Page 34 of Evil Eyed
I didn’t really want him to touch my watercolor painting, but I lifted it up so he could see it. His eyes narrowed, a muscle ticking in his jaw. “There was a cave-in that day.”
“Oh?”
“An officer was guarding the cave to keep bystanders out. He took a blow to the head. I don’t suppose you know anything about that?”
“No.”
“Did you see the officer?”
“I don’t recall.”
“Were there other people there too?”
“Yes.”
“These men, correct?” He offered another picture. It must have been taken before we’d arrived. Several of the Demon Hunters motorcycle gang stood around the cave, sawed off shotguns and other weapons in hand. A man stood in the mouth of the cave, but he was blurred. I couldn’t see his face. But the way he stood, defiant and somehow angry even without seeing his eyes or mouth, reminded me of Aidan.
“Do you know these men?”
“No.” Truth. I didn’t know any of the other motorcycle guys by name other than Hammer, and I couldn’t be sure that the man entering the cave was Aidan.
“Did one of them injure the officer?”
“I have no idea.”
He shuffled through the papers, spreading them out and crumpling the edges a little. His face reddened and sweat trailed down his forehead. “Short?”
The younger detective jerked his attention from Vivi. “Yeah?”
“Do you have any questions for Ms. Newkirk?”
“Oh. Yeah. Why’d you kill him?”
“Don’t answer that,” Boss Man retorted. “Just because you’re incompetent doesn’t mean that you can bully my client with baseless claims.”
Ignoring him, Detective Short stepped closer to the table and leaned down to brace both palms on the table. He gave me the same knowing, smarmy grin that he’d flashed at Vivi before and licked his lips.
Ice trickled down my spine. I’d never had a man look at me like that. Like I was nothing more than a piece of meat. Something to claim, use, and then discard in the nearest Dumpster. I suddenly felt bad for being jealous of all the looks Vivi always got when we went out. I hadn’t realized how disgusting it felt when men acted like this.
“Come on now, Ms. Newark. We know you did it.”
I held myself very still, keeping my hands clasped in front of me. I didn’t answer. I was afraid my voice would betray my repugnance.
:Definitely dark fae,:Doran warned.:Trust your instincts, love. Ivarr is only a minute away from you. He’ll rip off that bastard’s head before he can touch you.:
:I’m okay.:I said it for myself as much as them.:He hasn’t tried to hurt me. Yet.:
“Did one of yourfriendskill Mr. Blake for you?” Detective Short continued, leaning out further over the table toward me. “Or did you do it yourself?”
“What evidence do you have that Mr. Blake is even dead?” Boss Man asked. “There’s no body. There’s certainly no motive for my client to commit such a crime. She didn’t know that he left Solobrex to her in his will. Until you produce anything beyond circumstantial evidence against my client, she has nothing else to say to you.”
Dread weighed heavier in the pit of my stomach. I hadn’t had the chance to tell Mr. Archer anything about Jonathan’s will, let alone the company he’d supposedly left to me. It was possible that Vivi had told Boss Man over the phone, but I couldn’t be sure.
Though his words gave me an idea.
The police would have a difficult time charging me with murder without a body. But if Jonathan was seen alive… Or someone whoappearedto be him…
I pictured Warwick in my mind: the long, silken fall of black hair, the sparkle of his emerald eyes, his playful wink and the graceful way he moved.:I wish that Warwick Greenshanks could walk into this police station using a glamor to look exactly like my ex-husband, Jonathan Blake, right before I sent him to the swamp.:
