Page 102 of Kill Your Darlings

Olivares raised an eyebrow.“And you’re…another writer?”

“No.I’m an editor.Several of my authors are here this weekend.”

“Right,” he said, flipping a page.“Keiran Chandler.Senior editor.Millbrook House.You’re staying in the Grand Bay Suite?”

That was a timely reminder that detectives often asked questions they already knew the answer to.

“Yes.”

Another nod.“Did you have any disputes or disagreements with Mr.Colby?”

I gave a short laugh.“Disagreements?I’m sure I did.He was a writer.”

Olivares smiled faintly.“I meant anything more serious.”

“Not from my perspective.”

His brows shot up.“That’s an interesting comment.”

It was, wasn’t it?What the fuck was the matter with me?

“I’ve bumped into several authors this weekend who, it turns out, took offense at comments I made during evaluations or because I turned down a manuscript.Those decisions are part of my job.It’s not personal to me, but, understandably, it is to writers.”

He smiled, displaying perfect teeth.“I can see that.You rejected Mr.Colby’s manuscript?”

“If thatisMr.Colby, his wouldn’t be the only manuscript I turned down this weekend.”

“Do you know if Mr.Colby had run-ins with anyone this weekend?Did he have any enemies?”

“Wasn’t it an accident?”

Olivares shrugged.“Just covering all the bases.At the moment, it’s a suspicious death.Would you say he had enemies?”

I hesitated again.“I can’t answer that.I just don’t know.”

Olivares studied me for a long beat.“Okay.We’ll follow up later for a formal statement, but I appreciate your cooperation this morning.”

I nodded.I was abruptly out of words.

He clicked his pen and gave me another of those polite, unreadable smiles.“You might want to have a hot drink.Lie down for a few minutes.It’s normal to be shocked.”

“Yes.”

“Different from books, right?”His tone was wryly humorous.

I nodded.There were no words for how different it was.

“You’re not planning to leave town?”

“I— No.The conference ends tomorrow.I’m having a cocktail party for some of my authors tomorrow night.I can postpone my flight for however long is necessary.”

“We appreciate that.”He nodded in dismissal.

That was not the part where I caught a break.That happened as I was leaving the Horizon Deck.

Finn, who had been waiting over to the side, made his way over to Olivares and quietly introduced himself as a retired San Clemente homicide detective.That was all I was able to hear, but as I went through the security gate, I heard Olivares exclaim, “Finn Scott!No kidding.Man, Iloveyour books!”

It was about forty-five minutes before Finn returned to our room.

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