Page 47 of Tempt the Dragon
“You can start by telling me everything you know about Aiken French and his partner. I wasn’t able to get her name, but they showed up at the Gionni crime scene talking about how they were investigating their security system.Then you can tell me about Riya Merriwell and why she needed guarding.” This guy didn’t even try to hide the fact that he didn’t believe what Aiken had told him. Luckily, it didn’t matter what he believed.
“Aiken French is one of my senior agents and Natalia’s apothecary has been a client of ours for many years. Aiken was there on official business, just as you say he informed you.”
Posner’sbrow furrowed as he sat back and pulled out a notepad and pen. “Yeah, that’s what he said. But what I’m trying to figure out is why an SUV, the same color and model as the one I saw Aiken French and his partner climb into the other day, was also reported as being at the scene of the other three murders. All sightings were before enforcers had been notified of the deaths. Now, I’m wonderingif Riya Merriwell had seen one of those vehicles and reported it to us. You found out she was a liability and sent your men after her.”
“But my employees, three very good men whom I trusted and respected, with families to care for, were also killed. If what you say is true, how do you explain that?” His words were crisp and spoken evenly, while inside he raged at the audacity of the vampiresto make this war just a little bit more personal for him and his clan.
Posner didn’t ruffle. “If you have alibis for your staff, now would be the time to provide them.” Flipping open the pad and holding the pen in his hand, Posner looked up expectantly.
“What color and model SUV are you referring to?” The company owned eight SUVs, identical in make, model, color and enhancements whichwere designed by Isla and assembled by a wolf shifter that lived outside the city limits. He doubted seriously any of the vehicles that were at the crime scenes belonged to the company, but he’d humor the detective a little longer. At least long enough to find out what had happened to Riya Merriwell and his employees.
“Black Tundras. Witnesses report seeing one leaving the apothecary fifteenminutes before we arrived,” the detective answered.
“Natalia Gionni’s apothecary? That’s the one where the alarm was tripped when you and your team entered the building?”
Posner clenched his jaw and tapped his pen to the pad before responding. “That’s what your guy said happened. We got a call from someone saying they’d heard screams. When we arrived to investigate we found the body.”
“You always go out on random calls? Aren’t you a detective? I’d think you weren’t called in until it was known there was a dead body on the scene.”
Posner was fishing for information, they both knew it. The question was which one of them would walk away from this meeting knowing more than they had before they’d started?
“How our department works is none of your concern. I’m here toask the questions and you’re going to supply the answers.”
“Am I under arrest? Are my agents under arrest?” No answer. “Right. Then, let’s get something straight, if you have something you want to say to me about my agents, then just spit it out. Don’t come in here acting like this is all routine because we both know it’s not.”
Posner flipped the notepad closed. “Fine.” He stuffed it andthe pen back into his pocket and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Your guy and that woman he was with didn’t have to be there. In fact, they shouldn’t have been there, because at that point only enforcers knew about the incident. The media hadn’t picked it up and nobody on site used their phones to make any calls to any outside sources. So how did they know to show up? And howdid Riya Merriwell end up dead when your men were supposedly there to watch her?”
“We have the best security systems,” Steele interjected. “Our monitoring is twenty-four-seven. The moment that alarm went off we knew, and an agent was dispatched to the scene. We don’t have to wait for the enforcers to invite us to the party.”
Looking over his shoulder, Posner frowned at Steele. “So a deadwoman is a party to you guys?”
“What is she to you, Detective?” Bringing the conversation back to him, it was Theo’s turn to lean forward and glare at the guy. “What are you doing about three, no, I’m sorry did you just say there were another four murders in this city? Now, your incompetence has also cost the lives of my employees, a fact I take very personally. But you dare to come questionthe only other entity in Burgess that provides security, and most times, does a better job than the enforcers.”
Posner jumped up then, obviously pissed off by Theo’s words. “I want alibis for Aiken French and his partner. I want you to provide tag information on any and all vehicles you own matching the description I just gave you. And if you don’t, I’ll be back with a warrant to search yourproperty and to arrest your agent.”
Aiken must’ve really pissed this guy off. If Theo wasn’t livid about his employees being killed, he might’ve laughed. Aiken had a calm, cool, sarcastic nature that could get under someone’s skin pretty quickly. Posner looked as if he was ready to blow his top if Theo didn’t hand Aiken to him on a silver platter.
He pulled a drawer open, selecting a businesscard before he closed the drawer and stood. “Give my lawyer a call for whatever information you want.” He passed Posner the card. The guy looked at it for a few muted seconds before snatching it out of his hand. “And the next time you want to talk to anyone who works for Legion Security, you can ask my lawyer as well. In the meantime, I’d like you to get the hell out of my building.”
“You’renot untouchable,” Posner said, jamming the card into his jacket pocket. “You may be rich, but I’ve tangled with your kind before. I know you had something to do with the murders. In fact, I’ve got a witness meeting me at the precinct who saw Mr. French and his partner running from a house in the financial district that caught fire night before last. As soon as I get her statement in writing, I’mcoming back to arrest him and you for obstruction of justice.”
His reply was a curt nod. “All the contact information you’ll need is on that card. Good night, Detective.”
Steele and Magnum stepped forward to assist the detective if he wasn’t able to leave on his own. This was his private property and the detective had no probable cause to be here. Besides that legal jargon, Theo didn’tlike the bastard, so he wasn’t opposed to the Eze brothers picking him up and tossing his ass out onto the sidewalk.
Posner turned and stared at the brothers before walking out the door.
“I’ll see him to the elevator,” Steele said and walked out behind him.
After his nod of consent, Magnum came closer to the desk.
“They killed the Fratelli brothers, and those guys have worked herefor years. Now this guy says he’s got a witness who saw Aiken and Mel leaving Montoy’s house?” The sharp tone of Mag’s voice clearly showed how pissed off he was.
Theo’s feelings at this moment couldn’t be contained to mere words. “He could be bluffing about the witness. But we haven’t had a chance to talk to both Aiken and Mel about everything that happened that night, so let’s go do thatnow. If he’s sniffing around us he’s got a pretty strong reason and we need to be prepared. As for the Fratelli brothers, have Bleu contact the families. We cover every expense they have as a result of this. I mean it, Mag. Funerals, burials, their kids’ college expenses, everything!”
Mag nodded. “No doubt,” was the Drakon’s solemn reply.
Theo had already begun shutting down everythingon his desk, thinking that it may have been a mistake to allow Aiken and Mel some time to regroup after the Montoy meeting and subsequent vampire takedown.
He’d been in Aiken’s place before, fighting a process that stole every weapon he was used to using to defend himself, because ultimately there was no way to fight the Selection. Especially not in the instance of two Drakon. He wonderedhow the hell they’d managed to go eighty years apart without dying of the physical torture. Aiken was a pro at compartmentalizing. He’d been on point with his job and more than a cordial member of their clan—he was their family. And yet, there was so much none of them really knew about him, because he’d hid it so well. Now, however, it was probably time for everyone to put all their cards on the table.
Because if there was one thing Theo was not going to take sitting down, it was the fuckin’ Royal Blood killing his employees, especially the human ones. If they wanted to take this war to the next level, he was here for it, so those bastards had better be prepared.
