Part 23 (1/2)

I tried to fall back to sleep while Mason called his contacts as I was working on very little sleep already but sleep was not happening. I was too keyed up about everything going on and I had no idea how I was going to get out of the house with Mason, without Jonah knowing something was up.

Even after Jonah got up and got in the shower I laid there staring at the celling, when I normally would have joined him but as I'd already displayed keeping things for Jonah was not my strong point, I decided to stay put.

Five minutes after going into the bathroom Jonah came out fully dressed in jeans and a t-s.h.i.+rt, his hair still dripping from the shower. Leaning into me Jonah kissed my forehead. ”Got to go, got stuff to do.” Jonah whispered, his face a perfectly blank mask.

”What stuff?” I whispered.

”Don't worry about it.” Jonah said without emotion, kissing my lips quickly he moved around the bed, grabbed his gun then walked out the door without looking back.

Hearing the front door slam I flung out of bed almost colliding with Mason at my door. ”Anything?” I asked.

”Yeah, get dressed, we need to do this now.”

”You saw him?”

”Yeah he's one step away from cracking. We need to wrap this up now.”

Without a word I ran into the bath dressing without even looking at what I was putting on. Not bothering with make up I pulled my hair on top of my head in a messy bun and grabbed my boots on my run down the stairs.

Miss Daisy was waiting by the door thinking she was going too. Rubbing her head and pus.h.i.+ng her into the kitchen I silently promised to take her out soon.

Mason started the car while I locked up, Mason was even more worried now after seeing Jonah, as Mason knew Jonah better than me I knew the situation was a lot worse than I realized.

Mason drove into town pulling up outside a cozy looking diner.

Inside the diner we walked to a back booth where an older looking man whose looks were worn but you could tell that he was once very beautiful, the resemblance to his daughter Rachel was unmistakable.

”Owen.” Mason said his voice low and strained.

Officer Owen jerked his chin up in greeting as Mason shoved me into the booth.

As soon as my b.u.t.t hit the seat Officer Owen spoke harshly, ”You have ten minutes before I get up and leave.”

Looking at Mason he gave me a nod, guess I was doing the talking.

Well ok then.

”I need to know what you and Jonah's father found that made Vinnie kill him, his wife and daughter.”

Officer Owen's eye went wide as his face paled and his teeth clenched together. Eyes searching the diner he asked through locked teeth, ”What the f.u.c.k?”

Um ok? Maybe he didn't understand. ”Before Jonah's dad died you and him were working togethera'”

”Stop talking.” Officer Owen barked at me causing my whole body to jerk back. ”This is not what I came to discuss.”

”What did you think we wanted to talk to you about?” I asked looking at Mason who was now looking as guilty as all h.e.l.l.

”You did tell him?” I screeched in a high-pitched voice that had several people looking our way.

”It doesn't matter I don't know what you're talking about.” Officer Owen snapped, his arms pus.h.i.+ng him away from his seat.

”Bulls.h.i.+t.” Mason snapped at Officer Owen.

At the same time I snapped at Mason. ”Why didn't you tell him?”

G.o.d I wanted nothing more then to smack the s.h.i.+t out of Mason.

”He wouldn't have come.” Mason declared.

”How do you know about this?” Officer Owen asked not caring that I was trying to stare Mason down.

Breaking eye contact with Mason I looked at Officer Owen thinking I could play this two ways, I could be nice and ask hoping he answered or I could play it like my man was in serious s.h.i.+t with time running out. That way was the b.i.t.c.h way and unfortunately it had to be that way. ”I know you were the cop working with Jonah's father. I know whatever you found got him killed. I know you still have the evidence. I also know about Rachel so I know you can imagine what it would be like for her if Vinnie had gotten to you and not Jonah's family. Wouldn't you want her to know the truth? Lastly, I can keep your name out of it or I can give it to some people you really don't want me to.”

”You don't get to drag my daughter into this and you don't get to threaten me. Let me remind you, I am a cop.”

”Sir, Vinnie is about five seconds away from destroying my whole world, dragging people down and the fact you are a cop is not my care right now.”

Something in Officer Owen's eyes changed causing his face to soften.

Latching on to it like a lifeline I went for it, ”My life sucked until about three months ago when I met Jonah, from the first time I saw him he became my whole world. I know what he does Officer Owen, I don't like it, Jonah doesn't like it. Jonah's father was working with you for the same reason I'm here, this is the only way to get Jonah away from Vinnie.”

”Jonah's dad would have been proud of him for finding a woman like you.”

”You were close.” I said making it a statement rather than question because the look on Officer Owen's face told me.

”We got close working together. The day Vinnie killed him and his family a lot more than just a case was lost. And to see Jonah end up with Vinnie was almost as bad. I tired to keep him away from Vinnie but Vinnie found away to get him.”

”Who would Jonah have gone to?” Mason asked leaning into the table.

”His mother's parents. But Vinnie made sure that her parents never got near Jonah.”

”Did they want him? Jonah told me his mother's family kicked her out when she became pregnant.” I said hoping to G.o.d they did.

”They did kick her out but losing their only daughter made them see how much they had messed up the least they could do was make sure her son was raised right.”

”But Vinnie made sure that didn't happen.” I finished for him. My eyes were stinging with tears. ”I need to know what you found, it's the only way to stop Vinnie.”

Officer Owen searched my face then turned his eyes to Mason, then he look around the diner, finally he leaned in close to us and whispered ”Vinnie was and probably still is working with the Russian mob.”

I was seeing red, of course freaking Vinnie was working with the freaking mob. G.o.d I'd had enough of Vinnie.

”Do you have proof?” Mason was asking Officer Owen while I tried to get a handle on my anger.

It wasn't working seeing as I was picturing myself stabbing Vinnie over and over again with the b.u.t.ter knife sitting on the table.

I snapped back to the conversation as Mason made plans to meet up with Officer Owen later today to get the pictures of Vinnie meeting with someone from the Russian mob.

”Thank you.” I said to Officer Owen giving his hand a squeeze as Mason pulled me away. ”I promise no one will know you had any part in this.”