Chapter Thirteen

"It's Written Between the Lines"

I made a stop on the way back to the office to pick up some lunch for us, and with arms full, knocked on the door with my foot. I was surprised who opened it.

"Mr. Quinn! How did you get back here so fast?" He removed a greasy bag from my hands and placed it on the conference table. I added mine to it. "I just talked to you this morning."

"Oh, that. I called you from a payphone on the road. I couldn't sleep, so I started back early," Quinn explained while I glanced at Ami and Iris who shrugged their shoulders.

Did that mean they were as surprised as me? Or were they trying to warn me they'd already brought Quinn up to date on the lousy job I'd done? He probably forced the news out of them. Quinn was good at that. Perhaps I should've been the one to drive to Florida and he should've stayed here to find a willing witness for Nick's defense.

"Let's eat, everybody," Quinn announced. "Thanks for providing the lunch, Ben," he told me, pulling everything out of the bag. I'd purchased cheeseburgers, fries and strawberry shakes, though only enough for three.

"I'm sorry I didn't get enough for everyone. I wasn't expecting four."

"No worries," Ami said, joining us. "I'm not that hungry and I'm only going to drink the shake. Mr. Quinn, you can have my burger and fries. I insist."

"Are you sure? I wouldn't want you to go hungry."

He was being polite and seemed to be in a good mood. I hated to be the one to change all that.

Iris sat down opposite me and started eating immediately. For someone so petite, she had a big appetite. She was also unwilling to look Quinn in the eye. Probably because if she did, she'd tell everything she knew. Keeping secrets wasn't her best talent.

"So," Quinn began after he took a big bite. "I asked the girls how the investigation was going and they didn't seem to want to tell me anything. Something about wishing to wait for your return so you could tell me yourself?"

"Yeah, something like that," I agreed before noticing another sympathetic shrug of Ami's shoulders. "We've been working hard," I began, trying to make everything sound better than it actually was. "I found the woman who gave Kade a ride into town. She admitted doing it, but I'm pretty sure she'll be a hostile witness. I don't think she's going to betray Kade."

Quinn looked concerned. "Are they romantically involved?"

"I'm not sure," I told him. "They have some kind of relationship going on, although I believe it to be one-sided. She's definitely afraid of him."

"Interesting," Quinn replied while munching on some fries. "He's smart. Crazy, but smart. Sounds to me like he's using her or possibly blackmailing her somehow."

I drank too quickly on my shake and gave myself an ice-cream headache, although it passed quickly. "That's what I think," I agreed, once the pain had subsided.

Ami, who was obviously wiser than me, was slowly sipping on her straw and suddenly joined the conversation. "She's in love with him, and she'll do anything he asks because she thinks he'll give her something she's always wanted."

"I don't think he has any wealth," I countered. Isn't that what all women like her wanted? Mink coats and diamonds; stuff like that?

"That's correct," Quinn agreed. "Senator Smith cut him off as soon as he received his schizophrenia diagnosis. He's the one who changed Kade's name and had him committed. The state is essentially paying for his care these days."

Ami set her milkshake down as if she'd lost her appetite. "That seems rather cold-hearted. No wonder he hates the world and wants to hurt people. As far as Layla's concerned, she's wanting to be loved and she'll take it from anyone who's offering."

Ami was the most empathetic person I'd ever known. I needed someone like that in my life. I needed someone to point out the good in people. This job had blinded me to that. Over the past few years, I'd seen far too much bad.

"Regardless of this woman's feelings, we'll have to speak with Chief Dunn and figure out who Nick's attorney is. Surely, they'll subpoena her."

We all agreed with what Quinn was saying although I wasn't sure how much Layla was going to help. What we needed was something concrete – something that proved Kade was the killer.

Just then, I heard our office door open. Iris was the first one to get out of her seat and head in that direction. There was a wall that jutted out and blocked our view of the front, but soon we were made aware of who our visitor was.

