Jason arched an eyebrow. “Who are you?”
“Don’t worry about who I am.”
Jason cocked his head to the side, considering. “How many dudes do you have willing to kill people for you? I’m only asking out of natural curiosity. I mean ... it’s obviously none of my business. I still want to know, though. Are you magical or something?”
To Ivy, that was a loaded question. She opted to avoid it. “We’re not here to talk about me. We’re here to talk about you. Why did you track me down?”
“Because I need your help.” Jason was solemn. “I’m in trouble.”
“I’ll say you’re in trouble,” she agreed. “Jack and his partner are looking for you because you’re a suspect in Sasha’s death. They know you two were dating ... and that you wrecked your other girlfriend’s car and didn’t tell her. You look guilty to them.”
“I am guilty,” Jason agreed. “Just not of what you think I am. I’m a ... loser. I wouldn’t disagree with that. I’m not a murderer, though.”
Despite herself, Ivy was intrigued. “Are you honestly telling me you can explain away all these coincidences?”
Jason nodded, solemn.
“Then you’d better do it fast,” Ivy prodded. “Jack and Brian are on their way.”
“That’s what I was counting on. I wanted you to be with me when they took me in. They’re less likely to shoot me if you’re here.”
Ivy made a face. “Why would they shoot you?”
“I watch the news. Unarmed black men are shot all the time by the cops.”
Ivy was bewildered. “You’re white.”
“Barely.” Jason shook his head. “That’s not what’s important, though. Sasha and I were dating. The thing is, she was only one of my girlfriends.”
Ivy’s nose wrinkled in disgust. “You’re gross.”
“Hey, I’m in demand.” Jason was matter-of-fact. “I’m young and girls think I’m a bad boy. You’d be surprised how many women that attracts.”
“Stupid women.”
“They’re not stupid.”
“Maisie?”
“Okay, she’s stupid a lot of the time,” Jason conceded. “She’s not naive, though. She’s only in it for the fun. That’s one of the reasons I like her.”
“Yeah, Maisie has had fun with half the town, son,” Michael noted. “You might want to get yourself tested or something.”
“Maybe that will happen in jail.” Jason brightened at the thought. “I’ll have to remember to request that. Anyway, we don’t have a lot of time. It’s important that you believe me before your boyfriend gets here.”
“I don’t think I’m going to have nearly as much weight with him as you seem to think I do,” Ivy countered.
Jason waved off the comment as if it was the most ridiculous thing he’d ever heard. “I dinged up the car in the golf course parking lot. I was there selling meth.”
Ivy frowned. “I don’t understand. Was Sasha with you?”
He nodded. “She didn’t realize what I was doing. She wanted to date a bad boy, but she didn’t want to see any of the bad boy behavior. I tried to keep it away from her. The thing is, I have bills to pay. When I got the call, I simply couldn’t ignore it because she was with me.”
“Actually, I think you could ignore it, but we’ll let that go for now,” Ivy drawled. “How did you get separated?”
“She broke up with me and left in a huff when she realized I was there to meet one of the golf pros. I assumed she caught a ride back with one of the workers. I mean, I wouldn’t have left her there. I’m not that guy. She knows a lot of the people who work out there, though.”
That made sense to Ivy. The golf course was filled with younger workers, on the course and in the restaurant, many of whom would’ve gone to school with Sasha. “Did you call her to make sure?”
“I did the next day. The thing is ... .” He trailed off, genuine grief twisting his handsome features.
“She was already dead by then and you didn’t know it,” Ivy deduced.
“She must’ve decided to walk. That’s all I can figure.”
“Why would someone run her over?” That was the part Ivy was having trouble with. “She was a good girl who made a bad decision. I mean ... you’re like the worst decision ever.”
“I am,” Jason agreed, his smile rueful. “I knew I would never get to keep Sasha. She was too good for me. I’m going to end up with someone like Maisie because that’s what I deserve.”
“Nobody deserves Maisie,” Ivy countered, letting loose a sigh. She honestly didn’t know what to make of the story. “Did you see anyone out at the golf course that night, anyone who might’ve wanted to hurt her?”
“I wasn’t paying attention. I didn’t even think about it. All I cared about was the deal.”
Ivy’s stomach roiled in disgust.
“If you think I’m proud of myself, I’m not,” he insisted. “I feel sick over what happened. If I could take it back, I would. I can’t, though.”
“What do you want me to do?” Ivy was resigned to helping him. She believed the story. He really had no motive to kill Sasha. He was too lazy, a loser of the highest order. That didn’t make him a murderer.
“Tell your boyfriend you believe me. He’ll believe me if you do.”
“I think you’re giving me too much credit.”
“No, I’m not.”
Ivy slid her eyes to Michael, who had relaxed his stance but remained alert. “What do you think?”
“I think he’s pathetic and no kind of a man. I don’t think he’s a murderer, though.”
“Not that.” Ivy shook her head. “Do you think Jack will take my opinion into account?”
Michael’s eye roll was exaggerated. “You really don’t have a firm grip on your faculties right now, do you? Of course Jack is going to take your opinion into account. He’ll tackle Jason and threaten to rip his arms off if he touches you when he sees him, but he’ll ultimately believe him because you do.”
Something occurred to Ivy. “He’s right. We need to move you to a clear spot and
