Page 63 of Veiled Justice
‘Pigdog,’ a sulky voice squawked.
‘Loki? What are you doing here?’
‘He flew here and rapped rather insistently on the window with his beak,’ Krieg said, amused.
‘What’s up, bud?’ I asked the bird. ‘Why didn’t you stay at home?’
‘Dark. Hungry.’
I winced as guilt shot through me. ‘Sorry, buddy. I’ll get you a new lamp, one you can switch on yourself.’ I looked at Krieg. ‘Can you rustle up some food for Loki? He likes cooked meat.’
He nodded. ‘I’ll sort out the bird, you shower.’
‘Thanks,’ I said gratefully.
I took the clothes off the bed and carted them into a white marble en-suite that was bigger than my entire living space. I stripped off, fully conscious of the fact that there was no lock on the door.
As I stepped into Krieg’s shower, his scent swirled around me. God, he smelled so good. I turned on the hot water and let it blastme and, after a moment’s hesitation, picked up his body wash. I guessed that today I was going to smell like Krieg, too. I blew out a breath and tried not to imagine him lathering up his body like I was doing to mine right now.
Celibate for 660 days. I rested my forehead against the cold glass. I really needed to get a grip. Preferably on a willing cock. I groaned. I didn’t usually have such a hard time focusing; this was all Krieg’s fault, with his hot glances and flirty comments. He was screwing up my concentration and I couldn’t afford that right now. I needed to focus on the job at hand.
Arrest the killers, get a confession, exonerate my brother before my twenty-four hours were up.
Easy.
Chapter 35
Krieg held the car door open for me and I slid in. I was almost getting used to the door-opening thing. Loki fluttered onto his spot. ‘Where to?’ the ogre asked.
‘The police station. Or to my home where I can pick up my car? You really don’t have to drive me,’ I started awkwardly.
‘I’m in until the end. I need to see justice for Helga. Einar was the tool, but he wasn’t the one who was ultimately responsible.’
I nodded. ‘Fine.’
My phone buzzed with a text from Kate.You won’t guess who the rich dead guy is! Magnus Carnforth. Louisa Carnforth’s father.
Please tell me cause of death was suspicious,I replied.
No stab wounds. No pinky finger missing … but I’m doing toxicology now. I’ll keep you posted.
You’re a saint!
I looked up from my phone. ‘Louisa’s father died last night.’
‘She got cocky.’
‘Damn right she did.’ I grinned and punched the dashboard. ‘This is going to be the nail in the coffin. I need to speak to the DCI. Can you keep quiet a moment? I’m not sure how thrilled he’d be if he knew I’d swapped Channing for you. You too, Loki.’
Loki drew a wing across his beak and it took me a beat to realise he was miming zipping it closed. Wise-ass avian.
Krieg grinned. ‘I’m more handsome than Channing.’
‘That’s not saying much. Channing is about twelve years old.’
‘He’s twenty-two.’ He shot me a sideways glance. ‘No denials about how handsome I am?’
I rolled my eyes. ‘Don’t fish for compliments, Krieg, because all you’ll get is tough old boots.’ He was drop-dead gorgeous and he knew it; the last thing his ego needed was further encouragement. For god’s sake, the Carnforths’ housekeeper, Hannah Belham, had fainted at the sight of him!
