Page 87 of Becoming

“Likewise,” Lou responded sincerely. “Want to tell me what’s going on here?” He nodded at the brick and listened carefully when the couple explained what happened.

“Did you see this,” he checked his notes, “Miranda Daly throw the brick?”

“No, but I know it was her,” Cass stated with confidence. She went on to explain what had transpired that day as “evidence.”

“I see.” He picked up the brick with gloved hands. “You both touched this, correct? Just want to make sure we eliminate your prints.”

“Yes,” Rebecca answered. She tilted her head in that special Rebecca way. “Why are you here, Lou?”

Lou frowned. “We’re investigating a 911 call.”

“But why are you here. This is a petty crime. You’re a lieutenant.”

Cass watched the back and forth between them like it was a tennis match. Head swiveled from person to person.

Lou sighed. “I heard the call come through on the scanner. I recognized your address and came by to make sure you were okay.” It was the tilt of the head to the other side that had him spilling his guts as though he’d just been waterboarded. “I’ve been keeping an eye on you, okay? I f—screwed up that night when I didn’t lock that bitch up the first time I knew she was hitting you. You don’t know how guilty I feel about the terror you went through because I was too damn selfish to arrest her.”

“I asked you not to,” Rebecca reminded him. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Cass’s nostrils flare, and she laid a hand on Cass’s thigh.

“That doesn’t matter, Rebecca. I’m a cop and I should have done my job. If I had, you wouldn’t have nearly died.” He glanced in Cass’s direction. “No way I’m letting that happen again.”

“Me either,” Cass practically growled. She didn’t appreciate being lumped anywhere near the pile of shit that was Samantha. “That’s why I called this in.”

Lou gave Cass a respectful nod. “Good.” He tapped the note on the brick. “About this. I’m assuming you know who Mistress is?” he asked Cass directly.

“Yeah, I do.”

“And will this be a problem for either of you if it were to get out?”

“No,” Rebecca answered. “What’s written on there doesn’t matter. It’s who did it. She needs help.”

“Do you think she’s really been abused by her husband?”

Cassidy shook her head, but it was Rebecca who answered. “It would appear that she just used that as an excuse to get close to Cassidy.”

“Does she somehow know about your past?” Lou asked as delicately as he could. “If this is who you say it is, maybe she feels Cass would feel more obligated to protect her “best friend” rather than be with you?”

“I never told her. I never told anyone.” Cassidy directed the answer to Rebecca instead of Lou. She needed her lover to know that she would never betray her confidence. “There’s no way she could know.”

Rebecca cleared her throat. “There is one way she could know.” She recounted Cassidy’s mother’s visit, leaving out a few details that were for Cassidy only.

“I have so many questions,” Cass said with a touch of disappointment. Rebecca had kept something from her. Why? They would have to talk about this more in depth later. “You told my mom and you think she told Rand?”

“Yes, I told your mom. I needed her to understand who and what you are to me.” She turned to Lou for a moment. “Miranda’s mom and Cassidy’s mom are best friends. There’s a chance that the two had a conversation that could have been overheard.”

Cass sulked as the two talked. It was childish, yeah, but she still couldn’t figure out why Rebecca lied to her. Okay, maybe technically she didn’t lie, but she didn’t tell her. Same difference, she thought grumpily.

“Sir?” A fresh-faced uniformed officer knocked lightly on the ajar door.

Lou stood. “Yeah?”

“We found a suspect lurking around the perimeter.”

Cass moved to get up when she felt Rebecca’s fingers tighten around her thigh. She looked over and Rebecca shook her head slightly.

“Description?”

“White female, mid-twenties, red hair. Extremely upset.”