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Good question. Why am I sticking my neck out for Wick? As far as I know, he is responsible.

Better that the cops think he’s the one who did it than⁠—

“One more question,” Officer King says. “For now, at least.”

“Shoot,” I say.

She looks me up and down, her eyes narrowed. “Can you tell us why you were wearing a pair of tennis shoes this morning that belonged to the deceased?”

20

AUS

I don’t like this.

Not one fucking bit.

A cop can’t drop a word like “homicide” in connection to a line of questioning and then just leave it at that. Just take Thea into another room.

Hopefully she stayed silent.

They can’t detain her.

I get up out of my seat, waylay one of the waitstaff. “Where’s the study?”

The waiter blinks. “What, sir?”

“The study. My girlfriend… She said she was going to check out the study. Where is it?”

“If she’s talking about the room where our manager works, it’s out the ballroom and across from the kitchens,” the waiter says, “but I don’t think you’re supposed to⁠—”

I don’t give a fuck what I’m supposed to do or not. I leave the ballroom, navigate down a few hallways toward the kitchens, and find a room with a large mahogany door across from them. This must be it.

I put my ear against the door.

Damn it. No sound.

Probably why the cops chose this place to talk to Thea.

What could have possibly happened? And why is Thea connected to it?

I’ve only known her for twenty-four hours or so, but Thea is not a cold-blooded killer.

At least… I don’t think she is.

Maybe I should call a lawyer. I know a few who are friends of friends. I pull out my phone.

Shit!

I never turned it back on after I shut it down when Thea and I were at the Golden Cap. That was nearly nine hours ago. I’m not glued to my phone like some people, but I usually check it a few times an hour. But I was so distracted by Thea that I didn’t even think to look at it.

I boot it up, and…shit!

Seventeen missed calls and a slew of texts from Leo. Several from Scarlet as well.

I look through them.

WHERE ARE YOU?