Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 121578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 608(@200wpm)___ 486(@250wpm)___ 405(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 608(@200wpm)___ 486(@250wpm)___ 405(@300wpm)
“I don’t know,” I whisper. “They look like cops.”
He leans down, staring at the screen. “Fuck.”
In a matter of seconds, his entire demeanor shifts. My relaxed, cocky biker trying to cop a feel—gone. Replaced by this protective, watchful, dangerous man.
He rests his hands on my upper arms. “All right. Relax. You’re fine.” He glances at the screen again. “Are those the same cops from last time?”
“No.” I shake my head.
“Good. Do you want me to answer the door?”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” I shake my head. “Do you?”
He runs his hand through his hair, clearly torn between wanting to protect me and wanting to keep our relationship away from the police.
“I’ll be right in here. Bring them into the parlor so I can overhear the conversation.” He pauses. “This time if they ask if anyone’s here, just say yes, your boyfriend. My bike’s right out front. They’re going to figure it out eventually.”
“Okay.” I nod quickly.
The doorbell chimes again.
“Go,” he urges.
I hurry to the front door and slowly open it a fraction. Two men in dark blazers stand on the porch. “Hello? Can I help you?”
“Are you Margot Cedarwood?”
My stomach tightens.
“Yes. How can I help you?” I stare at the two men. One older with cartoonishly bushy eyebrows, making him look like a runaway from the Muppets. The other one’s younger and more polished—his eyebrows impeccably waxed and shaped. What an interesting duo.
The younger one—smooth brows—flashes a badge at me. “Investigator Thomas with the Empire Police Department.”
I unclench about fifty percent. The other officers were from Slater County. I haven’t killed anyone in Empire, have I?
“…My partner,” Mr. Thomas finishes. I missed the name of his partner. Damn.
“How can I help you?” I ask, opening the door wider.
“Do you know a Daniel Muldoon?” the smooth-browed detective asks.
Annoyance immediately twists in my chest. “Unfortunately.”
Shoot, why’d I have to say it like that? What if Daniel’s dead or something? I’ll be their number one suspect.
Creaking over the floorboards behind me draws my attention. I glance over my shoulder.
Did Jigsaw kill Daniel after I explicitly asked him not to?
The older cop raises his bushy eyebrows. “You were romantically involved?”
“Yes,” I answer more respectfully this time. “Engaged, actually.”
“Who ended it?” Thomas asks.
“I did.” I frown. “Why are you asking me about Daniel?”
The younger cop tilts his head, peering past me into the foyer. “Can we come in?”
Refusing will make me look suspicious.
“I suppose.” I open the door wider and step back. “Let’s talk in here.”
I lead them into the parlor. They settle onto the couch, while I perch on the edge of a chair, my posture deliberate—poised, alert, in control. Like I might have to jump up and attend to business any moment now.
The smooth-browed detective leans back, crossing one ankle over his knee. “Can you tell us more about your relationship with Mr. Muldoon?”
“I already told you. We were engaged. I broke it off. There is no current relationship.”
The older detective nods, tapping a thick finger against his knee. “But you arranged his grandmother’s funeral here, correct?”
“Yes.” My voice tightens. “Well, he called my father to arrange it, but I ended up handling most of the preparations for Mrs. O’Leary.”
“How would you describe their relationship?”
A chill slides over my skin, sweeping away my annoyance. I sit up straighter and clasp my hands in my lap. “From what I remember, it was…cordial. Mrs. O’Leary was a very nice woman. Daniel was…respectful…”
“Respectful?” Thomas asks. “Not affectionate?”
I snort and look away. “Daniel’s not an affectionate person.”
“Is that why you broke up?” the older detective presses.
I stare him dead in the eyes. “Has something happened to Daniel?”
The older man’s eyes widen. “No. No. He’s fine.”
I blow out a breath. I may hate Daniel, but I don’t wish death on him, and I certainly don’t want the cops thinking I murdered him. “So, what is this about?”
“Why did you break up?” he asks again.
I smooth my hands over the arms of the chair, the soft, worn velvet grounding me. “We weren’t compatible. He was very… critical of me. And I grew tired of it.”
“Was he abusive?” Muppet-Brows asks.
I hesitate, choosing my words carefully. “Not physically, no. But he could be vicious with his words. I didn’t want to stick around and find out if the behavior would escalate to physical violence one day.”
Thomas studies me, his expression carefully blank.
Muppet-Brows nods approvingly. “Smart woman.”
I dip my chin in response.
“How about a Mrs. Penny? Do you know her?”
I stiffen, my pulse stuttering. “We recently handled her funeral. Why?”
The older detective nods. “Daniel attended the service, correct?”
Unfortunately.
My mouth moves before my brain catches up. “Yes.”
The older cop leans in, crowding his partner. “Did you speak to him?”
“Yes.”
“About what?”
I grit my teeth, remembering the awful conversation. Then bite my cheek to stop from grinning when I remember Jigsaw and Rooster scaring the crap out of Daniel. “Normal catching up stuff at first. But then he wanted to talk about getting back together.”