Ella shrugs. “I have no idea. I was up working on the other destroyed file from Blythe Fairfax’s home. I figure showing Hendrix planting evidence is one thing, but if we can catch him actually committing the murder, all of this will go away. Well, that was before he died.” She frowned. “You didn’t kill him, did you?”
“Don’t answer that,” I say instantly, turning into his lawyer.
Amusement dances across his face. “I didn’t kill him.”
It sounds like he’s telling the truth, but he’s also trying to consolidate power as a mob boss, so I’m not entirely sure I believe him.
More pounding echoes on the door. “Open the door. We’re coming in.”
“Just a moment,” I call out. “All right, let’s go.”
He walks calmly around the table, his heat instantly engulfing me. “We have things to discuss, Peaflower.”
“I’m sure we do. There are more important matters to attend to right now,” I say smartly, looking down at my skirt and wrinkled blouse. I don’t have time to change. “How did they know you were here?”
Alexei shrugs.
Wally brings up a computer feed over in the far corner. “I have security all around this place. If we’re being watched, I didn’t know it. My guess is they traced the phone records. You’ve been in and out of here, Alexei.”
“It doesn’t matter how they know.” Alexei glances over his shoulder at Garik. “Take advantage of this matter, will you? You have access to the funds, and you know what I need.”
“Are you sure about this?” Garik frowns. “We can go out the back if you want.”
Alexei rolls up his white shirt sleeves. “No, this is what I want—it’s actually the perfect opportunity.” He nods at me. “All right, attorney, let’s see how good you are.” There’s a mild undercurrent to his voice I don’t like, but I don’t really blame him.
“What are you two talking about?” I ask. That is some kind of bro code. What matter? What does he need? “Alexei?”
“This doesn’t concern you,” he says quietly.
We move toward the door, and I open it to see the full SWAT team. “He’s coming out and we’re going in voluntarily,” I say.
“He’s coming with us.” Detective Battlement moves toward Alexei, who calmly turns and allows himself to be a handcuffed. “We have solid evidence.”
“Oh, yeah?” I say. “Last time you had evidence, it was planted. Nobody trusts you right now.”
Detective Battlement blushes. “I’m aware of that, but this needs to happen.”
I look at a very calm Alexei. “Don’t say anything until I get there.”
The detective reads Alexei his rights and then leads him down the long sidewalk to the road with all of the SWAT team following.
I shut the door and take a deep breath.
Wally turns from the stove. “We can set up somebody else if you want.”
I don’t want to ask. “You have experience in that kind of thing?”
He nods. “Yeah. I was a grifter most of my life, and I have pretty good connections.”
A grifter? Seriously? The man makes sure I count out his rent every month to ensure he’s paid me enough. I look at Percy. “And you worked for the mob?”
He nods. Wally was with MI6. Doc’s definitely a doctor. That leaves two of my boarders as mysteries. “Kenny?”
Kenny looks up from his pancakes, today dressed in a flannel shirt and overalls. The guy looks like a retired farmer. “I was a spy, and that’s all I’m saying.” He pours more syrup over his plate.
I can’t believe it. “Yardley?” I look at him. He’s the youngest, and his bald head gleams in the soft light. “You weren’t with a mob or an assassin or anything like that?”
“Nope,” Yardley says cheerfully. “I was a nuclear physicist.”
