Read Chapter 1 of The Past Destroyed

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As Silas approached the small coffee shop where he had asked Amber to meet him, he wondered if he would have as much trouble out of her as he had other members of DLS.

He still couldn���t believe she had gotten involved with such a thing, and while he didn���t want to shame anyone for their sexual preferences, DLS was really delved into too many taboo subjects that she should have never been a part of.

Even if he didn���t find Carson had broken any laws, Silas felt he owed it to the victims to shut DLS down.

But was that even possible? It wasn���t like you could make people stop fantasizing or stop acting on those fantasies.

Just thinking about some of the services they offered made him sick, knowing someone like Amber could be swept up in such a thing. He had known her since the first day working with Gabriella, and they had struck up their playful banter immediately.

If anything, she had always come across as na��ve and certainly not the kind of person you���d expect would have any deep, dark secrets.

There had to be a way to take them all down, or at least make Carson stop the recruiting.

Silas looked through the window and saw her sitting at a small table in the back, talking to the waitress. Amber was dressed casually in a light blue cotton dress and looked in much better spirits than the last time he had seen her.

She had taken Gabriella���s death hard, and with the judge���s suicide compiling emotions, she probably felt like another connection to her lost friend was gone. Or at least it was for Silas.

Losing the judge had made things harder on him. And it was as if one whole side of his family had been taken.

Silas smoothed down his shirt and went inside, hoping she wouldn���t be upset when she learned that he hadn���t brought the jewelry.

The waitress was gone, and Amber sat looking at her phone until Silas approached. She smiled when she glanced up at him. ���Hey, Silas. You���re looking handsome for a change.��� She gave him a teasing grin as he pulled out his chair.

���And you���re looking nice too. Sorry, but I don���t have the jewelry yet. I thought we���d have a cup of coffee and maybe go for a walk. I needed to talk to you about something.���

���Oh, well, okay. Was there a holdup with the jewels? Not that I���m in a huge hurry or anything. I just hope there wasn���t a problem.���

���No, nothing like that. I just didn���t think you���d meet me without them.���

���Silas, I know I pick on you a lot, but we���re friends. You could have just told me you wanted to see me.��� She gave a shrug with a shy smile. ���Anytime, you know?���

���Thanks,��� he said, hoping she didn���t have the wrong idea but knowing it wouldn���t matter once he started asking questions. He looked around them, and there wasn���t anyone around. ���I guess this is pretty private.���

She gave him a sideward look. ���Are you feeling okay?���

���Yeah, it���s just what I have to ask is going to be a bit awkward.��� He tugged at his collar as the waitress came over with Amber���s coffee.

���I hope you don���t mind, but I went ahead and ordered without you.���

���All good,��� he said, turning his attention to the waitress. ���I���ll have a house blend with two sugars, please.���

As the waitress stepped away, Amber smiled. ���Look, whatever it is you have to say, it���s okay. I mean, it can���t be all that bad.��� She took a sip of her coffee and fluttered her lashes at him.

Silas knew he was about to throw a bucket of ice water on her. ���Okay. So, I���m just going to come right out and ask.���

���That���s fine with me. Ask away. I���m an open book.��� She put the cup to her lips and took a sip.

He hoped that she would still feel that way after. ���So, since you���re an open book, could you tell me what you know about DLS?���

Amber nearly choked on her coffee and began to cough.

���Are you okay?��� asked Silas with concern.

���Yeah, I���m fine. I���m sorry. DLS?���

���Yes. Dirty Little Secret,��� he whispered. ���I found your name while doing an investigation for Gabby���s killer. I know what it is. And I don���t expect you to tell me what it is you are into with the service.���

���Oh God,��� she said, interrupting him. She covered her face. ���I don���t do anything. And I haven���t been a part of it for a long time.���

���You got out of it?���

���I was really never in it. It was a long time ago, and I met this man Carson. He owns it. At first, I thought he was a really great guy, and it didn���t take me long to realize he was a total perv.���

���I���m listening,��� said Silas, noting that another couple had come into the place and sat only two tables away.

Amber glanced at them. ���Could we go somewhere else and talk?���

���Sure. We can take our coffee to go if you want?���

���Yeah, that would be great.��� They got up to pay the tab, and Silas got them two to go.

When they walked out into the early evening air, they headed out toward a small park just across the street.

���When I met Carson, I really liked him. I thought he was rich and handsome and could really make all of my problems go away. But I got to know him, and after sleeping with him the first time, he began telling me about DLS and how I could really do well in it. I went from having these starstruck feelings of a crush to feeling like he was trying to sell me something. He gave a pitch, telling me how I could make men���s fantasies come true. How I could fulfill a few of my own, and that���s when he presented me with a contract. I told him I wasn���t comfortable doing anything like that, but he said the connections were worth it. I might even get a job out of it. He made it all sound really innocent and told me that everything would be in my control. I told him I���d think about it. I just wanted to get him out of my apartment.���

���So, you eventually signed up?���

���It wasn���t an easy decision, but in my mind, it wasn���t much different than a dating site. Only there, you already knew what men wanted from you. And he made it all sound so safe.���

���Did something bad happen?��� He felt his jaw tightening as he considered her being manipulated and used.

