“If you don’t know her, what did she want, and how did you both end up here?” Detective Roberts asks, confusion blanketing his face.
“She was upset that my husband and I are married.”
“And how do you know Ms. Karlsson, Mr. Larsson?” the detective asks.
“We fucked,” Florian says so calmly I can’t help but look at him.
“Nothing serious, I assume?”
“Not on my end,” Florian says. “I ended it with her when I got engaged to Arabelle.”
“I see.” Detective Roberts nods. “Mrs. Larsson, what happened next?”
Florian holds my hand tightly, and I respond with a smile. Is it weird that I find comfort in his presence even after he admitted that he killed her to protect me?
“She forced me outside and shot my bodyguard.”
“Why do you need a bodyguard?” Detective Reyes asks.
Despite his lack of familiarity with me, he is certainly aware of who Florian is. There’s no way he doesn’t know. I won’t answer questions they already know the answers to.
“My wife is one of the world’s most well-known ballerinas,” Florian answers. “Of course, she’ll always have protection around her.”
They seem to accept that answer, but I’m sure they will investigate to make sure he’s not lying about who I am.
“And then she brought you here?” Detective Reyes asks, seeming to accept Florian’s response.
“Yes, then she forced me onto the rooftop. Florian came and rescued me.”
“How did Ms. Karlsson end up falling off the building?”
“I lunged at her to get Arabelle away from her because she had a gun pointed at her head,” Florian says.
“And is that how you got the scratches on your hand and wrists, Mr. Larsson?”
Florian’s gaze moves to his hand, and so does mine. I didn’t see them earlier, and I’m not sure if he did, either.
“Those came from me trying to save her,” Florian says. “She was hanging on to the metal pipe fastened to the side of the building. When I tried to pull her up, she couldn’t hold on.”
“So, you’re trying to tell us that you tried to save the woman who had just kidnapped your wife?” Detective Reyes says with his brow arched.
“That’s exactly what I’m saying, Detective,” Florian responds, and both detectives look at each other in disbelief before turning their attention back to Florian. “Listen, gentlemen, I’ve known Adahlia a very long time. Since we were kids, actually. We grew up together in Sweden and reconnected once we both came to the States.”
“And you think your marriage drove her to do this despite your years of friendship? That seems a little excessive, don’t you think?”
“It was excessive, but it doesn’t change the fact that my marriage to Arabelle pushed Adahlia over the edge. We had a long sexual relationship. When I had events to attend, she was always my date, but I made it clear to her that it would never move beyond friendship. I think she went a little mad when she found out about my marriage. However, that doesn’t mean I wanted the woman dead.”
His words are so convincing, even I would have believed them if I didn’t know the truth.
Florian stands. “My wife has been through enough today. Now, if you have any more questions for my wife or me, please contact my attorney, and he’ll set up an appointment.”
Despite closing their notepads and standing, I can tell from their eyes they still have more questions they want answers to. But there’s nothing more I can tell them. I’ve shared everything I know with them.
Florian hands Detective Reyes a business card, then guides them to the door. As soon as I hear it shut, I exhale. I close my eyes, wishing it were any other day, but it’s not. I was held captive at gunpoint, witnessed a person being shot, and narrowly escaped getting shot myself. Is this how my life will be from now on?
“Beauty.”
My eyes open and meet a pair of steely gray eyes that seem to pierce straight into my soul.
