Page 89 of Midnight Secrets

Ozzie lowered his head and kissed me softly. I curled my fingers into his shirt, wishing he didn’t need to leave. I couldn’t help but hope Warren’s presence sparked something. I wanted Ozzie all to myself and without the threat of danger lurking overhead.

CHAPTER 30

Ozzie

“You ready to do this?”

I glanced up at Riggs as he poked his head in my door. “Uh, yeah.” Blinking to put the moisture back in my eyes, I logged out of my computer, leaving the search for the elusive sweatshirt logo up on my screen.

Pushing away from the desk, I grabbed a notepad and a pen and followed the chief down the hall to the room we used for interrogation.

“Are you sure you don’t want to do the interviewing?” I asked him, stopping in front of the door.

“I’m sure. You already have a rapport. But remember what we talked about. Watch the light and excuse yourself if it comes on.” He backed toward the door a few feet away. It led to the observation room.

I nodded. It was our signal that he had a question he wanted me to ask or information for me to use during questioning. It could also mean we’d strayed into territory where my feelings for Claire and our relationship could become a concern for the prosecution. I had to tread carefully.

Once Riggs entered the other room, I entered the code to unlock the door and walked in.

“When you called and asked me to come down to talk, I didn’t think you’d lock me in an interrogation room.”

Grace Alonso glared at me from her seat at the small table in the middle of the room.

I offered her my most disarming smile. “My apologies. It’s the only room with recording equipment.”

Her dark expression turned confused. “Recording equipment? For what?”

The metal chair legs grated across the floor as I pulled it out and sat down. “I just have a few more questions for you.”

“That you need on the record? I don’t know anything about Marie’s murder, Detective.”

Twirling the pen through my fingers, I paused, clicking it, then resumed the twirl as I studied her. “I think you know more than you say.” I put up a hand as she opened her mouth to protest. “You may not know you do.”

Her lips slammed shut.

“Tell me about Marie’s boyfriend.”

For the briefest of moments, her eyes widened.

Bingo.

“What boyfriend? She was married.” Schooling her expression, she folded her hands in her lap and sat back.

I cocked my head slightly. “She was, but we both know she wasn’t happy. And I have it on good authority she was having an affair. Tell me what you know about him.”

“Nothing. She never talked about a boyfriend.”

I arched a single eyebrow. “Never? You two were friends. Good friends. She never mentioned seeing anyone outside of her marriage?”

Grace shook her head. “No.” Her gaze shifted away.

She was lying, but why? Marie was dead. Why would she protect her friend now?

Unless she wasn’t protecting only Marie, but Marie’s lover as well.

“This isn’t the first time she cheated.”

With a quick glimpse, she looked at me, then away again. “Oh?”

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