Amber shook her head. ���I thought I could do it. But it wasn���t a fit. I made one arrangement, just to try it, and it was a mess. I ran out of there crying and wishing I���d never joined. I threw a fit and told Carson I wanted out. But as it turns out, once you sign up, you���re never really out. I just don���t hang there actively anymore or talk to anyone. I guess that didn���t take my name off of his roster.���

���No. And I���m sorry that you had that experience, but the problem I���m having now is no one there wants to talk to me.���

���Yeah, it���s for fear of legal ramifications. No one wants to get sued for breaking the contract. Not only would it be costly to your bank account, but Carson makes it known it wouldn���t be good for your social life.���

���That���s a personal threat,��� said Silas, growing angrier at Carson���s tactics. ���And what makes it bad on me is that it���s a very big part of the investigation.���

���How so?��� she asked, moving in a little closer as the wind licked her bare shoulders.

���Every one of the victims has some sort of connection to the service. In fact, that���s the only common thread. And the murders didn���t just start recently. They include a series that happened five years ago.���

Her eyes widened. ���You never caught the guy? Have you been looking for him that long?���

���Yeah, and the only connection I���ve ever gotten is DLS.���

���But not where Gabriella is concerned?���

He didn���t want to point out that she might be the connection between the two. He didn���t need her carrying the guilt for something he wasn���t sure of. ���That was my next question. I mean, I didn���t think she would be involved with it, but I would have never guessed you would either. Not in a million years.���

Amber tucked her chin. ���I was a lot younger and stupid. It was before I started working for Gabriella.���

���But you started working for her just out of high school, didn���t you?��� That was what he���d been told. He tried hard to remember, but it had all been years ago.

���The fall after. I met Carson over my summer break, just before college, and just before going to work for Gabby.���

���Did she know about your involvement?���

���Gosh, no. I never told her. I didn���t want her to think badly of me. I can���t even imagine what you must think of me.��� She gave him a sad look full of shame.

���I think we all do things sometimes that we wish we could take back or forget. Everyone���s got something like that they���re not proud of. Well, anyone who has lived, I���d guess.��� He still hadn���t gotten any answers. And while he hated to push the subject, he needed to know. ���Is there anything you can tell me about the service? Particularly who else is in charge? Did you ever meet anyone higher up?���

���We were all supposed to be equals,��� she said, rolling her eyes. ���But I know Carson sure feels pretty important. People treat him like a king, especially the people in the service. As for any founders or other leaders, I don���t know anyone. Everything is kept so private, and I���d be the last person they���d tell.��� She put her hands on her arms as if she were chilly.

Silas wished he had a coat to keep her warm. Instead, he put his arm around her and rubbed her arm. ���I need you to really try hard and think about it. Was there ever anyone at a party? Or a name that might have seemed familiar? Even the smallest thing could help me out.���

She shook her head. ���No, I���m sorry. As I said, I wasn���t in the group long, and I didn���t really meet up with anyone. The first guy I was supposed to meet didn���t even say anything when I didn���t show. I knew it was stupid, but I had done it just to upset Carson. But I realized that he didn���t really care about me. I was just another member to him.���

He found a bench to sit on, and she sat with him, staying close to keep from catching a chill. ���Do you want to go? I can tell you���re cold.���

���I should have known better than to go sleeveless,��� she said with a soft chuckle. ���I guess I was excited to get out of the house. I���ve been spending a lot of time sulking since the funeral.���

���Gabby wouldn���t want that,��� he said. ���Besides, a beautiful young woman like yourself should be out. Just next time, bring a sweater.���

���So you think the person who killed her is in DLS?���

���I think the killer has to be within the inner circle. Someone who had access to the member files and their addresses.���

���Well, if you need me to go back in, you know, just to ask around, I could. I haven���t really made any friends there, but I still have access to chat with them.���

���No, if you go nosing around in that, there���s no telling what would happen to you. We���re talking about a brutal killer. And I don���t want you anywhere near DLS again. You���re too good for it, Amber.���

She met his eyes. Her own were red with tears. ���Thanks for caring.��� She leaned in and kissed him on the cheek, only pulling away long enough to meet his eyes before moving to his lips.

As she did, she cupped his face. Silas put his hands on hers and pulled away. ���Amber, I can���t do that.��� He tried to keep a smile, hoping she wouldn���t take the rejection so hard.

She nodded. ���That���s right. You have a girlfriend, don���t you?���

���Something like that.��� He wasn���t sure what the proper term was for whatever he and Madison were to each other. It wasn���t as if they were official, and he���d never pushed anyone away before for the sake of another woman���s feelings. But there was a first time for everything. And he knew in his heart that he couldn���t do that to someone he loved.

���Well, I guess I���ve made a fool of myself all the way around tonight.���

���Nah, I���m actually really flattered, but I think it���s time I try to be a better man. Besides, I���m pretty sure Gabby would haunt me if I laid a hand on you.���

���You���re probably right,��� she said. ���I just hope I haven���t ruined any chance that we might hang out again. And I wish I could have helped you more with the case. I just don���t know anything.���

He could understand how it was for her to lose so much. ���Sure, we can hang out again. As for the case, don���t you worry. I���m going to catch the guy if it���s the last thing I do.���