Mick walked further into the house in my direction but turned back to Max.
“Gotta ask you a few questions,” he said and I decided not to go get dressed. The way he said that, I decided to stay right where I was.
“What questions?” Max asked, also walking in but he came direct to me, positioning himself behind my stool so close I could feel his warmth at my back.
Mick took this as an invitation to come in further and he did, stopping about three feet away.
“Gotta know where you were last night around two, three in the mornin’,” Mick said.
I felt myself still and I stared at Mick noting he was uncomfortable and not hiding it.
“What’s this about?” Max asked and I could tell by his voice he was not happy and also not hiding it.
“Just answer, Max,” Mick said softly.
“In bed,” Max said, his gravelly voice curt and Mick’s eyes darted to me then back to Max.
“Asleep?” he asked.
“Yeah,” Max answered.
“Sorry, Nina,” Mick’s gaze came back to me, his eyes dropping to my nightgown for the barest of seconds before coming back to my face and he continued. “Could you corroborate that?”
“What’s this about?” Max repeated.
But at the same time I said quickly, “Yes, I can.”
“You sure?” Mick asked me.
“Of course I’m sure,” I said firmly.
“Were you asleep too?” Mick pressed and my back straightened.
“Mick,” Max was obviously losing patience, “what the f**k’s this about?”
But again I spoke quickly. “No, I wasn’t asleep.” Mick opened his mouth to speak but I kept talking. “I’m here from England, I’ve got jetlag. I woke up around two in the morning, nine o’clock my time, and stayed awake until dawn. Max was with me the whole time.”
Mick’s face and body visibly relaxed, relief washing through him and he nodded.
“Now you wanna tell me what this is about?” Max’s patience was gone, he sounded angry.
Mick’s eyes moved to him. “Curtis Dodd was killed early this mornin’.”
I heard Max pull in breath and even though I didn’t know who Curtis Dodd was, I felt my eyes get wide.
“You’re shittin’ me,” Max said quietly.
“Wish I was,” Mick replied.
Then Max asked, “Murdered?”
“Yep,” Mick answered.
“And you come to visit me?” Max didn’t sound angry anymore, he just was. I heard it and felt it.
“Now Max, just procedure. Everyone knows you don’t get along with Dodd.” Mick’s tone was placating.
“Yeah, neither does most of the town,” Max returned.