Page 119 of Provocation
I run my hands through my hair as I turn away from the driver and go back to where Daisy is standing. The car is just pulling up.
'Message Sandy and Dom to stay away,’ I say. ‘The others, too. Don't go there either. The cops will come to us soon enough. Where were you tonight?'
'Me and Mav both haven't left the KIP house since this morning. The cameras have us and a bunch of the guys have seen us here.'
'Good,' I say, 'and Daisy and I have been at the gala. Before that, we were at the house too. They won't be able to pin this on us. We’re coming back now.'
I hang up the phone. Everything in me tells me that I need to get Daisy somewhere safe and we can’t risk the club. I’ll bet the cops are crawling all over it.
The truth is, the KIP House is all we have right now. For all we know, the stalker is still watching all the cameras, but we have nowhere else.
Chapter Ten
DAISY
It's a few days before the cops come to see me. When they finally do, I'm at Grinder working my shift with Janet. I haven’t been to the club since the day of the gala. The guys haven’t thought it safe to go there since that detective was killed right outside by the person who’s fixated on me. They barely let me out of their sights. In fact, the only time one of them doesn’t have eyes on me is when I’m in the coffee shop and I have strict instructions not to leave, which I try not to bristle over every time I’m reminded that I’ve lost even more of my hard-won autonomy because of this murdering psycho.
At first, I don't know who the woman is, giving her a friendly smile as she comes up to the red Formica counter.
'What would you like?' I ask.
She flashes me a badge. 'A few minutes of your time.'
I blink and then glance around. 'Well, it's not too busy. We could chat now.’
'That would be great.’ Her eyes on me are hard. They bore into mine.
‘Would you like anything to drink?' I ask.
I try to keep my eyes on hers so that she doesn't think I'm being shifty. But it's really difficult.
'No, thanks,' she finally says, turning around and sitting at one of the tables.
I go around the counter, messaging Shade quickly, because, although I have nothing to hide if questioned about Detective Black's death, the fact that this woman has authority over me makes me antsy and nervous, which is the last thing I want to be exuding when I'm talking to a detective. Plus, they told me not to speak with Black without a lawyer.
I sit down at the table slowly, my heart racing as I try to think of what I should say. Will I get into trouble if I don’t talk to her? Will she arrest me?
'You've come about Detective Black's death,' I say, deciding to be open and honest…to a point.
She sits back and regards me stonily. 'Where were you that afternoon? That night?'
'I was at the Forrests’ gala with my stepfather and stepbrother, the Novelles.'
She opens her mouth to speak again when a shadow falls over us, and I look up to see Shade. That was fast.
I let out a small, relieved breath.
'Detective Anders,' Shade says.
'Jack Novelle,’ she replies coolly.
‘Is there any particular reason you're harassing my stepsister?'
'I’m hardly harassing her, Jack. We're just having a quiet conversation,' she says, putting her hands on the table, her fingers interlocked as she gazes at him.
'We were both at the Forrests' gala. Our friends Eric Blake and Maverick Shaw were at the Kappa Iota Pi house. There are many witnesses, as well as video evidence that can corroborate that. Now, I meant what I said on the phone. We'll help you any way we can, and we'll give you whatever you need, Detective, once you have a warrant.'
The detective stands. 'I'll have it soon enough.'
