Close To Her Asian Billionaire

Chapter 8

The drive up to Miami Shores was silent. Uncomfortably silent. Carla kept glancing over at Jason in the passenger seat but she wasn’t able to say anything.

She had already said sorry when they were back at the apartment but Jason hadn’t said anything. He had stayed silent as he waited for her to shower, helping her clean her wounds afterwards and helping her dress – her shoulder felt wrenched after being thrown around. He hadn’t tried anything with her, completing his tasks with efficiency.

Carla had wished he would do something, anything, to show her that he had forgiven her. But Jason remained sullenly silent. So Carla had to sit miserably behind the wheel as she drove them to Joanie’s house.

Luke and Amy were already there, parked across the street from Joanie’s condo. Carla pulled up outside and turned off the engine.

“Now let me do the talking here.”

“Seriously?”

Carla glared at Jason, who was glowering at her.

“That’s enough, Jason.” She snapped. “We can argue later.”

She climbed out before she said or did something she would regret. Luke was coming across the street. His eyes widened and he hurried over to her.

“Fu*k, Carla, what happened to you?”

“I’m fine, Luke.” Carla pushed his hands away. “It’s nothing I can’t handle.”

The sight after washing away the blood hadn’t been any better than before. Her face was swollen on one side, she had a cut above one eye and her nose felt out of joint. Something also cracked when she breathed so she must have cracked a rib somewhere.

But she wasn’t going to the hospital. Not until she had seen to Joanie, at least.

Amy came to join them as Jason got out and stood on the sidewalk watching them. She gave him a glare.

“What is he doing here?” She snapped.

“Getting some answers.” Carla glanced at Luke. “You owe me $200, by the way.”

“Why?”

Carla explained about Joanie’s phone call and how she and Jason had listened in on Joanie’s lies. When she finished Amy was staring at Jason.

“Have you got a twin brother?”

“Younger brother but he doesn’t look like me.” Jason narrowed his eyes at her. “Why? You single?”

Amy huffed and looked at Carla.

“Real charmer, he is.”

“Sorry, love. I’m not in the mood to be charming.”

Carla rolled her eyes and left them to squabble, leading Luke up the path to Joanie’s front door and ringing the bell. After a moment of silence she knocked on the door.

“Joanie? Joanie, it’s Carla. Open up.”

A second later there came the sound of the latch coming off and the door being unlocked. Then it opened and Joanie looked out, her eyes wide.

“Has he gone?”

“You mean Jason?”

“Yes. Did you see him?”

“Hello, Joanie.”

Carla jumped as Jason stepped up to her side and leaned against the door frame, giving Joanie a nasty smile. Joanie screamed and tried to shut the door but Jason kicked it back open, sending it out of Joanie’s hand. Still screaming, Joanie ducked inside. Carla gave Jason a hard look.

“Nice one. Now we’ll have the neighbors calling the cops.”

Jason shrugged and went in, Carla following him. Luke entered third and Amy closed the door behind them. Joanie was cowering in a corner, huddled up on herself with her arms over her head.

“Don’t kill me, don’t kill me, don’t kill me!” She begged. “Please don’t kill me.”

Carla sighed and glanced at Amy. Her friend understood. They went to Joanie and hauled her up by her arms.

“Relax, Joanie. We’re not going to kill you.” They deposited her unceremoniously on the couch. Then Carla crouched before her, keeping her voice on an even level. “But we do need answers. You’ve been lying to me and I want to know why.”

“What?” Joanie sat up and brushed her hair away from her face. “I haven’t been lying to you.”

“Telling me that Jason was outside threatening you was a lie.”

“But he was!”

“He was standing right next to me when you called.” Carla raised her eyebrows when she saw it hit home. “He may be talented in many things but being in two places at the same time is not one of them.”

She heard a cough behind her but ignored it, focusing on Joanie, who was looking like she was floundering.

“He did it earlier.” Was the response she finally came up with. “I just got my tenses wrong.”

“Sounds like you got a lot of things wrong.” Luke grunted. He was leaning against the wall with his big arms folded. Joanie gave him a haughty look.

“Who’s he? Another goon?”

“This is Special Agent Whitely, FBI.” Carla glared at Joanie, who was slowly turning white. “He was close to locking up an innocent man because of you.”

“And her?”

Joanie glanced nervously at Amy.

“I’m a friend.” Amy advanced on the couch, sitting beside Joanie. She spoke softly, almost as if she was talking to a little child. “And I’m very good at getting people to talk. Do you know what you’ve done, Joanie? You’ve committed a crime. Jason would have been going to prison having done nothing wrong because you planted evidence for Carla to find so you could incriminate him. We want to know why.”

Joanie looked down at her hands clasped in her lap. She shook her head.

“I have nothing to say.”

Carla bit back a groan. She hated it when people who were clearly guilty tried to get away with their crimes by saying nothing. It never worked.

“You do know this comes with a prison sentence?” Luke said gruffly. “It’s a criminal offense. And obstructing an FBI investigation makes it a federal offense. Care to try again, Miss Oldham?”

But still Joanie kept her head bent, staring at her hands. Normally Carla was prepared to wait but not this time. Her nerves were frayed and she wanted answers now.

“I’m going to count to three, Joanie. You had better be ready to tell us by the time I get to three or Agent Whitely is going to arrest you.” She held up a hand and began to count. “One. Two. Thr…”