“And how does a Valkyrie know where he was killed?” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he seemed to realize what he had said.
“Exactly. Valkyrie. Good with time of death. Especially for the warrior type. So I’m guessing Sven didn’t go down without a fight. Is there anyone who was connected to him? Anyone who could have felt his death? Seen or heard his attacker?”
He tipped his head and stared at the middle distance as if he were silently reciting a list. Maybe he had turned on the prime brain-to-brain phone line and was asking that question to the clan.
“Etta. They were close. She might have felt something. Do you want me to talk to her?”
“I’d like to talk to her.”
“I’ll call for her.”
“Don’t summon her on my account. I know where her house is.”
He already had his cell phone out of his pocket, his thumbs tapping over the screen. “I’m not summoning. Vampires don’tsummon.We text.”
He tucked the phone back in his pocket. “She’ll be right over.”
It was clear he didn’t want me talking to her unless he was present. “What are you worried I’ll do to her? You know I’ll be nice.”
“I’m not concerned about how well you’ll behave, Delaney. But Etta is not taking Sven’s death nearly as gracefully as I.”
“I can handle myself.”
“Good. Handle yourself here. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to address the business I left in my living room.”
He glided out the door and I followed behind him. “I thought you’d stay behind.”
“I thought you knew me better.”
He stopped so quickly, I almost ran into him.
“He dumped you, remember? There was a gun involved.”
“He didn’t shoot me and this isn’t about dating. It’s about you keeping your promise not to handle this murder investigation. It’s about your promise not to grill Ryder for answers. It’s about your promise to let me do my job, not lock me away in a room like I’m the fragile shell.”
“You really should come to my meditation classes. You carry all your stress in your...” he gave me a thorough up-down glance, “...everything.”
“Say, Mr. Rossi.” Ryder chose that moment to step out of the living room, meeting us in the hall. “I got a call and have a couple things I need to take care of. But I’ve...uh...drawn up the rough estimate for what we talked about. If you have any other questions, give me a ring. I always have my phone on me.”
Rossi took the paperwork Ryder offered in the very smart binder that had his business logo embossed on the front. “I’ll be sure to find you soon,” Rossi threatened.
“I’ll be by this afternoon.” Mr. Monroy obviously was going for friendly, but something about his hard brown eyes almost made it sound like a warning. “I think your business is ready to take off, Mr. Rossi, and I can guarantee you I’m the man who can offer you a myriad of possible plans to go forward.”
“This afternoon?” Rossi raised his eyebrow and gave him a sort of half-baked smile.
So he was playing the stoner hippy with the guy. Interesting.
“I’d love to. Sure man,” he said. “I have some stuff to take care of and a couple classes to ease my way through.”
That lazy attitude was like catnip to the other guy. His dark eyes got a little wider, pupils going big. “Tonight then?”
“I don’t think you need to barge in on his free time, Jake. Tomorrow should be fine after Mr. Rossi and I have had time to go over the quote.”
I heard the words Ryder was saying, but the tone was saying something different. It said that Jake had overstepped whatever deal they had between them and Ryder was pissed.
“Oh, I’m sure Mr. Rossi would let me know if I was being a bother. Plus, I have a feeling he’s a night person. Am I right?”
Yeah, and Jake’s tone was a big middle finger to whatever Ryder had been not-saying to him.
