Page 148 of Into the Dark
I’m surprised to see Jake’s car in the driveway when I get home. I wasn’t expecting him until later tonight. Fred is lying on the front step, his pudgy little belly exposed to the sun. I ruffle my hand over it as I pass, but he barely acknowledges it, stretching out and springing back to his previous position with his eyes firmly closed.
As soon as I step inside the front door I know Jake isn’t alone. There’s another deep male voice talking, and for some horrible minute I think it’s Fred or Kevin.
But it’s neither.
“…you get that, right?” Mark is saying, incredulous.
“Course I fucking get it,” Jake replies, clearly irritated.
With dread, my feet carry me toward the acrimonious voices coming from the kitchen
“See, I don’t think you do, Jake. Have you even thought about what this would mean for Alex?” Mark snipes back.
My heart stutters.
“Your name all over the fucking papers. And of course, she’d support you, meaning her face would be everywhere too. It would fucking ruin her—think about that.”
“Yeah, and if I walk onto that fucking stand then it’s the same fucking deal: she’s ruined,” Jake spits.
Ruined? If he testifies I’ll be ruined. That’s what he’s afraid of? Not his own bloody safety?
“Yeah, well, then there’s really only one thing to do, isn’t there? Uninvolve her.” Mark’s insinuation is clear: Jake should leave me.
From the doorway, I glare into the kitchen.
“Yeah, you’d fucking love that, wouldn’t you?” Jake says.
“This isn’t about me.”
Jake is at the stove stirring something while Mark leans against the back door with his hands in his pockets. When Jake speaks again, his voice is lower, and when he turns his head I see the the hatred etched into his face.
“No, you’re fucking right it isn’t. It’s about her,” Jake concedes. “All of it is about her. She’s the only reason we’re even having this fucking conversation.”
“Not like you’d have had an attack of conscience otherwise, is it? But this isn’t looking good for you right now. It’s a convincing story,” Mark says.
“Yeah, and we all know your lot like a good fucking story, don’t we?” Jake laughs—that little low, empty laugh when he finds something particularly ridiculous.
“You need to give us something now—you know that, right?” Mark pushes up off the door. “’Cause otherwise we have enough to take you in. You give us something after this and it looks like you’re doing it to save your own arse, and no judge is going to look favorably on Jake Lawrence trying to save his own fucking arse. Doubt your lot will look favorably on it either.”
Jake shrugs. “Yeah, well. Nothing’s changed. Our deal was that I give you something you could get him on. No coming in, no testimony, no statements.”
“No culpability.” Mark nods.
Jake glares at him. “Yeah, well, unfortunately for you, that was the fucking deal we made, detective.” Jake lifts what looks like a wooden spoon and points it at Mark. “You can’t change the rules halfway through the fucking game.”
“The rules of the game changed around us. It happens,” Mark hisses.
“And what does the winner get then?” I ask, finally stepping into the kitchen. “Of this highly entertaining game, I mean.” I shoot them both a glare before dumping my workbag on the table.
“Alex, hello,” Mark says, standing up a little straighter. He’s dressed casually in a wool V-neck jumper, dark jeans, and white trainers. Well, it’s not as if he can come over dressed in a suit and flashing his ID badge. This has to look like a friendly visit to a friend’s house after all.
I give Mark a tight smile as I cross the kitchen to Jake. He turns his head and kisses me softly on the mouth, his tongue briefly grazing against my own before he turns back to the pot.
“I didn’t see your car outside.” I look at Mark.
He shakes his head. “No, I parked it up at the Wyndham parking lot and walked down.” He licks his lips and glances back at Jake. He’s no longer paying Mark any attention, frowning into the bubbling pot with a look of determination.
“Well then, I guess I should get going,” Mark announces on an exhale. He moves toward the kitchen door, where he stops and turns back. “You’re not leaving me many options here,” he tells Jake.