Page 39 of The Watcher's Bride

“He smoked marijuana on occasion, but I wasn’t under the impression that he had a problem. If he did heavier drugs. Iwas unaware. I didn’t think he had much of a social life outside of work.”

“What makes you say that?” Detective Simon asks curiously.

“He seemed lonely. He didn’t mention any friends, and when we talked about what we’d done on our days off, he never had much to say.”

“Did Mr. Thomas ever make any unwanted or inappropriate sexual advances toward you?” Detective Brookes asks, catching me off guard.

“Um, what makes you say that?” I reply, flustered.

“Please, just answer the question, Miss Adams,” Detective Simon says calmly with a gentle encouraging smile.

“Like I said, I got the impression he was interested in me and he asked me out, but I always said no.”

“Yet you let him walk you home that night.”

“I had no reason to feel unsafe with him,” I reply tersely.

“And he didn’t make any advances toward you once you got home?”

“Nothing that I couldn’t handle. I politely but firmly made it clear I wasn’t interested. Why are you asking me this?”

The men share a look before Detective Brookes speaks. “We found some illegal substances during our search of Mr. Thomas’s home, roofies, to be specific, and there were some allegations of sexual assault made against him while he was in college.”

“I had no idea,” I reply, shocked.

I feel sick. I don’t know why I’m surprised that Mike was accused of sexual assault or was in possession of a date rape drug, after all, he attacked me. But somehow it hadn’t occurred to me that he might have done it before, that I was in any real danger from him, or that it wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment thing. My genuine shock is enough to convince the detectives I’m not hiding anything as they don’t push the matter further.

“Is there anything else you would like to share with us that you think might be useful to us in our investigation?” Detective Brookes asks.

“No, sorry. Do you have any suspects?” I can’t resist asking.

“We’re still exploring every avenue, but we’re currently operating under the assumption this was perhaps a drug deal gone wrong or a gang-affiliated attack. Did Mike ever mention the names Tony, T-dawg, or Danky to you?”

“No, never. Who are they?”

“They’re aliases for the same man. We believe Mike purchased marijuana and other substances from him. He’s wanted for questioning.”

“I can’t believe Mike had this hidden dark side. He always seemed so nice and normal. A bit of a loner, but not someone who was mixed up in illegal activities,” I say, voicing my thoughts out loud.

“Everyone has secrets. The truth has a way of coming out eventually,” Detective Brookes says sagely.

Thankfully, Mike’s secrets have led the police in the wrong direction, away from his true killer and the secrets I’m hiding.

“Thank you for your time, Miss Adams, that will be all for now. If you think of anything else that might be useful for us to know, anything at all, please don’t hesitate to give us a call,” Detective Brookes says, handing me a card.

“I will, thank you,” I reply, taking it.

He gives me a fatherly smile that suggests he’s thinking I had a lucky escape from Mike. That he was the most dangerous one out of the two of us. I might have had a narrow escape from Mike’s dark intentions, but with my dark guardian angel looking out for me, I’m not the prey everyone thinks I am.

Chapter 23

Nora

Perhaps it’s wrong of me, but with the new knowledge I’ve learned about Mike from the police, I feel less guilty about his murder. If my watcher had left him alive, would he have come back for me? Were those drugs intended for me? If I’d invited Mike in for a drink like I told the police, would he have attempted to roofie me? If I’d been unconscious, Max wouldn’t have heard me scream and run in to rescue me.

But my watcher would have. He was watching, ready to protect me and do what was necessary to ensure Mike didn’t harm me or anyone else ever again.

I’m anxious to see him again. Why hasn’t he come back since the night he killed one of my father’s men? Does he think I’m afraid of him? That I’d report him to the police? Or has something happened to him? If my father has got to him, he could be dead already. The thought makes my blood run cold. He’s become such a feature in my life, my silent protector, the thought of him not being there anymore fills me with the same dread that his presence once did.

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