Wicked Release Read Free

hated.
    Sam’s voice from last week echoed in her memory. “I’m going to tear that dress from your body, press your breasts against that wall, and show you what you’ve been missing all these years by paddling that tight ass of yours.”
    Lifting her chin in a false show of confidence, Jess shook her head. “No. He’s my nothing. My colleague, perhaps, and that’s all.”
    â€œWell, that’s an interesting development.”
    A sense of unease slid through Jess’s body, landing at her fingers as they trembled around the coffee cup, despite the heat that burned through. “How do you know so much about me?”
    â€œI make it my business to know.” He swaggered around to the front of his desk, then tugged at the knees of his million-dollar pants. “So, Sam’s out of the picture . . . pardon the photography pun.”
    â€œYes. He’s out.” With a deep breath, Jess gave herself the mental pep talk she needed. She could do this. She had to do this. Not only for Cass now, but also for her own life and for Sam’s. Even if they wouldn’t be together, she didn’t want him dead. “You know more than you let on. It’s painfully obvious. I think you probably know more than the entire Portland Police force ever could. And I need your help.” Jess resisted the urge to look at her feet. “ Cass needs your help.”
    â€œI don’t see how a dead woman would need my help.” But even as he said the harsh words, pain sliced through his cold features.
    Jess slammed her coffee down on the corner of his desk. A bit of the steaming liquid sloshed out the top and splattered onto her knuckles. She gritted her teeth and refused to show any acknowledgment of the pain. But despite her efforts, Elliot’s eyes flicked down, noting the moment as a smile turned his lips.
    â€œDon’t be an ass,” Jess said. “Don’t pretend as though my sister meant nothing to you. She may have been your sub, but she loved you. And I think you loved her.”
    â€œThat’s a lot of thinking you’ve been doing.” Elliot’s eyes locked into hers and they stood there, momentarily frozen in time. He walked over to a small bar area on the opposite side of the room. “Can I offer you a little Irish in your coffee?” He wiggled a bottle of whiskey, the caramel-colored liquid sloshing around inside the bottle.
    Jess shook her head as he poured himself two fingers worth of whiskey. “Yes,” Elliot said after a long sip. “I loved Cassandra. And if you’re not careful, you’re going to end up with the same fate as her.”
    â€œExcept that her colleague, Zooey, is being pinned for both Cass’s and Dr. Brown’s murder. And I don’t think she killed them. At least not Cass—as for Dr. Brown . . . well, I don’t know.”
    Wrinkles framed his eyes as they narrowed for just a fraction of a second. “Zooey? That mousy girl that Cass worked with?” He shook his head. “Wow. They’re really straining to close this, aren’t they?”
    â€œYes, they are. And it certainly doesn’t help Zooey’s case that she confessed to Dr. Brown’s accidental manslaughter and then disappeared. But even still, I think she’s being set up.” Jess brushed a hand against Elliot’s arm to emphasize the point, and immediately regretted doing so. He looked down at where her finger had dared to touch his suit as though he may need to burn the thing now. She pulled her hand back to her side. “Come on. We both know she didn’t do this.”
    Elliot sighed, dragging his hand down over weary features, his entire body seeming to relax with the breath. “I don’t know anything. Which is exactly how you should answer should anyone ask you, Jessica.”
    â€œ Jess, ” she corrected once more. The last man to call her by her full name was Sam. In the