How does he know all this?
“As for the fact that you’re a suspect, that’s easily remedied.”
“What does that mean?”
He just takes a sip of his drink.
Would he come out and confess? I don’t ask because I know the answer. He’ll never confess to these crimes. Not to anyone but me.
Why?
“And Gregory Martin? Why did he have to die?”
“There were many reasons Martin deserved death. But he also served the same purpose as Joseph Daniels.”
“What’s that?”
He leans in. “It got your attention.”
My heartbeat booms like a bomb exploding in my chest. “If you wanted to get my attention, there are better ways.” I’m about to say send flowers but stop. The sprig of jasmine in my purse. The vase in my townhouse. That was him.
He’s watching me patiently. He knows I’m putting the pieces together. My face is heated under his scrutiny. And yet, all I want to do is step closer to him.
Gods, I’m in so deep. “Have you ever heard of subtlety?”
“I have. But I refuse to entertain it. Not when your safety is at stake. I sent a message to the thugs of this city. Stay away from what’s mine.”
“I’m not yours.”
He just smiles.
“I shouldn’t even be here.” I step back, and he catches my wrist.
“There’s nothing to fear, little bird.” I just know my pulse is wild under his palm. I stare up at him, panting like I’ve been running.
He strokes my skin, and I close my eyes.
“It’ll be so easy. Just give into me.”
One simple touch and he’s found a crack in my barrier. Maybe that’s why my voice is slight and desperate when I whisper, “I can’t.”
“You can, little bird.” His voice deepens. “I’ll help you.”
“No.” I wrench away from him and am halfway to the door before I realize he hasn’t moved.
He’s let me go.
“Then you’ll have to hunt me the old-fashioned way.” He’s back to looking like a bored billionaire, swirling the ice in his drink. “But it doesn’t have to be so hard. Imagine what you could do with a little bit more information. A few leads pointing you in the right direction.”
He’s right. As a detective, I solve crimes from the barest details. Each case is a fractured puzzle that’s missing most of its pieces, with only my instincts to fill in the gaps.
A few straight answers and I could have him in cuffs. . .
He sees me tempted, weighing the cost. There’s triumph in his voice as he says, “Just give yourself to me for a little while, and I’ll tell you whatever you wish to know.”
The floor under my feet shifts, and my stubbornness swirls away. I am trapped here, not by him, but by my own dedication to my crusade.
“No. I’m not playing a game.”
