Page 36 of Killer Knows Best

“We’re speaking to everyone who may have had contact with them,” I say, watching her carefully. “The guy who rented the hotel room they were killed in said he spoke to you.”

Karen’s eyes dart to the side, and her entire body shifts every which way. I can tell she’s trying to think on her feet. “They were just looking for a date,” she says, casually tossing her hair back. She’s quick, I’ll give her that. And ballsy. “And I have a keen eye for that kind of thing. I know who pairs well with whom.” She pauses long enough to bat her lashes at Jack. “It’s sort of my gift.I also know who’s going to have a good time with whom.” Her good grammar might go undetected, but the flirtation is as subtle as a sledgehammer.

Jack tenses next to me, but he doesn’t take the bait.

“So, you’re a matchmaker,” I say dryly. “Is that your line of work?”

“Sort of. I mostly sell journals, but the matchmaking—that’s just something I’m naturally good at. I didn’t hurt those girls. I swear, they were just there for fun. I blame Rush. He’s the fun one. He’s the one with the dark side, too—or at least his boys are entrenched in it.”

Rush Simmons, music manager extraordinaire, looks about as fun as a colonoscopy and all the aftereffects that come along with the prep work. I’m guessing the boys in the band have a little more life to them.

Jack crosses his arms and sighs. “What dark side are we talking about?”

Karen shrugs. “You know, the usual. They’ve always had a taste for the dangerous stuff. And Gwen, well, she was up for anything. But Delaney? That girl was your classic nerd. Practically had her nose in a library book the entire time I met her.” She laughs, a little too loud, her eyes skittering away with more than a hint of guilt. “I went to the library once to get a feel for her, and one of the witches she worked with practically chewed my head off for getting anywhere near her.”

“Oh?” I lean in. “What exactly did the witch say?”

Karen’s brow furrows as she struggles to recall. “Something about how people like me are ruining lives—playing with the devil’s fire.” She scoffs. “Dramatic, right? Whatever. They didn’t like me poking around.”

Jack exchanges a look with me. Playing with the devil’s fire. Now that’s a line we’ll remember.

And whoever said it knew more than they were letting on.

“All right, we’re wrapping this up,” Nikki says, stepping forward and flashing her badge. “Let me see your phone, Kiki. I’ll give you our number.”

Kiki hesitates, but she hands it over without much of a fight. Maybe because she called her Kiki instead of Karen or maybe because Nikki is so inherently likable.

Nikki taps a few buttons and offers a smile.

“Now you have our info,” Nikki says as she hands it back. “You call us if anything else comes to mind.”

We take off and I catch a glimpse of Karen bolting back into the house as if she were running for cover.

A breathy laugh escapes from Nikki. “We’ll know all there is to know about Kiki and her little empire soon enough. I just mirrored her phone.”

The corner of my mouth lifts as we walk away.

This just got interesting.

25

JEFFRA RIZOLLI

The alley stinks of urine and rotting trash.

It’s not the first night I’ve treaded this dark and dingy path, and it’s not the first night that this putrid smell will cling to my clothes no matter how hard I try to get it out.

The cold bites harder tonight than usual and it forces me to hug my thin jacket tighter around my body. Not that it does any good.

Denver has a way of reminding you it’s bigger than you, and far colder than your heart could ever hope to be. Although, as of late, my heart is giving it a good run for its money.

I rub my arms, trying to get heat in my bones that have long since forgotten what warmth feels like.

Another night. Another dollar. That’s all it ever is.

I take a moment to lean against the brick wall while I scan the street, waiting for the next guy who will take his turn. Maybe he’ll be quick. Maybe he’ll have something more than a few crumpled bills. Maybe tonight I’ll finally make enough to get what I need. To get rid of the shaking and quiet the beast clawing inside me.

Themonster.

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