“No… I don’t know.”
“The night Ariella went missing. Did you stay with him after the police arrived, or did you get separated as well?”
“Um, no… I mean, yes. We stuck together for a bit but decided to go home when we couldn’t find her.”
“So he could’ve doubled back to kill Ariella?”
“What?” Ondine’s entire body shook. “No! He loved her. He wouldn’t kill her.”
“He loved her, yet he hooked up with you before we learned she was dead,” Olivia said. “Unless he already knew.”
“No, that’s impossible,” Ondine said, but her expression told them it was very much possible.
“We think Erik was using Ariella, and now you, to gain access to college parties so he could stalk his victims,” Bel said. “We wonder if that’s why he dates students despite his age, and we worry Ariella saw him kidnapping his next victim that night. That’s why he killed her.”
“No,” Ondine insisted. “No, he wouldn’t have. He loved her.”
“Like he loves you?” Olivia asked. “Tell me, Ondine. Who pursued whom? You already told us he was relentless in his courtship of Ariella. Was he the same with you? Did he pursue you?”
“We liked each other.”
“Did he pursue you?” Bel repeated.
“Yes,” Ondine whispered. “I like Erik. I thought he was hot, but I would never betray my friend. But she was gone, and I was sad, so he came over. I just wanted support, but one thing led to another. I only meant for him to be a shoulder to cry on, but a hug turned into him kissing me, and before I realized what wewere doing, he was taking my clothes off. He and Ariella never had sex. She might have been willing to keep Erik a secret, but she shared her parents’ beliefs. She didn’t want to sleep with him until they were married or at least engaged. It felt wrong because Ariella never got to experience that with him, but I lost myself. I needed the comfort, so I didn’t say no, but I wasn’t in the right frame of mind. I enjoyed it at the moment, but when we were done, I felt so guilty and couldn’t stop crying. He told me it was okay, that there was nothing to be ashamed of. That we were sharing grief and love. It was weird at first, but I like how special he makes me feel, and how sophisticated an older man is…” she paused as if verbalizing her story made her realize just how manipulative her new boyfriend was. “So, yeah… He made the first move. If he hadn’t slept with me, I probably wouldn’t have dated my best friend’s boyfriend, even if I liked him.”
“I don’t like it,but Erik’s behavior isn’t illegal,” Griffin said. The day was on her deathbed, and the detectives had gathered in their boss’ office to update him on their suspicions and lack of concrete evidence. “He might be a creep, but that isn’t grounds for an arrest. The mermaid killer was disciplined and an artist. Is some overgrown man-child hanging around colleges the organized menace we’re looking for? He would’ve been a teenager when the killings started.”
“His first kills were wrapped in chicken wire,” Bel said. “They were simple and potentially sloppy. A nineteen-year-old could wrap girls in metal and sink them if he was determined enough.”
“That’s true.” Griffin folded his arms across his chest as he leaned back in his seat. “But we still don’t have anything concrete. Thum identified some of the mermaids, correct?”
“She did.”
“Great. I want you two to visit the friends and families of the victims who are within driving distance tomorrow. See if they ever crossed paths with Erik Prince. If we find enough connections between him and the mermaids, the judge should grant us a warrant for Eric’s phone records or residence.”
“Fingers crossed, but do you mind driving?” Olivia addressed her question to Bel. “I still don’t know where my car went, and I don’t want to take advantage of Eamon’s generosity with the rental.”
“You still haven’t figured out how it disappeared from your driveway?” Griffin asked.
“Nope. Some detective I am.”
“Maybe Eamon can help you locate it,” Bel said.
“What can I help you locate?” a dangerous voice asked, the tone so deep the air itself rattled around them.
“Olivia’s car.” Bel started to answer, but her brain forgot what words were the moment her eyes landed on his towering frame cloaked in his all-black suit. It fit his muscular form like a glove, and she felt like a cartoon character with its jaw dropping to the floor.
“My damaged car disappeared from my driveway, and I can’t find it,” Olivia finished the explanation for Bel and her restarting brain.
“Isobel told me it vanished.” Eamon set a massive paper bag on the desk, using its width to hide the way his hand ran up Bel’s thigh to cup her ass from her boss, but by the smirk on Griffin’s face, his attempt at secrecy was pointless. The blush on her cheeks was as pink as a teenage girl getting asked out by her crush. “I can look into it, but don’t worry. I’ll pay for your rental as long as you need.”
“You don’t have to,” Olivia protested.
“Shhh.” Eamon waved a dismissive hand before digging the contents out of the bag. “I had dinner with a client, so I got my girl some food.” He piled takeout containers onto the desk, and Bel didn’t miss the way Olivia stared longingly at the idea of a proper meal.
“Thank you.” Bel rubbed his back, loving how the fabric of his suit hugged every curve of muscle rippling through his torso. “We did smoothies for lunch, so I’m starving… but not that starving. How much did you get me?”
“I always over-order, you know that… not that one.” He snatched the smallest container from Bel’s hand and shoved it into the bag with a kiss to her temple. “That one’s for a lonely little boy.” He paused against her skin, noticing Olivia’s longing as he mentioned Cerberus’ leftovers. “I got you food too,” he told her.
