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Sweet Moon, Vivian thought. I'm not out of trouble yet. She drew herself up to make a show of indignation. "And she thinks I'd break into her house and trash her room over that?"
"It seems likely to her, yes," answered the man.
"And what about the other girls she's pissed off?" Vivian asked. She could feel the sweat soaking her armpits. "Kelly's not exactly known for her pleasant disposition. Ask anyone."
"Nevertheless," said the policewoman, "we have to ask where you were last night between the hours of midnight and six A.M."
"She was with me."
Vivian's gaze jerked in surprise to the living room door. Gabriel stood there, his hands in his jeans pockets.
Esmé started to speak, but Gabriel cut her off. "I'm sorry, Esmé. We meant to tell you about us at a more convenient time. We spent the night at my apartment."
Esmé rose to the occasion. "Gabriel! I trusted you."
Vivian grabbed at the alibi; what else could she do? "As you can see," she pointed out boldly. "I'm not pining for my ex-boyfriend."
"Can anyone confirm your story?" asked the male officer. Vivian couldn't miss the disapproval in his eyes.
"Ask Bucky Dideron," Gabriel suggested. "He's my downstairs neighbor. He saw us leave early this morning. He complained we'd kept him up half the night."
Vivian blushed furiously. She could imagine how she and Gabriel were supposed to have accomplished that. Apparently the cops could too, because they didn't ask further questions. They took Gabriel's and Bucky's names and addresses, then left after promising they would get back in touch if they had any more questions.
"What the hell is going on?" Esmé asked Vivian when the door closed behind the police.
"Look, I had a few drinks. I made a mistake, okay?" Vivian headed for the kitchen and poured a cup of coffee she didn't want.
Esmé followed her. "That's a helluva mistake."
Vivian turned away, but Esmé walked around her to stay in Vivian's face. "I take it you really were in that girl's house."
Vivian didn't answer.
"Are you crazy?" Esmé screamed. "Don't we have enough problems?"
"Let me speak with Vivian," Gabriel said. Vivian hadn't even noticed him entering the kitchen.
"I'll speak to my own daughter, thank you," Esmé answered. "This is family business."
"When the police are involved, it's pack business," Gabriel said. "Go call Bucky." His eyes glittered as he stared Esmé down without blinking. Vivian wondered how he could stand there so nonchalantly and still look as if he was ready to spring.
"Have it your way," Esmé finally spat, and stormed off.
"You got here fast," Vivian said.
"I was already on my way to see Rudy, as it happens. Tomas almost knocked me off my feet." Vivian noticed that the glitter in his eyes seemed more like humor now. "I didn't know an alibi was needed, but I'm glad to help out."
"Well, you needn't have come up with such a disgusting one." She sat down and tried to ignore him.
"I don't find the idea disgusting," he said. He didn't pretend to hide his smile now, but it was fleeting. "The cops were right, weren't they? You were jealous."
Vivian took a sip of coffee and grimaced. She'd forgotten sugar.
"Homo sapiens can be very attractive," he said, sitting at the table with her.
Vivian had expected him to chastise her. She raised her eyebrows in surprise but didn't say a word.
"The need to dominate is bred into us," Gabriel continued, "and they are easy to dominate. It's seductive, this power over them. And they're so fragile, there are those you almost want to protect."