"Someone to see you, Detective Noble," she announced formally, a signal that this was serious.

I stood and walked around the obstruction to greet none other than Layla Scott, although she looked slightly different. Her long auburn hair was down which shielded half her face and she was wearing large sunglasses.

"Mr. Noble, may I speak to you privately?"

I immediately motioned to Quinn's office. "Sure. Come this way."

On the way, I glanced over at Ami who appeared as stunned as I was. It was my turn to shrug. I had no idea what Miss Scott was going to say.

After I shut the door, she removed her glasses and turned to face me. There was a large and fairly fresh bruise on her face; under and around the socket as if somebody had just belted her good one.

"A few months ago, I swore I'd never to let him hit me again. I went to the police station to see him and this is what I get!"

I motioned for Layla to take a seat and I sat across from her. "I'm sorry," I told her with sincerity. "You deserve someone much better than Kade Mooney."

She laughed at what I said and I wondered if I'd already messed up. Perhaps Ami should be the one in here talking to her.

"You're single, aren't you?"

What did that have to do with anything? "Sort of," I answered. "I'm dating somebody."

Layla smirked and then gazed out the window. "You don't get to choose whom you love. Sometimes it just happens – usually when you least expect it. Kade was kind and generous at first, but the longer I knew him, the more I saw who he truly was. I was in love with a monster and I was too afraid to break things off. Do you know that by the time I saw him in jail, somebody from the nursing home had already contacted him and told him all about our meeting? He has people out there, Mr. Noble. I'm not sure how many, but they do his bidding any time he asks."

Little of what she was telling was very surprising. It was always the blackest sheep who gathered the largest flock.

"Why are you here?" I asked, leaning forward to give her my undivided attention. "Surely, it's not just to tell me about Kade. I've done my research. I already know he's crazy."

"Because I wanted to give you this."

Layla reached inside her purse and pulled out notebooks; four of them. She placed them on the table and looked expectantly at me.

"Go ahead."

I immediately picked one up and thumbed through it. These were journals written by a madman. Inside were scribblings and drawings that would give adults nightmares. But more important were the writings.

"That blue one should be the most helpful," Layla pointed out.

She was right. Inside these pages were the details of his murders. Plural, as a matter of fact. Nick's name was mentioned, as well as David McCoy's, plus a few more individuals I'd never heard of. I'd need to check with Chief Dunn to see if they were possibly from other locations and if these could be submitted as evidence.

This was fantastic! I looked up at Layla and the relief must've shown on my face because she smiled.

"You can have them all. I wanted you to know that I'll stand as a witness in court and say anything I need to in order to put him behind bars for good. He's never going to hit me again. I'll make damn sure of that."

Hurray for her! Not only was she going to resolve this matter, but she was also going to take a stand for herself.

"This is a brave thing you're doing and I'm proud of you." It seemed a trivial thing to say but I needed to say something!

"No problem. Do you guys like have a place I can hang out in for a while? At least until the trial is over? Once Kade finds out what I've done, he's going to do his best to get back at me."

I understood exactly what that meant. By helping us, she was putting her life in danger. In return, I'd assist her any way I could.

"I'm sure one of the girls out front will put you up," I offered, immediately thinking of Ami. "I'll ask one of them. And I'll have Mr. Quinn contact the Police Chief. I'm certain he'll post an officer outside the building just to make sure you're safe."

"Thanks," Layla told me before putting her sunglasses back on. "You were right, you know. That night at Nick's apartment? When Kade came out, he was covered with blood. I knew he'd done something awful and yet I didn't say anything about it to anybody."

"That's in the past," I assured her. "You're doing the right thing now and that's all that matters."

I smiled to reassure her but inside I was ecstatic. Just wait until I told Ami and Quinn about this! We had Kade Mooney…Smith, whatever the hell his name was. We had him! Now, all we had to do was keep our only witness safe.

A/N: Layla Scott is Aayla Secura