Free Maximum Guilt (Hidden Guilt Book 2) by Terry Keys

business. There’s a lot to think about before I make my move. You understand that, don’t you?”
    “I guess. I just want you now. I don’t want to wait any longer. We’ve been doing this, whatever this is, for over a year now. My friends all say I’m stupid and that you’ll never leave her.”
    “Fuck your friends. I am going to leave her. Sorry if that sounded mean. I don’t dislike your friends, but this thing is going to take some time, okay?”
    “Okay, but not too much more time, you hear me?”
    “I hear you. Now bring that sexy little body over here.”
    What a fucking pig, this guy. No better than his piece-of-shit brother. Stacy was right .
    “Okay, I gotta run. Cindy is going out of town this weekend, remember?”
    “Yes. Are you going to spend some time with me?”
    “Yes. I’ll call you tomorrow. She flies out first thing in the morning. I have some business to take care of then we can hook up. Sound good to you?”
    “Deal. I’m gonna make you forget all about that wife of yours!”
    “Okay, baby. Now get back in there with your friends. I gotta run.”
    “Gotcha, you bastard. So tomorrow it’ll just be you, huh?” Brittany muttered. She watched as the girl got out of his car and stood there as he drove off into the night.
    “Hey you!” Brittany said to the woman, who looked around the parking lot trying to figure out where the voice was coming from. “Yeah, you!”
    “Me? Do I know you?” the young woman said as Brittany drove up beside her and rolled down the window.
    “I’m new to the area. I’m looking for a good spot to hang out and make some friends. This place any good?”
    “Yeah, it’s okay. Good dancing, two floors of music, and usually a live band, too. My friends and I like it.”
    “Friends?” Brittany said, looking around.
    “Oh they’re inside waiting on me, so I gotta run. It was nice meeting you.”
    “Oh, okay.  I thought I saw you making out with some guy a few minutes ago. That your boyfriend? Got a night out on your own, huh?”
    “Yeah, something like that. What did you say your name was again?”
    “I didn’t. Maybe I’ll see you around.”
    With that, Brittany left the woman standing there and sped off into the darkness.
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 14
     
    All of my intel told me John Blake’s younger brother Carl was his right-hand man. If anyone knew why John was killed, it’d probably be him.
    “Let’s get all of this mess cleaned up and head to Morgan City before the trail goes cold. It’ll take us about an hour to get there, so let’s get a move on,” I said.
    “What about Brittany and that case?” De Luca said.
    “I’ll make a call on that while we drive. If anybody can give us some direction, it’s going to be John’s brother Carl. He handled most of his day-to-day activities. To be honest, I don’t believe he’s going to give me anything useful, but I need to scratch his name off my list.”
    We spent the next ten minutes gathering up our equipment and loading it into my truck. I planned on calling Carl Blake and putting him on speakerphone so the three of us could break down his answers after the call. We had been working pretty well together; I liked that.
    “So, what exactly do you have planned for Carl?” De Luca asked.
    “I don’t know, exactly. I guess I’m gonna wing it. I do have an idea, but I’m willing to bet his answers dictate my questions.”
    I made the call, and we sat in silence waiting for him to pick up.
    “Hello? Who is this?” Carl Blake answered his phone, clearly agitated.
    “Carl Blake? Detective David Porter, Houston PD. Do you have a few minutes to talk?”
    “Not really, Detective. I’m headed to a meeting. You got about five minutes. What is this about, anyway?”
    “I’ll be brief. First off, I’d like to offer my condolences to you and your family. I’m told you and your brother were close. I’m investigating his murder. Do you know anyone who wanted to hurt your