Page 19 of She Gives Love a Bad Name

Milly nods. “Five-five. Green eyes. Curly, dark brown hair.”

My jaw clenches. “Slender? Curvy?”

“Curvy.” She nods emphatically.

Son of a bitch.It’s Quinn. I’ll bet my last paycheck the missing maid is the bedraggled kitten I bandaged up last night. Oh, she’s gonna catch hell when I get home.

I thank the women for their time and ensure them we’ll get to the bottom of this murder.

Once we’re back in the hallway, Mickey nudges me. “What’s up? You’re wearing that look again.”

“What look?” I growl.

“Yourdon’t fuck with melook.”

“Listen, there’s something I gotta look into. Finish up here, then check with the missing maid’s roommates. Call me if you find anything.”

“Richards, what the hell is going on?” he calls after me, but I’m already at the door.

“Later,” I tell him and slip outside.

The commute back to my apartment does nothing to calm the rage simmering inside me. When I get home, I’m a volcano ready to erupt.

Then I see Claude on the couch with Quinn.

Her easy smile directed toward my brother vanishes when she catches sight of me. Claude spins around and rises slowly.

“Glad you’re home. I have to open the bar in twenty minutes.” He waves to Quinn, who flashes a warm smile in his direction.

“Thanks for keeping me company, Claude.”

“Any time, Quinn.” Claude leaves without another word. Smart man. He knows my moods, just like I know his. And he knows I have something on my mind that doesn’t include him.

“So what? You and my brother are friends now?”

“Well, you did leave him here to babysit me.” She scowls.

I rub my hand across my face and unclench my jaw.This woman.My hands fist at my sides. “Do you want to tell me what the fuck is going on?”

“What do you mean?” Those luminous eyes go wide, but I know it’s not innocence.

“There was a murder last night.”

“What does that have to do with me?” She carries her glass to the sink, effectively turning her back on me and the conversation.

I grab her wrist and spin her to face me. “Don’t bullshit me, Quinn. Tell me how you got those stab wounds.”

She doesn’t fight me, but she doesn’t go limp either. Quinn holds her ground. I’m not sure whether she’s gutsy or stupid. I can’t bring myself to give a shit. I need to know the truth. Now.

Her eyes glass over as if lost in thought. She pinches them closed and exhales a deep breath before opening them again. “This murder? Was it on Riverside Drive?”

I nod.

“Fuck.” She bites her lower lip. “Okay, look. I wasn’t involved in this shit. I don’t know who it was, or what the hell was going on—”

“Did you see the murderer?”

Quinn swallows hard. “I saw him kill the old man.”

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