You Belong to Me – 36

 

When Darin returned to his office, Corey handed him the list of names he’d come up with.

 

“It’s pretty short, which tells you how many people I really know… or don’t know,” Corey commented dispiritedly. “I listed them by work and men I’ve met at clubs.”

 

“You don’t know anyone outside of that?”

 

Corey winced. “No. I don’t make friends easily. Or, I suppose, I don’t make them because friends tend to want to know more about me than I’m willing to reveal.”

 

Darin smiled in commiseration. “All things considered, that makes sense from your point of view.” He put the list in the folder, then said, “I’ve come up with a plan. I ran it by the lieutenant and he’s approved it. There’s one other man I need to talk to before it’s finalized. Then I can tell you. That should happen sometime today. You’ll be glad to know I also got approval to send in a team to clean your apartment. You’ll be able to move back in tomorrow.”

 

“I’m… not sure I want to.”

 

“You’ll have to if my plan’s going to work.”

 

“Which is?”

 

“As I said, the one I’ll tell you about after I talk to the man I want to use. In order for it to work, though, you need to be back in your apartment.”

 

“I…” Corey sighed. “All right, I guess.”

 

“For now you should probably go back to your motel so I can set things up. I’ll be in touch as soon as everything’s finalized.”

 

“And if it isn’t?”

 

Darin smiled crookedly. “Then I come up with another idea.”

 

“Figured.” Corey stood, saying, “Thank you for trusting that I didn’t kill Brad. I mean, you do believe me, don’t you?”

 

“Yeah, Corey, I do. And with your help, we’re going to catch his killer.”

 

“I’ll do whatever it takes. I want that bastard out of my life.”

 

“I don’t blame you for that. Now out of here. I have work to do.”

 

“Going,” Corey said with a small smile.