Page 47 of Phoenix
“Sorry for wasting your time with this. I know the date doesn’t mean anything. It’s not like the world stopped when we were…” She swallowed hard. “Anyway, like I said, I’m going a little stir crazy, and I’m frustrated about my memory, and maybe I’m a little paranoid after what Ariel did, so I probably want to see something when there’s nothing there.”
“That’s understandable. You went through a lot.”
“That’s polite-speak for I sound batshit.” She scratched the back of her head. “You won’t tell anyone, right?”
“I told you I wouldn’t.”
“Thanks. I’m going to delete this recording from my phone so I can stop obsessively relistening to it and I’m going to leave the job of figuring out everything that happened that night to the people actually working the case.”
“Good plan.” Jule stood. “Hopefully you’ll be off desk duty soon and you’ll be too busy to think about that night.”
“Hopefully.” She walked with him out of the commander’s office and returned to her desk.
Jule went to his car and drove to the Dunworthy house. He was past due for one of his discreet visits, and he needed to warn Travis and the rest of Tor’s brothers to stay away from Jimmy’s.
The backyard had gotten more crowded over the years. There were two trailers there now along with some toys for Titan’s son Mikey, who lived with them part time. The guys moved between the spaces depending on what they had going on at the moment. Last time Jule had been there, Travis and his daughter Maggie were in the house, Titan and Trey shared one trailer, and Tyson was living in the other trailer with his girlfriend of the moment. One thing that never changed was the spot they kept empty for his car.
He parked, walked in through the back door, and was greeted by the sound of Maggie screaming.
“Don’t fucking touch me!”
Jule rushed through the kitchen and into the living room to find thirteen-year-old Maggie standing over a teenager who was huddled in the fetal position in front of the couch, protecting his groin.
“Fuck you, bitch!” he tried to yell but his voice broke, ruining the effect.
Maggie kicked him. “I’m not the one on the floor so who’s the bitch, bitch?”
Jule loved that girl. “Hey, Mags. What’s going on?” He walked over to her.
She jerked her gaze to him and smiled. “Hey, Uncle Jule. I didn’t hear you come in.”
He stood beside her and looked down at the whimpering teenager. “Looks like you were busy. Who’s this?”
“Someone who’s never going to come anywhere near me again if he still wants his dick to work.”
Jule cackled.
The kid dragged himself up and, still cupping his package, glared at Maggie. “You’re a psycho!”
“You grabbed my tits without permission and I’m the psycho?”
Jule narrowed his eyes. “You did what now?”
“She invited me over! She wanted it.” He scurried backward.
“I invited you over to play CoD not to hook up.”
“How was I supposed to know that?”
“Because that’s what I said!”
Jule advanced on him. “Listen to girls with your ears not your dick, dumbass, and stay away from her or I’ll show you an actual psycho.”
His eyes wide, the boy rushed to the front door, swung it open, and ran out.
“Pussy,” Maggie spat.
“You’re my favorite niece.” Jule slung his arm over her shoulders.
