Chapter Seven
Somehow, Allison managed to make it all the way back to Jocelyn’s house without saying a word about what had happened in the old warehouse. When she’d climbed back into the hack, Heather had asked her what was wrong, but she hadn’t wanted to say anything in front of Joseph, and she’d just needed a few minutes to process it all.
Images and feelings flashed through her brain in quick succession, and her body still felt tingly and uncomfortable, as though something vibrated beneath her very skin. When she’d made up her mind to follow Quinn, she’d had no idea the decision would rock the very foundations of her world.
She still couldn’t believe what she’d seen... what she’d done!
At last, the hack rocked to a stop in front of Jocelyn’s townhouse, and Allison hurried inside, leaving Heather and Joseph to trail in her wake.
Jocelyn’s sister, Evelyn, who was blond, serious, and a bit of a bluestocking, sat near the window reading a book. Lovely, redheaded Jocelyn sat on the floor in the sitting room, her pale blue skirts spread in a circle around her as she played with her son. The adorable dark-haired little boy clapped his hands and laughed merrily when he saw Allison, crawling toward her with a cheeky grin.
Allison smiled and sank to the floor beside her friend. Jocelyn had been married, even if it had been to a man old enough to be her grandfather. She’d obviously had sex. The proof of that was crawling toward her at that very minute.
Heather came in behind her, closing the pocket doors behind her so that the four women were alone with the baby. “All right, tell us what happened.”
Jocelyn looked up, confusion marring her lovely face. “What are you talking about?”
Gesturing helplessly toward the little boy, Allison shook her head, heat rushing to her cheeks. “I can’t. Not in front of a child.”
Evelyn laughed and put her book aside. “He doesn’t know what we’re saying, but I’m growing more intrigued by the moment.”
Allison sighed dramatically, her cheeks growing hot once again. “Well, when I was in Quinn’s office—”
“Quinn?” Jocelyn interrupted, raising her brows.
“Inspector O’Brien,” Heather answered impatiently.
“We’re calling Inspector O’Brien by his first name now?” Jocelyn laughed but then gestured for Allison to continue.
“Anyway, when I was in Inspector O’Brien’s office, I saw a picture on his desk.” Allison swallowed nervously. “A naked picture of Polly!”
“Completely naked?” Evelyn asked, her eyes widening.
Allison nodded. “Yes, and so I asked him about it. He said that the killer had left it in her room, that men use pictures like that to... pleasure themselves to.”
“He actually told you that?” Jocelyn squealed, shaking her head. “Allison! I can’t believe you asked him such a thing!”
“Why shouldn’t I?” Allison asked defensively. She met Jocelyn’s eyes. “Why haven’t you told us more about what goes on in the bedroom? I wouldn’t have to ask Quinn if I had any knowledge of such things at all.”
Jocelyn sat back, biting her lip, her green eyes troubled. “My husband was sixty-nine years old. He fumbled under my nightdress on our wedding night, there was a sharp pain, and he thrashed around on top of me for a few moments. Nine months after that, little Oliver arrived.” She laughed bitterly. “I don’t know much more than you do, trust me.”
Allison reached over and patted her friend’s hand, sorry she’d said anything. “I didn’t know.”
Jocelyn shrugged and gestured around at her opulent surroundings. “It was a small price to pay for my beautiful son and all the wealth and security he left me. And now, I never have to do it again.”
“You’re lucky,” Heather said with a sigh.
Allison shook her head. “I don’t know. Maybe I thought that once, but not after what happened today.”
“Tell us already!” Evelyn cried impatiently.
Taking a deep breath, Allison tried to decide what she was even going to say. “Well, Quinn told me that he was going to the place where pictures like the one they found were taken to find out if anyone knew anything about Polly’s murder. But after he told me what men did with such pictures and pointed out that Polly looked like she was enjoying posing so provocatively, I was determined to follow him and see for myself.”
Heather groaned. “If I’d known that’s what you were up to, I never would have let you go in there alone.”
Waving a hand dismissively, Allison continued. “Anyway, this building was full of women being photographed nude, but Quinn had stopped in front of a couple, a man and woman. They were being filmed as they actually... had relations with each other.”
All three of her friends gasped, for once shocked into speechlessness.