Page 58 of New Nebraska Home

“What were you all doing when the murder occurred?” the detective asked, interrupting whatever Zmei was going to ask next. Cal was not the only authority Detective Corkburn didn’t appreciate. It made me wonder if Corkburn had agreed to have the Zmei ride along or if he was told to by someone else.

Still, I was not about to tell either of these judgmental assholes that I was having the best sex I’d ever had, with three men.

“How is that relevant?” Cal asked.

“I decide what is relevant, boy,” Corkburn snarled.

Cal’s hand on my back stiffened, and I knew he was trying to hold himself back. I didn’t know much about the vampire pecking order, but I knew Cal was far more powerful than this detective. It was also easy to see the detective abusing his badge and lording it over Cal. I had no idea if that mattered in the vampire world, but I could feel Cal’s aggravation, and the grasp he had on his anger fraying.

“We were all in the house, hanging out in the basement, arguing over what movie to watch,” Brock easily lied. “The four of us.”

“Well, that’s interesting,” Zmei hissed. “We have several eyewitnesses who place the shifter in town stalking the halfling.”

“I don’t know who they saw,” Brock said calmly. “He was here with us.”

“You know what I think?” The detective put his hands on his waist, tucking his thumbs into his belt. “I think you three don’t want to admit to being nothing more than this loner vampire’s blood whores. I think you are covering for the shifter to hide your shameful secrets.”

Fuck. This. Guy.

Cal took a big step into the detective’s space, hovering over the cop.

“Oh shit,” Brock said under his breath as he pulled me back a step.

“You might not know who I am.” Cal’s voice was almost casual, somehow making him more intimidating. “But you know what I am. You can feel my power, and you know exactly where you stand. That little golden star on your chest does not change a damn thing. Neither does that cross above it. Learn your place, or it will be taught to you by force. If you have questions in an official capacity, ask them. You will not insult either of my friends again. Is that clear?”

The blood in the detective’s face drained, but he said nothing. His jaw clenched as he stared up into Cal’s eyes and eventually looked down at the ground. Whatever that vampire standoff dick-measuring contest had been, Cal had won. He stepped back and took his place at my side, his hand returning to my back.

“Is it true that the victim was here earlier in the day?” the detective asked, looking straight at me, his tone more professional.

“It is.”

“And she was here to visit one of your… lodgers?”

“No, she was here to help my brother figure out what gifts he has, if any.”

“And what gifts does the little abomination have?” Zmei asked.

Brock bristled beside me. I could feel his emotions prickling the skin on the back of my neck. That was unusual, but I ignored the so-called leader of this new Temple organization.

“And what time did she leave?”

“Around four p.m. I think,” I said.

“And the shifter followed her out?”

“No,” Brock answered. “When Amelia left, Malik and I were in the forest making sure there was no one there that shouldn’t be there. As you know, we’ve had a problem with vandals lately.”

“Did you see the victim walk to her car?” the detective asked.

“No,” I answered. “After I closed the door, the phone rang, and I went to answer it.”

“Where is the shifter now?”

“With my younger brother, like I said, he went to pick him up from a playdate. Look, I feel like we’ve been over everything. What are you trying to get at?”

“Get at?” The detective looked me up and down, disgust still curling on his lips. Cal let out a low warning growl, and immediately, the detective’s face snapped back into a mask of professional detachment. “What I’m trying to figure out is why you would let the suspect of a halfling murder be alone with your little halfling brother.”

“Malik did not commit that murder. He was with us in the basement trying to figure out what movie to watch when Amelia’s body was thrown onto the porch,” Brock answered. “All four of us being home together was in our original statements. He volunteered to walk Leif home since Temple members have been harassing the child.”

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