Page 38 of The Devil's Embrace

“We didn’t get a full report on you,” he said. “You aren’t a suspect.”

“You don’t think I’m capable of sawing people’s heads off?” the director joked.

“I didn’t say that.” Cal ate his cookie and then confessed, “I don’t really know enough about you to say whether you are or aren’t capable of that sort of thing.”

“Sort of thing?”

“Committing a crime of that magnitude.”

“Murder.” Titus wiped his mouth with a napkin and leaned back in his chair, fingers strumming on the tabletop next to his half-finished sandwich. “It’s definitely a messy affair. I’m a bit of a neat freak. A bit…particular, one might put it.”

That unsettling feeling in his gut was starting to return, only Calix no longer thought it was due to hunger. His skin prickled, and he felt the hairs on the back of his neck begin to rise, but he couldn’t pull his eyes off the director, almost as though instinct kept his gaze on the other man.

On the potential threat? Why? His reaction made little sense, but Cal wasn’t about to ignore it.

“I heard most of Aodhan’s department went on that trip to Vitality,” he kept his tone casual. “Did you happen to go with them?”

“It was Aodhan’s brother’s wedding,” Titus told him. “I got an invitation, and I attended, yes.” He tipped his head. “Why do you ask, Detective?”

“Just wondering if you happened to notice anything strange while you were there.”

“I believe I already answered questions along those lines the other day, or did your Inspector not share his notes?”

Troya had mentioned he’d gotten the creeps from Titus, but like an idiot, Cal was only now recalling that detail. Was this what he’d meant? Nothing had changed, they were still sitting in the cafeteria, hardly alone even though there wasn’t anyone near enough to risk being listened in on, and yet Calix couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off…

Wrong.

“Are you feeling all right?” Titus asked. “Your demeanor has changed. Is it the food? Did something not agree with you?” He lifted the top piece of bread off of his own sandwich, inspecting the ingredients. “It looks fresh, so that shouldn’t be it.”

As the director spoke, the anxiousness he’d felt slipped away, slowly at first, noticeably. By the time Titus had pieced his sandwich back together, the feeling was gone altogether.

What the hell?

“What’s going on?” Aodhan walked up to their table, hands stuffed into the front pockets of a white lab coat. He was clearly displeased, his lips pursed into a thin line as he practically glared at the man seated across from Cal.

Titus crossed his legs and rested his folded hands in his lap. “Doctor, have you finished with Mrs. Grayson already? Record time.”

“What are you doing?”

Calix glanced between the two of them, sensing the hostility. Guess they really didn’t get along after all. He stood and reached out, placing a hand on Aodhan’s arm. “I’m here for you, actually. There are some things we need to discuss.”

His multi-slate rang then, interrupting their conversation. Amory’s name flashed across the screen, and he popped out the earbud attachment and put it into his left ear before accepting the call.

“Hey, I think you should get down to the corner of Prix and Dash,” her voice came through, the sound of sirens whirring in the background. “There’s been a murder but…Look, just come, okay?”

“I’m at the hospital,” Calix said. “I can be there in ten.”

“Pull into the back of the diner,” she instructed.

“Got it.” He turned to the others as soon as Amory hung up. “I have to go. Thanks for lunch, Director. Doctor—”

“We’ll talk later,” Aodhan offered.

“Thanks.”

Calix only glanced back once before leaving the cafeteria, frowning when he saw Aodhan had taken his seat across from Titus.

The annoyed expression remained on the doctor’s face, yet the director appeared unfazed. If anything, he seemed…intrigued.

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