I take a big breath and sip my wine before continuing.
“Even the way he put it, like there would be big consequences if I said anything, so this feels like a test. And I’m not sure how to handle it, right? So, I’m sitting on the information, trying to decide what to do about it. I didn’t talk to Jonah that night, but Thad showed up at my job and watched me nearly the whole shift the day before. The same thing that day, the day of the pass, makes the excuse he’s got a hankering for something on our menu. I hadn’t talked to Jonah in a couple days at that point, which I later figured wasn’t a coincidence.”
I blow out a sigh. “The day after Thad made the pass at me, which was the day I left Columbus, Jonah phoned me early. We only talked for a quick minute. I was half-asleep and he didn’t sound right, and I wasn’t sure yet how to broach the Thad subject, so I said nothing about it, but I was really stressed out. I, seriously, didn’t even want to go to work that day, worried he would sit there for a third day in a row being all creepy. Or worse. But right after I talked to Jonah, I got called to come into work early for the lunch rush instead of the dinner one, so I got ready for work early.”
“And then what happened?”
“I knew I had to do something, and figured I’d make myself address it that night when Jonah got back. I sent him a text and asked if he needed me to pick him up at the airport. I told him I was working an earlier shift and could pick him up. He said he didn’t, that one of his brothers had to go out of town that day so would be picking up his car and leaving it at the airport for him. I was thinking it was good I was leaving early, not knowing which brother was coming but thinking I needed to talk to Jonah before I saw Thad again. The dirty cop showed up just after I got ready to go to work.”
“The cop’s name?” Boyd asks.
“Devlin Cruickshank,” I reply. “Weird guy. Intense. Trench coat and hat. Like a Dick Tracy throwback wannabe.”
Boyd writes down something. This is the first time he’s done that. He’s avidly listening and looks relaxed. I’m guessing he’s writing down Devlin Cruickshank’s name. And I’m wondering if I’ve made a blunder by revealing that.
I focus on his face and body language instead of looking to the side and assessing Jude.
Something soft moves across my calf, so I look down and see Georgie is sliding against me. I fold over, lift her up, and snuggle her. She meows in protest and pushes my chest with her two front paws, then scampers out of my hold onto the table. She hops two or three times and then curls up in a ball on the table runner.
Jude leans over and scratches her behind the ear, so she rolls onto her back, presenting her belly to him.
“She shouldn’t be on the table where you eat,” I mutter.
He shrugs.
I note that he looks a little less angry, but I don’t dwell on that long because Boyd asks me to continue.
I then tell Boyd about Cruickshank, about the conversation, and recount everything else I’d said to Carly this morning with the addition of describing the murder scene photos Cruickshank showed me.
We’re sitting there at least an hour when I excuse myself to the powder room.
When I get back, Boyd asks, “So, you never spoke to Jonah Steele and don’t know what his involvement is regarding the aforementioned criminal activities?”
I shake my head. “I was outta there. All I heard from Devlin Cruickshank was that the whole family were criminals, money launderers, extortionists, and murderers. When he showed me pictures of dead bodies at crime scenes, I legit ran to the bathroom and threw up. He stood at the door calmly waiting to continue to scare me. I don’t know what he wanted me to do in terms of informing, but that’s what he said he wanted me to do despite me saying I’d only been dating Jonah a while and knew nothing. I’d only met the whole family once and had only had additional contact with Thad. He urged me to consider it and to say nothing to a soul, otherwise I could be charged for obstruction. He said he’d approach me in a day or two to discuss further. He left and I got out of there and… you know the rest.”
“And you moved to Baltimore.”
I nod.
“Where you put the contents of the bag you found in Jonah Steele’s car into safety deposit boxes and then connected with Victoria Daystrom who helped you get a new identity. Can you tell me how you connected with her and her brother?”