“Like what?”
Autumn closed her eyes and a sound of amusement fell from her lips, though it didn’t meet her eyes. “A woman came to my apartment a few days ago who told the sitter she was my cousin.”
Nico blinked back at her, “That’s a bad thing?”
“I don’t have any cousins. My father was an only child.”
“So that would mean the woman lied, and she is…?”
“My sister.”
There was no inflection to her tone. Nothing passed across Autumn’s face, “Your sister coming to see you is a bad thing.”
“Scarlett hates my guts,” Autumn said in a hushed tone. She brought her own laced fingers to her face. “There would be no reason to visit me unless she wanted something from me.”
“You haven’t heard from her?”
Autumn’s eyes met his. “Not in a decade. And this supposed visit only means one thing.”
“And that is…”
“She stole my key to the room at Cat Tails.”
Nico remembered the radio station he listened to on his way to Autumn’s apartment. “They found Anastasia Moretti in your private room. Wait, you have a private room at Cat Tails?”
She averted her gaze from him and answered the first question. “And she signed in under my name.”
Nico chose his words carefully before he spoke. “She looks that much like you to say she was you? Are you twins?”
“My family’s genetics are extremely close. We look very much alike. Our eye color, hair and height are the only differences if someone isn’t paying attention.”
“You’re saying she framed you for this murder?”
Autumn nodded. “Except, I was at the police station the night before so, I have an airtight alibi. I was nowhere near Cat Tails when the murder took place.”
“Cameras in the place?” Nico rubbed the back of his neck. “There is no way a woman could murder a woman like Anastasia.”
“I have to call in a favor since I was taken off the case.” Her eyes narrowed, “You know Anastasia Moretti?”
Nico chuckled and flashed her a smile. “A daughter of one of the Big Three, Agent Taylor. Cyrus Moretti’s daughter.”
Autumn’s face paled.
It surprised Nico she didn’t do her homework. “You didn’t know?”
“I didn’t think the murderer would focus on an organized crime affiliation.” Autumn stood and paced to the window then back.
“I can’t figure out why someone would do this, but maybe we can get answers tonight.”
One of Autumn’s eyebrows twitched, “What are you talking about?”
“Before your life turned into the shitshow it is,” Nico drawled, “I made an appointment with Blue Navarro for tonight.”
“Your little plan to get information about Catarina’s death.” Autumn narrowed her eyes. “Why exactly do you need me? You already know so much.”
Nico blinked at her. True, he didn’t exactly need her, but the woman needed to take her mind off of her job. Nico didn’t want this woman to be by herself.
There was something fragile about her, which she hid too well. That toughness was a façade. He saw through it when she fought him to get into her burning apartment for that rabid feline.
