“Doesn’t matter now,” Connor said.“We don’t need to pin a murder on him—not after what he did tonight.”
“Yes, we do.I want this to go on his record.I want everyone to know what kind of man Henry Hightower was.He killed Marcus and pinned it on Lucian since he considered him competition.I want to clear Lucian’s name.”
“Is that why you and Henry were suddenly betrothed?”
“I had no evidence against him at the time, but he twisted my arm with his veiled threats.I bet if you talked to that kid Rowdy, you’d find out who really beat him up that night.All that poor baby did was bump into me.He doesn’t have to worry about slander or fearing for his life anymore.”
“Sounds like this wasn’t Henry’s first introduction to violence.Good riddance… the bastard.”
I switched off the interior light.“Looks like no sleep for me tonight.I’ll write up a report and collect the evidence for our records in case his Creator disputes anything.”
“Good thinking.”
“Keep your schedule open, Connor.Don’t forget you’re the one officiating our mating ceremony.”
He chuckled.“Don’t worry about that, lass.I’ve been looking forward to it.Expect the cleaners in the morning.If I hear anything new, I’ll ring you.”
“Thanks.”
“Bye now.”
After exiting the car, I went back inside and heard laughter.As I entered the living room, I caught sight of Lucian and my father playing checkers in the back.“What are you two talking about?”
Lucian gave me a sexy grin over his shoulder.“Shoes.”
My father cackled.
“Is that so?”I reached the table and held out my hand.“Look what I found in his car.”
Lucian’s brows gathered when he picked up the false teeth.
I gestured to them.“I bet if that body was still around, these teeth would fit it perfectly.”
“Maybe.It depends on the condition of the body.By now it would be decomposing and dehydrated.Enough that it might affect how the teeth line up.It’s possible his DNA’s stuck between the teeth in places you can’t wash.”Lucian set them on the table.“Makes total sense.Only a psychopath carries teeth in his car.”
My father finished his move and sat back.“So that was Henry—the one you thought I’d be thrilled about you mating?”
“The one and only.”
“Humph.A man like that only cares about himself.The only thing he knew how to do right was tie a knot.”
“The cleaners are coming in the morning.That’s going to push back the move to the afternoon.Is that okay?”
He shrugged.
Lucian collected two checkers.“I can take Afram to the house while you deal with the cleaners.Or the other way around.”
“But you’d have to drive all the way over here, and it’s already late.”
He shook his head and smiled.“I’m staying here tonight, female.”
“We only have one bed, and you’re not joining us.Three’s a crowd.”
“That’s right,” my dad tacked on.
Lucian studied the board.“Not a problem.I’m an insomniac, so I’ll sit up and read while you two get some shut-eye.After breakfast, I’ll drive him to the house and get him settled while you handle the investigation.When they finish up, I’ll come back and we’ll clean the house.”
Still shaken by tonight’s events, I stood behind Lucian and massaged his stiff shoulders.
