Max called someone over from behind the front desk. “Can you show Mr Molhieth and Mr Calder to interview room one, please? We’ll be along shortly.”
While they were led off, Max took my arm and steered me towards our office. As soon as we were inside, he closed the door.
“What?” I asked, brow furrowing.
“I just wanted to make sure we’re both prepared before we go in there.” Max walked over to his desk and picked up the folder with all the case information in it. We had it all online, obviously, but taking it in there and showing them that we actually had information on Axel would set the tone for the interview.
“Will he ask for legal representation?” We hadn’t charged him with anything yet, but I would if I was in his position.
Max snorted. “What do you think Rys is doing here?”
I frowned. “Accompanying one of his pack?”
“Well technically, yes, although Axel isn’t officially a member of the Dark Forest Pack. But in this case, Rys is his legal representation.”
“Oh.”
I really didn’t know him at all anymore.
That cut deeper than it should. We’d only been together a few months, not years. Why did he still have such an effect on me?
“Ready?” Max asked, reaching for the door handle.
“Yep.”
Me and Rys in a confined space for the next few hours… What could possibly go wrong?
* * *
Rys slammedhis hand down onto the table, making me flinch. “We came in here voluntarily. Why does it sound like Axel’s one of your fucking suspects?” He all but snarled the words, lips curling back over teeth that looked a little too sharp to be human.
Professional, my arse.
I knew the paranormal police did things a little differently than their human counterpoints, but jeez, Rys looked about two seconds from jumping over the table and grabbing Max by the throat.
“Calm down.” Max, on the other hand, was as cool and collected as I’d ever seen him. He waited for Rys to settle back in his chair before continuing. “As I was saying, Mr Mason and I—” Rys rolled his eyes, then gave me a scathing look as though this was all my fault. “—reviewed footage from Midnight earlier today. Specifically from Saturday night.”
“I believe we already confirmed that Axel met Callum there,” Rys said. “That was the whole reason for us coming in to see you.”
Axel, for his part, sat there quietly, probably under strict instruction from Rys. He was a beautiful man, with typically high cheekbones that came with his fae heritage, along with his silver hair and bright blue eyes.
I glanced at Rys, at the way he sat close to Axel, shoulders almost brushing as though he needed the proximity. Were they together? Had they ever been?
Get a fucking grip, Mase. That is neither any of your business nor pertinent to the case. I realised I’d zoned out a bit when the conversation came to a halt and all eyes were on me.
Fuck.
I shot Max a desperate look, having no idea what I was supposed to be saying or doing.
“As I was just saying,” Max began, throwing me a what-the-fuck? glance. “We have evidence that Mr Molhieth met Callum Walker in Midnight on Saturday night and proceeded to spend most of the night at his side, either at the bar or on and around the dance floor. But there are numerous occasions when both of them are out of sight of the cameras. Did you have anything to add?” He gave me a pointed look and I finally got my head in the game.
“Did you arrange beforehand to meet up with Callum?”
Axel glanced at Rys, only speaking when Rys gave him a slight nod. “No. But then I’m in there most Saturdays, so he’d know where to find me. Most people do.”
“Do you see Callum in there a lot?” I asked, hoping that Max hadn’t already asked any of this.
Axel shrugged. “He’s been a regular for the last couple of months. So I’ve seen him a fair bit.”
