it off.
Marla was sitting primly in the front seat of the Cadillac with Betty on her lap. Amos had lowered the ragtop down, so Jonah placed his hand on the side of the car and vaulted himself into the back seat.
“I’ve always wanted to do that,” Jonah said, smiling at Marla’s reflection in the side mirror.
Marla and Amos were shocked when every one of the people Jonah texted showed up to witness their wedding.
“What are y’all doing here?” Marla asked, turning a suspicious gaze on Jonah. “How’d you have enough time to make this happen?”
“Group text,” Jonah said. “I usually hate them, but you can’t deny how convenient they are sometimes.”
“I cannot believe you dropped everything to share this day with Amos and me,” Marla said, placing a hand over her heart. “I love y’all so very much.”
There was a gro
up hug, and then it was Amos and Marla’s turn to get married. Jonah and Betty walked her down the aisle to stand before the judge with Amos and exchange their wedding vows. There wasn’t a dry eye in the courtroom, including Judge Jackson, who turned out to be Marla’s drag mother.
Afterward, the friends decided to do brunch at Daisy’s Place, but Jonah begged off so he could work the investigation. Amos and Marla dropped him off at his house before heading to the diner. He debated on calling Jerry Locke first or just showing up at his front door. One option was more polite, but it also gave Jerry the chance to dodge Jonah. That wouldn’t do because Jonah didn’t have time for games.
Jerry Locke lived in Southbridge, a prestigious golf club community with immaculate lawns and stunning homes. It seemed like the man had bounced back pretty nicely if he could afford to retire in this neighborhood.
His house was a massive replica of Tara from Gone with the Wind. Pretty, but not Jonah’s style. He parked behind a newer Mercedes Benz before walking up to the home and ringing the doorbell.
When the door opened, Jonah didn’t need to confirm the identity of the man who greeted him. It was uncanny how much this man looked like Royce Locke. If Sawyer wanted to know how well Royce was going to age, all he had to do was meet Uncle Jerry. The answer was really fucking well. The man’s blond hair was still thick and shot through with only a hint of gray. The laugh lines next to his eyes and mouth added character instead of detracting from his appeal. It was apparent he worked out and maintained his body well. Most noticeable was the appreciative once-over Uncle Jerry gave Jonah.
Jerry met Jonah’s gaze and smiled. “Can I help you?”
“Are you Jerry Locke?” he asked.
“Yes,” Jerry said, his smile never faltering.
“I’m a friend of your nephew’s,” Jonah replied.
There went the smile, and Jonah wondered if maybe he shouldn’t have led with that. “Which one?” Jerry asked warily.
“Royce,” Jonah replied, hoping it was the right answer. He knew there was a younger brother he hadn’t met yet.
The smile returned, and Jonah breathed a sigh of relief. “Would you like to come in?”
Ride the Lightning : Sinister in Savannah Book 1 Page 17