Page 18 of Deadly Sins: Lust

“Connor and me met Layla and her friends when they came here for dinner. Layla started flirting with me at the bar, and after a couple of drinks, she invited us to join them at Splashes. After we got off work, we did.”

“Did you talk to Marissa while you were there?”

“Not much. She seemed like a cool chick. She asked me how long I’d lived in Cairns, what brought me here, that kind of thing.”

“Anything else?”

He shook his head. “Layla dragged me out to the dance floor with her, so my conversation with Marissa ended. Then Layla said she was hot and wanted to go outside. We walked around the block, and ... uhh ...you know.”

I didn’t, but I was certain it would only take a single guess.

“You’re saying you two had sex.”

He nodded. “If I knew who she was marrying, I wouldn’t have touched her.”

“Why not?”

“You seriously don’t know who James Ashby is?”

“Tell me.”

“A politician. People love the guy. He has a reputation for getting what he wants. I read somewhere that he’d made a death threat on a guy who used to work for him, but nothing ever came of it.”

“How did you find out who she was marrying?”

“When we went back inside, Layla blurted out that we’d just had sex. Val and Georgia laughed and high—fived Layla, but Marissa was upset.”

“What did she do?”

“She lectured Layla, told her she was being stupid. Layla didn’t take it well. She tossed her drink in Marissa’s face and said Marissa was making a big deal out of nothing. Marissa grabbed her bag and walked out. Val went after her, and that was the last time I saw Marissa.”

“It still doesn’t explain how you knew who Layla was marrying.”

“I was reading the paper this morning, and there was an article about him. It said he was getting married, and there was a photo of him and Layla. I couldn’t believe it.”

“What happened after Marissa left?”

“Layla apologized. I turned to leave, and she said something interesting to Georgia.”

“What’s that?”

She said, “Who is she to judge me anyway? She keeps secrets from her own husband.’”

Not honest with her own husband? What didthatmean?

I pulled two hundred dollars out of my pocket and slapped it down on the dashboard.

Leo eyed it curiously. “What’s that for?”

I opened the car door and stepped out. “Buy yourself a new tire.”

CHAPTER 14

I called the police station to ask about Nick and wasn’t told much. They wouldn’t give me an estimate about how long and said to check back in the morning. I felt helpless, but for now, Maddie and I decided he’d want us to press on.

I discussed my conversation with Leo to Maddie as we drove back to Layla’s house. I had more questions. If she didn’t want her betrothed to know what she’d been up to, she’d answer them.

“Do you think Layla would kill Marissa to keep her quiet about having sex with another guy?” Maddie asked.