Opening the door, I try to hide the panic coursing through me.
“Can I help you?” It’s the same detective who showed up here the night Ben was found dead.
He flashes his badge like he did the first time. “Detective Sullivan. I had a few follow-up questions I needed to ask you if you have a moment.”
“Um…okay.” Before I can even think about how to handle this he starts walking inside, forcing me to take a few steps back. He shuts the door and we’re standing just a few feet apart in the foyer. He’s too close. This feels wrong.
“I need to ask you about a man who has spent a significant amount of time here. His name is Frank West.”
I take a step back. “Why are you asking me about him?”
“I had a chance to go over all the information the officers who served the warrant on Friday night collected. The event taking place in the backyard was a birthday party for him thrown by your housemate, correct?”
I nod.
“Do you know Mr. West well?”
I don’t like where this is going. “Detective, I’m not sure if I’m the one you need to be speaking with about Frank.”
He takes a step forward, closing the distance between us once again. “Miss Price, it will be so much easier for you to answer my questions now than if I have to take you down to the station.”
I know a threat when I hear one. This isn’t right. Whatever is happening right now isn’t right.
“I don’t really know him.”
His eyes squint. “So you’re unaware he is employed by Silas Everett?”
There is no faking the shock at hearing this. We weren’t sure who sent Frank here. “No! I…no. I told you I don’t really know him.”
His mouth twists. “But you do know Silas Everett, then? By your reaction, it’s clear that name means something to you.”
Shit. I need this to end. Right now. And there’s only one way I know to do that. “I want a lawyer.”
He laughs. Actually laughs at me. “No. We’re not doing that.”
My mouth hangs open. “You can’t tell me no.”
He takes another step forward. “I can tell you anything I want.” He reaches for me so quickly I can’t react. He twists my arm until it’s behind my back and pulls me in close. His mouth is close to my ear. “Listen and listen good. Seems like we’ve all been looking for the same thing and something tells me you got it or at least know where it is.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Tears are running down my face.
“Your boyfriend, Deacon, just randomly showed up at a dead man’s house in Corbeau, I guess? A lot of people were eager to get a look inside an empty gun safe there. And then there’s Frank West, who has beenhere for months but now he shows up back in Corbeau, which makes me think his job here is done.”
I struggle in his grip but don’t say anything.
“Camille Bayliss is currently in the hospital. Did you know that?”
I try to shake my head but he’s holding me to him so tightly I can barely move.
His mouth gets so close that I can feel his lips on the edge of my ear. “And Silas is having a little trouble locating his wife, from what I understand. So my guess is, he’s finally seen the video and there was some blowup. Bet you didn’t know that little blond bitch was the one who killed your parents.”
My knees go weak and I almost fall to the ground, but the detective’s other arm wraps around me. “How do you know that?” Is he just saying this to screw with me? Get me to admit to something? Or was Margaret really the one driving Paul’s truck?
He ignores my question. “You’ve got one minute to tell me what I need to know or I will make sure you go down for Ben Bayliss’s murder. And I’ll bring all your roommates down with you.”
Panic spreads through every part of me. But also anger.
I’m pissed. So freaking pissed off! “Seems like you already tried that. Too bad those cops didn’t find the knife you planted.”
