Page 71 of Eternal Surrender

I caressed my forehead, trying to ease the building tension.

“Looks like I’ve hit a nerve,” she said.

“More like a dead-end.”

She rested her drink on the countertop, spilling the liquid over the rim. “What do you do?”

“I’m an art dealer.” I made it sound convincing.

“That’s how you know Jadeon?”

“Pretty much.”

“Where did you meet him?”

“We move in the same circles.” I gave a shrug.

“Is William Rolfe your real name?”

“Of course, why?”

“You don’t show up in my database.”

“You didn’t show up in mine.” I winked.

“I’m serious.”

“My name is actually quite common.” I shifted my stance. “Ingrid, am I under investigation now?”

“No one gets ruled out,” she said, “until proven innocent.”

“There are those of us who abhor any wrongdoing.”

“You’re referring to the murder of the innocent?”

“I’m trying to convince you that the threat is over,” I said simply.

“You admit to having knowledge of these murdered girls?”

“All I can say is. . . you’re safe.”

“Not good enough.”

I didn’t react.

“Two nights ago, an entire gang went missing,” she said. “Last seen hanging out around Tottenham Court Road.” She folded her arms. “Know anything about that?”

“Maybe they moved to the country. City life can be stifling.”

She continued, unfazed. “Witnesses heard screams coming from where the gang was last observed.”

I glanced toward the living room. “Where was James? Did you check out his whereabouts?”

“William,” she chastised.

“Seriously.” I grinned. “He has Jack the Ripper written all over him.”

Ingrid almost smiled. “More like one of your crowd took a dislike to them.”