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He does not smile. “So you have no alibi.” It is not a question. He looks frustrated, worried even.
I glower at him. “You cannot really believe that I did it! You can investigate me all you like. It wasn’t me!”
He glowers back. “Tell me how you know Lynesse Jones.”
“I don’t know her!” I protest incredulously. “I never met her in my life. Leo said she knew Dr Carrington, but it was news to me. Is it true?”
“Yes. She was in Carrington’s employment at the time of his death.”
“You mean she was a succubus in his brothel,” I snarl, “And he was prostituting her for his own personal gain.” I am sickened by the memory of the repugnant Dr Carrington, a psychiatrist who had turned his patients into his personal harem and then pimped them out to rich clients. I had been next on his list.
Storm nods sympathetically.
“Did he pimp her out to Jared Everett?” I demand, feeling repulsed. It wouldn't be the first time a famous actor hired a succubus for his pleasure.
“It appears his feelings for her were genuine,” Storm says. “They started dating after Carrington’s death.”
“Some true love,” I mutter bitterly. “Maybe he’s a control freak like Dr Carrington and just wanted to own her. Out of the frying pan and into the fire.”
“Perhaps. I intend to find out in the course of this investigation.”
A feeling like grief and rage washes over me. That poor woman. She must’ve been so happy to escape Dr Carrington’s clutches. She had begun a new life, not wasted it like I had been. How could this have happened to her? She had been so terrified. Is that why she hadn’t fought back against her killer? I can’t understand it. I had seen what a succubus was capable of.
Over in the waiting room I can see redheaded Beatrice Grictor looking out at us. I realize with a jolt that I had left the door open, and Beatrice, undoubtedly curious about her business partner’s death, has been listening to every word we have been saying.
I lower my voice. “Can I help you?” I plead with Storm. “If we solve this case together you could put in a good word with me to the chief and he’ll give me my job back.”
He shakes his head. “You know I can’t do that. The chief would never have made that wager if he’d known your connection to the case. It took some persuading for me to convince him not to treat you like a suspect. Yet.”
That last word is a warning, but if it is meant to dampen the anger seething inside me, the desire to do something, anything, to make this right, it does not. “A connection,” I scoff. “We’ll see about that.”
“Diana, the best way for you to win back the chief’s approval is to do what he suggested. Train to become a registered Oracle. You would be the first Oracle ever to officially be on the Agency payroll. Do you know what a big deal that would be? Every department would be lining up for your help!”
“If it was so easy I would have done it by now. It takes years! And money I don’t have. And what about this case?”
“Leave this case to me. You have to stop interfering. You will only get in the way.”
I am hurt. “Interfering? Is that what you think of me? You need me!” I point to Beatrice Grictor. “Ask her. I told you Raif Silverstone was an incubus. I bet she’ll tell you that I’m right!”
Storm takes a deep breath as if trying to be patient. “If your alibi works out, I’ll let you off this time. But consider this a warning. I need you to back off. You were right about James Fenway too, and look what happened to him.”
Chapter 10
STORM
Storm leaves the morgue with Leo. In the car park he pauses outside Leo’s car. “Diana has no alibi,” he says. “Can you look into it?”
Leo hesitates. Locating security camera footage and trawling through hours of video is usually the sort of thankless task that falls to team juniors, in this case their new guy Monroe. They both know Monroe would just love to get out into the field, and it would be a valuable learning experience for him.
Leo nods and says, “Sure thing, boss.” He gets into his car and drives away.
Storm gets into his own car. He rolls his shoulders and stretches his neck. It doesn’t do much to ease his tension. He is lucky to have Leo. He knows he should have called Monroe, but
he didn’t want to risk the new guy messing things up. Leo is more likely to persevere until he finds the footage that will clear Diana. It has to be there. Storm knows it.
And Leo knows why Storm sent him too, which does nothing to improve Storm’s mood. His personal feelings should not be getting in the way of his job. Damn Diana Bellona for getting under his skin.
Storm drives to St John’s Wood and parks up outside of Jared Everett’s house. Remi had called earlier to say Everett was going to be escorted back into the house to pack a few belongings.
