he have a place he normally stayed?”
“He was mostly around the news station. That was how I had met him. He was panhandling one night, and we somehow started up a conversation.”
Kaye scribbled in her notepad and finally looked up. “Did you know what his last name was?”
Deedra shook his head. “I feel like such an idiot for not asking his full name.”
Kaye flipped her notepad closed. “Don’t feel guilty about it. There is a good chance he could have just given you a made-up last name. If he had been living on the streets for two years, he knew not to stay in one place for too long.”
Deedra hung her head. “He came to me for help, and I wasn’t able to help him.”
“Do you know of anyone who would want to hurt Joseph? I know you say he didn’t tell you much when it came to information for a story, but it seems like you guys had a more personal relationship.”
Deedra scoffed. “I don’t know how you can say it was personal when I didn’t even know his last name.”
“Dee,” I called. The amount of guilt she felt over not knowing the kid's last name was crazy. “Stop dwelling on that.”
She sighed. “I didn’t know a lot about him, but yes, I was close to him. The fact he was so young and homeless played on my heartstrings.”
“And I’m sure he appreciated that. Sometimes there isn’t anything you can do.” Kaye reached into her back pocket and handed Deedra a card. “That has my number on it. If you think of anything, call me. We’re under the impression whoever this was got what they wanted. They weren’t after you or Point.”
“Oh. Well, I guess that is good news.” Deedra fingered the card. “Too bad they got what they wanted.”
Kaye frowned. “It is, but it could have been twice as bad if they would have gotten you and Point.”
Deedra’s bottom lip quivered. “Yeah, you’re right.”
She was still going through all the emotional steps of accepting what happened. Right now, she was still feeling guilty.
“That answer all of your questions?” I asked.
Kaye nodded and slid the notepad back into her pocket. “It does.” She reached out and patted Deedra’s hand. “You’re gonna be okay, Deedra. Don’t blame this on yourself.”
“I know,” Deedra whispered. She turned on her heel with her head down, and my heart broke when she walked right into me. She faceplanted against my chest and burst into tears.
I wrapped my arms around her, and a sob escaped her lips.
“I think we’re done.” I lifted her into my arms and marched back down the hallway to her room.
Kimber and Fancy had been standing in the doorway, watching us in the living room. Kimber held open the door, and Fancy moved to the bed. She tossed the comforter back and took a step to the side.
I kept Deedra in my arms and laid down. Fancy tossed the blanket over us and disappeared from the room without a word. Kimber flipped off the light and closed the door.
Another heartbreaking sob fell from Deedra’s lips, and the front of my shirt was soaked with her tears.
“Let it out, sugar.” I rubbed her back, and my heart ached with every sob.
Deedra and I might have been be physically safe, but whoever had killed Joseph had killed a little piece of Deedra. My protective instinct kicked in, and I wrapped my arms around her tighter.
Whoever killed Joseph better watch their back because not only did they have detective Kaye looking for them, they also had to worry about the Kings of Vengeance coming for them.
Vengeance was coming.
*
Chapter Sixteen
Let’s ride…
Deedra
“Let’s go for a ride.”
I looked up from my cup of coffee. “To where?”
Point shrugged. “Nowhere specific. Let’s just get out of here for a little bit.”
“If we go anywhere, I should probably go to work.” It had been two days since Joseph had been killed, and I hadn’t left the house.
It was odd when something unexpected happened and it hit you in a way you never anticipated. It was the fact that Joseph was so young and had been through so much that when he was finally getting his life right…he was just dead now.
“They gave you off until Monday, Dee. Just take the next four days to relax and not worry about work.”
I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair. “That is a lot harder than it sounds.”
“I know. So, come with me, and we’ll go for a ride. It’ll help clear