Adrian met Newton’s gaze.The edgy look in his eyes betrayed the calm he tried to convey.
He took a step closer.
Newton extended his hand, offering him the box filled with sugar glass treats.“You want one?”
A predatory stillness descended on Adrian’s body.He tilted his head and studied his prey.“Why did you do it?”
“Do what?”It genuinely sounded like he didn’t know, but Adrian would not be so easily fooled.
“Don’t pretend ignorance, Newton.I know you murdered those women.”
“A harsh accusation, Croft.”Anger began to pull at Newton’s expression.“I should call you out for the insult.”
“Come now.”Adrian stalked toward him and snatched the box from his hand before tossing the thing aside.It clattered against the pavement, the contents flying in every direction.Teeth bared in a smile he hoped would strike terror, he leaned in.“We both know you’d take more pleasure in killing an innocent woman than you would me.”
A slight pull at the edge of Newton’s mouth proved the remark struck a nerve.“Everyone knows why the killer targeted them.They weren’t innocent, Croft.”
“I beg to differ,” Adrian snarled.“My sister was virtuous and pure, the very embodiment of goodness.”
Newton’s jaw tightened.His breaths deepened.Irritation flickered within his cool gaze.“A tragic loss that had nothing to do with me.”
“Stop.Lying.”God help him, he’d rip the man’s tongue out if he didn’t start confessing.
“I’m not.You’re casting blame on someone who doesn’t deserve it.Just like you did with Lundquist.”
Adrian didn’t believe it.He wanted to smash Newton’s skull against the ground, beat him until he begged for his life, and then slit him open so slowly he’d have time to feel death creeping in.
A fantasy he knew he couldn’t afford if he wished to avoid getting messy.He’d have to resort to other means.But not before Newton admitted his guilt.
“You’re wrong.”A slow whisper, so confident it forced a brief look of unease to fill Newton’s gaze.Adrian smirked.“I know you’re the man I was chasing.There is no one else.The street is empty, besides which I managed to glimpse you in detail when you passed beneath the streetlight earlier.It took a moment for it to register, but there’s no denying it now.You’re dressed exactly the same.”
A laugh of disbelief.“Brown jacket with trousers to match?I’m sure I’m dressed the same as half the men in London.”
“Your clothes and hair are also messier than usual.As would be the case if you’ve been running.”
“Or leaping out of the way of two men.”
Fair point, but not enough to dissuade Adrian from his increasing certainty.
Additional steps brought them closer.Newton moved as though to retreat but Adrian caught him by the arm.He leaned in, drew a deep breath, and acknowledged the lingering hint of smoked wood combined with the acrid smell of rotten eggs.It was faint, so much so he’d initially missed it due to the sweet scent from the sugar glass.
Straightening, Adrian dropped his hand and prepared to attack if need be.“You’re right.Everything I’ve mentioned so far is hardly enough to stand as proof.Combined with the stench on your person, however, it’s fairly solid.You’ve recently fired a pistol, Mr.Newton, or will you deny that as well?”
Newton dipped his chin, shoved his hands in his pockets and shrugged.A snort followed.When he looked back up, a malicious grin was pasted upon his face.“Bravo.You finally figured it out.”
Adrian held himself perfectly still.If he moved, he’d tear Newton to pieces right here.“You realize I plan to avenge my sister.”
Not a hint of remorse showed in Newton’s expression, even as he said, “I’ll admit I may have made a slight error where she was concerned.”
It took every ounce of control Adrian possessed not to murder Newton where he stood.But no, he had to resist.If only for a while longer.
“But the rest of those women,” Newton continued, “were nothing more than manipulative liars taking advantage of unsuspecting men.Someone had to put an end to their wicked deceptions.I merely did what was necessary.”
“By murdering them?”Adrian curled his fingers into a fist.
“By making sure no other man would fall prey to the sort of woman Miss Fairchild turned out to be.Like so many others, she played the innocent debutante, but she was a whore in disguise – a despicable creature and a disgrace to her–”
Adrian’s fist landed squarely against Newton’s jaw, replacing his words with the cracking of bone.His head snapped back, knees buckling as he crumpled into a messy sprawl.
