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“No, he’s not,” she said, folding her arms.
“You don’t—”
“Hear her out,” Lachlan said. “She’s worked with this guy. If we can get insight into his character—”
“She doesn’t know this guy,” Wanstead sneered. “What? Because she banged out a few words on the Manzanis, she’s some kind of expert? Ire’s the one for this. I know it.”
“He’s not,” she said, maintaining her calm.
“And how do you figure—”
“Because he wasn’t anywhere near my grandfather at the time he died.”
“Oh, yeah? Think you’ve got it all figured out. No way you can know—”
“I’m his alibi.” The men silenced to finally pay attention. “Connel didn’t kill my grandfather because I was with him Monday night. All Monday night.”
Lachlan was processing, she could tell he was stunned, but she kept her focus on Wanstead in the middle. She couldn’t apologize and grovel. This moment had to be about strength.
“He said he was in bed alone.”
“He lied,” she said. “I was in that bed with him.”
FOURTEEN
IF THERE HAD BEEN any doubt before, she’d just eliminated it. No, she wasn’t watching him work or beat on people. She’d been in the bed he’d claimed to occupy alone.
“Why would he lie?” Thurrock asked. “Why not just tell us that?”
“Because no one was supposed to know about us. It’s supposed to be a secret. We were a secret.” She anticipated his next question. “Because I’m the superintendent’s daughter.”
“Then why tell us now?” Thurrock asked.
“I don’t want an innocent man punished for this crime. I want to get the true perpetrator.”
“And if he’s your secret boyfriend, how do we know you’re telling us the truth?”
Now her attention swung to her frowning brother. “Because I was the phantom behind the curtain. That buzz you heard was my phone. It was Tulip saying we’d talk the next day.”
“A text,” Lachlan murmured.
“And because I heard you answer the call to Henry while you were there.” Something they hadn’t discussed. “And because…” she took the shoe from the top of her purse and tossed it to Lachlan, “I’m missing one of my diamonds.” His gaze shot to her, full of shock and realization. She winced. “I’m sorry. I am.”
“You heard our conversation?”
“Yes. I heard you ask to look around while he said it was okay providing you had a warrant. Heard you ask if he cared about our family when he watched me be attacked for his.”
“Shit,” Lachlan exhaled. “She’s telling the truth.”
“We can only accept her version if he corroborates it.”
“Where is he?” she asked. “I’ll talk to him.”
Thurrock scoffed. “No can do. We can’t trust you won’t give contraband or a signal.”
“I’m the superintendent’s daughter.”
“And sleeping with one of the most dangerous men in the city, apparently,” Wanstead said. “Give us a minute.”
