The Daddy P.I. Casefiles: The First Collection by Frost, J (great novels .txt) 📕

around her bunny when I finally rise. I cuff one of Cappa’s outstretched wrists to the headboard, so he knows when he wakes I don’t want him going anywhere.

I shower off everything that happened yesterday and finally take a look at the impressive black eye and split cheek Rick’s given me. The split’s swollen but there’s no redness and the surgical glue’s closed the wound, so I leave it to air. I wash myself gingerly, since everything’s sore, discovering injures I missed yesterday under the influence of adrenaline and endorphins. The knuckles of my right hand are puffed twice their normal size, scuffed and reddened, and my left knee is bruised so dark it rivals Emily’s labia. My knee’s stiffened up enough overnight that I retrieve my cane as well as a pair of shorts from the bedroom before hobbling downstairs.

There’s a small crowd at my dining table: Jiro, Javier, Max, Theo, and DirtyGurl are gathered over coffee and three huge boxes of donuts that Theo’s clearly brought. He’s such a cop. I snag a blueberry glazed on my way past the table into the kitchen, to make myself a drink and find the Advil.

“You’re welcome,” Theo says to my back.

I grunt, since he’s not my favorite person this morning, either. “Glory in custody?”

Normally, I wouldn’t out him as a cop in front of DirtyGurl, but since he announced it at the party last night, I figure it’s no longer a secret.

“Officially, no. Unofficially, we picked her up last night and can hold her for seventy-two hours without charging her. She lawyered-up straight away, so we’re not going to get anything out of her. I’m working on a search warrant for her apartment to see if I can find any trace of the ketamine.”

He’s being very forthcoming. Sounds like I’ve got Theo-the-Dom at my breakfast table rather than Theo-the-cop, despite the donuts. I pour myself a cup of coffee, figuring that if I’m going to get in trouble with my little girl for the donut, I might as well go whole hog. It is a blueberry donut, though. That’s sort of healthy.

After downing several Advil and setting out some stinky, wet food for the cat, who is curled on DirtyGurl’s lap, I sit down across from Theo at the table.

“Where does someone get ketamine?”

Theo shrugs. “There are legitimate uses for it. Mostly by vets. If she has a pet, she might have gotten it legally.”

“Club scene,” DirtyGurl says quietly. “It’s not as popular as Molly or E, but it’s out there.”

Theo flicks his eyes at her, but neither of us comment.

“Doctor said it was a hefty dose, based on the amount still in Daisy’s system,” I say.

Max catches my eye and nods. He’s probably planning on a fishing expedition through Glory’s accounts to look for unusual purchases or cash withdrawals. I shake my head. It’s the NYPD’s problem now and I don’t want Max doing any work he’s not going to get paid for.

“What about the PayPal account?” I ask Theo.

“If I can get a search warrant, I can seize any computers at her place. With a little luck, the judge will extend the warrant to her phone. If I can get into her email accounts, or better yet, her PayPal account, and trace the payment for the pictures, that’ll do it. DA will charge her.” He gives me a long, level look. “I’ll get her.”

I nod, not sure how much I care anymore.

“And Mr. Errol?” Jiro asks suddenly.

Theo clears his throat. “That’s one reason I’m here. You want to press charges, Logan?”

Plenty of people, including Theo, saw Rick hit me first. I guess I could.

“No,” I say.

Theo rubs his chin, cop eyes searching my face. While we’re having our stare-down, Emily slips into the chair beside me and rests her cheek against my shoulder. I draw her onto my lap.

“Daddy, is that a donut?” she murmurs, looking at the half-eaten pastry in front of me.

“Hallucination, sweetheart. You had a long night.”

She giggles. “Pretty sure that’s a donut, Daddy. Will you let me make you a boiled egg at least?”

“Yes, sweetie.” My baby doll, who takes such good care of her daddy. She’s here, in my arms. Nothing that happened last night separated us. I’m okay, she’s okay, we’re together, and that’s really all that matters.

“I don’t want to press charges,” I say more firmly.

“All right. I’ll need your and your partner’s statements. If you want to get that done this morning, it’ll save you a trip to the station.”

“Let me get another cup of coffee and I’ll be up for that.”

“Daddy, before you get too involved, Cappa’s still cuffed to our bed.”

I chuckle. “Oh, yeah.”

Javier perks up. “Did you say, cuffed?”

“She did,” I respond. “Figured I’d make him a present to anyone who’d like a good morning. He’s had a half-hour of edging already, so he’s primed.”

“Excellent. Thank you for your hospitality.” Javier sets down his coffee, stands, and stretches. He’s wearing the linen suit he showed up in last night, and although linen always looks wrinkled, it’s wrinkled in a way that looks classy instead of slept-in, the bastard. “DirtyGurl, upstairs with you. Maude, would you care to join us?”

“No, go indulge yourself, you old letch,” Maude responds.

“I certainly shall.” He tips an imaginary hat to her and slaps DirtyGurl on the ass to get her moving.

“You’re still on orgasm restriction,” Theo growls at DirtyGurl as she scampers off through the great room. “And that ass still belongs to me.”

“Yes, Master Theo,” she calls back over her shoulder, blue dreadlocks waving.

“She’s going to be the death of me,” Theo mutters.

“Mistress,” Jiro says to Maude. “Might I offer you the use of my submissive this morning?”

Maude lifts an eyebrow. “You share that lovely girl?”

“I do, with special friends. She should be waking up shortly and is due some grooming after the party last night. A bath and an enema, to start the day right, if you’d like to assist.”

Maude’s smile is more Wicked Witch of the West than benevolent