AllFreeNovel
Share Us
/>
“Understood,” McDonald said and stood. “Thank you for coming down.”
He flashed me a brief smile that said nothing. I stood as well and buttoned my jacket, then offered my arm to Lara, who stood beside me, glowering at Mahood. They were playing good cop-bad cop, and Mahood seemed to like to play the bad cop.
I knew it was a tactic used to get cooperation with suspects, but it still grated.
Once we were outside, Lara practically exploded. “I could strangle that Mahood. She was so damn rude.”
“She’s playing a role,” I said and let out a long breath I’d been holding without knowing it. “You know, the old good cop-bad cop routine.”
“I know that more than anyone,” she said and sat in the passenger seat after I opened the door for her. “It still gets me.”
“Me, too,” I said and went around to the driver’s side. I slipped into my seat and closed the door, heaving a sigh of relief now that the interview was over. “Let’s go get that drink.”
“Absofuckinglutely,” Lara said. It was uncharacteristic of her to swear so I could tell she was angry.
We drove in silence for a moment, and then she turned to me.
“I’m sorry all this is happening to you. There’s no way you should still be a person of interest in Kate’s case. That paperweight means nothing, although I admit that it does look suspicious. You were never at Derek’s cabin, so your DNA won’t be there at all – unless that bitch Lisa gathered hair from your chair and took it out there to plant. There’s absolutely no evidence you were involved in any way with Derek’s murder. You shouldn’t be hauled down to the precinct office to be interviewed like this. It’s only because of your BDSM history. Cops don’t understand.”
“I know,” I said and squeezed her arm. “I had to be prepared for something like this when I became involved. We all do.”
“Still, they should do their damn jobs and clear you.”
“They will,” I said, trying to sound more positive than I felt. McDonald had to know I was innocent, and that I was not involved with Derek’s death. They had to know. They couldn’t tell me yet who they were going to arrest and so kept us all in suspense. “It’ll all work out fine. You wait and see. This time next week, we’ll hear back from McDonald that they arrested someone in the Richardson case and that I’m cleared of any suspicion in Kate’s attack.”
“You’re right. I’m frustrated that the wheels of justice don’t move more quickly.”
We drove to a little pub we both liked off Madison Avenue, and went into the darkened interior. An old Irish Pub, with dark wood paneling and burnished brass fixtures, it was a throwback to something you might see during the heyday of the Irish Mafia.
We sat at the bar side by side and when the bartender came over, white bar cloth in hand, Lara ordered for us.
“Two Irish whiskeys, best you have, neat.”
“Will Powers John’s Lane do?” the bartender asked.
“Hit us,” Lara said and removed her jacket, slinging it over the back of her stool. “Then give me another.”
The bartender poured us two shots, and we downed them together. I enjoyed the warmth as the whiskey burned down my throat. So, Lisa had tried to frame me for Derek's murder?
I had a feeling it was going to be a long night.
Chapter 20 - Kate
Drake had more than a little hangover the next day. When I got up with the sunlight, he grimaced and turned over onto his stomach, pulling the pillow over his head.
“Oh, God,” he groaned. “That’s way too bright at this time of the morning.”
I laughed softly and pulled the drapes closed more tightly. I usually liked waking up to the light, but given Drake’s condition when he came home close to nine the previous night, I decided to close them in pity.
“I’ll bring you some more aspirin.”
“Bring me another brain,” he said, his voice muffled under the pillow. “Preferably one that no longer drinks Irish whiskey.”
“No way,” I said and rubbed his back with affection. “I like the current brain. It needs to unwind now and then – especially when it thinks it’s a murder suspect. And drink vodka instead of Irish whiskey.”
He reached out and groped around the bed, looking for me. I took his hand and he squeezed.
