Page 115 of Family Affair
“Right-o.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“My advice to you is to answer all my questions truthfully. If you lie, we’ll find you out. That’s what we do. And then where would you be?”
A shiver of uncertainty passed down her spine before she squished it. Willis was bluffing.
She focused on him, taking in his long narrow nose, the lines on his forehead, the dark circles under his eyes that hinted at sleepless nights and long work hours, and perhaps at overindulgence in caffeine.
Detective Willis was a man with a mission.
He was going to press and squeeze and twist her until she broke down and confessed whatever he wanted her to confess.
Not bloody likely, Agent Squish.
“I would be where I belong: at home. I have nothing to hide. If you think differently, prove it.”
“Did you come to talk to Williamson about the Pollock drawing?”
“No.”
“Did Cade steal it from him?”
“No.”
“Did you plan to sell it for money?”
“No.”
Willis flopped back in his chair with a small laugh. “Giving me a run for my money?”
Coco didn’t deign to respond.
“Come on, Ms. Coco.” He dropped his voice a notch. “You don’t have it in you to live the criminal life. You’re too refined to handle the ugliness of it. You’ve never been treated like dirt in your entire life. The stress of it will do you in.”
He got up and came closer. Leaning a little, he continued in a persuasive voice, “I know you've never dealt with police before, been arrested, or searched. Not so much as a speeding ticket, right?”
Coco shook her head mutely.
“See? We never go hard on people like you. Everyone makes mistakes now and then.”
He gave her a conspiratory smile. Up close and relaxed, he was actually pretty. Behind that stern expression he had nice features and the thickly lashed eyes of a heartthrob. Funny, how she never noticed. He lifted his shield now. Why? To convince her that he was on her side?
Her apprehension skyrocketed.
Willis kept talking, “I imagine having a man like Cade wrapped around your finger can be very… alluring.” He looked at her earnestly, willing her to agree with what he was saying. “He’s strong, experienced, a man’s man. He’d do anything for you. And of course, you’d do anything forhim.”
Coco stirred. If Willis thought he could hold her spellbound, he could think again. He didn’t have what Cade got in that department.
“You misunderstand our relationship, but no matter. I’ll share with you what I recently learned from Cade.” He leaned closer, and she whispered, “Two magic words: Fuck and You.”
Willis straightened as if she slapped him and the look of utter astonishment crossed his face. “You just insulted a law enforcement officer.”
She didn’t care. “Did I.”
“I can add that to your charges.” He was bluffing again, and ineffectively.
“There are no charges against me.”
