Dream Phantom

Chapter 26

Roberto was hanging around the station, waiting for the captain to show up. He needed to talk to his boss about being reinstated. Surely, they hadn't planned on suspending him indefinitely. He still felt self-conscious being at the station since the day he had gotten drunk, made a scene, and was suspended. He leaned against one of the columns in the main lobby when he spotted Detective Lilah Reeves. She was on her phone and she looked upset.

"What the hell do you want now?" she hissed into her phone. "I told you not to call me anymore."

Roberto's ears perked up. Who was she talking to?

"No, you can't come here. This is my workplace. Fine, meet me at our usual place. I'll be there in a little bit," she said, before disconnecting the call. She gave a growl of frustration.

"Now, that's interesting," Roberto whispered as his footsteps traced after hers. He quickly got into his car and watched as she entered her own vehicle. Once she pulled out of the parking lot, he did the same and slowly followed her, making sure he was far enough to not be noticed. She drove to the abandoned side of town, bringing back bad memories for Roberto. The abandoned warehouse that his wife Gladys had been held captive still stood, a burnt carcass of the building it once was. He watched her pull into an alley and drove past. He parked his car and exited before using the opposite side to watch Lilah. He watched from behind the corner of a nearby building as she leaned against her car, staring at her cell phone.

"You sure took your time," Lilah called out.

Roberto froze. Had she spotted him?

"I thought you weren't going to show," Lilah said.

"I would never miss a date with you," a male voice called out.

Roberto recognized the voice. His brows made a V of frustration across his forehead as he peeked to see who she was talking to. His mouth went dry and he felt his stomach drop as she watched the dark-haired man he knew as his brother-in-law greet Lilah.

"Tristan, you promised me you would help me," Lilah placed her hands on her hips.

"I will," Detective Tristan Beaumont grinned. "You just need to do a few things for me."

"Getting your brother-in-law fired isn't going to be easy."

"If it was easy, I could do it myself," Tristan reminded her.

"I don't think you understand. I saw him the other day. I think he's finally cleaning up his act. You don't want him back with your sister but trying to ruin his life isn't going to be easy."

Tristan raised a hand, "Enough. If I wanted your opinion I would've asked. If you want my help, you'll stay quiet."

Lilah bit her bottom lip.

"Now the plan is this," Tristan continued. "If Roberto does come back to the force, you need to make it look like he's making too many mistakes. Did you have any luck with Jax?"

"No," Lilah made a pouting face. "He loves his wife too much. I don't think seducing him is going to work. Besides, she's pretty feisty herself. I'm afraid she might snatch me bald if I try hitting on her husband again."

Tristan sneered, "Yeah, you're probably right. That's why I told you not to waste your time getting help from him by seducing him. Not every man you meet is going to be willing to put their career on the line for you. I'm your only hope."

"Have you found anything on George?"

"I told you that if you helped me with Roberto and Gladys, I would take care of your step-father."

"Don't call him that," Lilah shuddered. "He isn't my step-father. He's a monster."

Tristan stepped close to Lilah and lightly picked up a lock of her blonde hair, examining the end, "You're calling him a monster but in the past, you bragged about being able to seduce any man. You couldn't seduce Jax."

"So?"

"So, you lied and it makes me wonder if you're telling the truth about George Reeves. How do I know you're not making this up? Maybe you tried seducing him too and failed."

"Bastard!" Lilah pushed Tristan away. "You're accusing me of being a liar? What about you? How many lies are you telling your sister trying to keep her away from her husband?"

"It's for her own good! She almost died because of him."

"Yeah? Crap like that is what my step-father used to say. It's for her own good? More like it's for your own good."

"Shut up or I won't help you."

"I better see something going on with your investigation."

"Or what?" Tristan began to walk away.

"Or I'll tell your sister what you've been up to."

Tristan laughed, "As if she would believe you. Just do as I tell you. It's what you're good at." He walked away, leaving Lilah alone by her car.

Roberto leaned against the brick building he was taking cover behind and closed his eyes. Gladys' brother was undermining him in order to keep them apart? How could he do that? They'd been so close over the years. They'd gone fishing together. Barbecued together. They were like real brothers. How could Gladys allow her brother to come between them?

A tap on Roberto's shoulder startled him and he opened his eyes to see Lilah standing before him. His brown eyes locked with her baby blues.

"Now that I helped you understand why things aren't working out with your wife," Lilah said softly, "how about you help me?"

Still reeling from what he just learned, Roberto asked, "H-help you?"

"My step-father is a bad man. I don't want to remember what he did to me but I have to save my sister."

"What are you talking about?"

The name George Reeves rang in his head. It couldn't be him. Not George Reeves the wealthy councilman.

"The last time I tried accusing him of anything, he had me detained in a mental ward," Lilah admitted. "I could move on if it weren't for my sister. She still lives with them. She's still exposed to him."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying you need to help me put away a very bad man. In exchange, I'll double-cross your brother-in-law and help you get your wife back."

Roberto's eyes widened, "You're serious?"

"As a heart attack."

"How do I know you're not lying?"

"I knew you were following me. I even faked that phone call in front of you so that you would follow me. I know a lot of people think I'm just a pretty face but I'm a lot smarter than that. If I could bring my step-father down myself, I would have a long time ago. Tristan said he'd help me. He's taking his time and that's putting my sister in danger."

"This is insane."

"Yes," Lilah nodded. "So, will you help me?"

His answer came out before he could think about it, "Yes."