Red After Dark (Blackwood Security #13) - Elise Noble Page 0,55
bender.” Homer made Piers look positively teetotal. “Have you found anything?”
“About Piper? No. But Kyla’s campaign put out a press release about Ridley. They claim he merely moved the bag off a chair because he wanted to sit down.”
“Really? Why would he need to hold the zipper for that? It doesn’t ring true.”
“You know that, I know that…”
“So what happens now?”
“Now things get interesting.”
“What do you mean? They’re not interesting enough already?”
“Ridley’s got to know that O’Shaughnessy had help finding those fingerprints, and if he’s smart, he’ll realise Emmy and Black’s presence at the reunion wasn’t a coincidence. Which means we’ll get front-row seats for the battle of Black versus Ridley. I may not always see eye to eye with Black, but I know who my money’s going to be on.”
“Is it too late to go back to London?”
I hadn’t signed up for a battle, and although Black had been perfectly polite, he still scared me.
“Don’t worry, I’ll keep you out of the crossfire. Trust me?”
I might not have known Alaric for long, but yes, I did.
“I trust you. But don’t forget I’ll need to be in England in the middle of next month for my sister’s wedding. Actually, maybe getting caught in the crossfire wouldn’t be so bad—if I were dead, I’d have a valid excuse for declining the invite.”
“You can’t miss your sister’s wedding.”
“Just wishful thinking, I guess. Honestly, I could do without another dose of Piers, and he’s bound to be there.”
“Need a date?”
Was Alaric offering? Last time he’d volunteered as my plus-one, things had got rather…heated. Our relationship, such as it was, had changed completely since then, but my insides still clenched from thinking about it.
“Is that a good idea?”
His voice got lower. Huskier. Be dry my soaking knickers. “I promise I’ll keep my fingers to myself this time.”
I swallowed hard and nearly told him not to bother, then quickly remembered Gemma’s revelation. Alaric liked men. He also happened to be an outrageous flirt who sometimes got carried away, but on balance, I’d rather deal with Alaric and my raging libido than horny groomsmen or that weird friend of my sister’s fiancé who kept stroking my arm.
“In that case, I’ll take you up on the offer. But if—when—Piers does show his face, you’ll get bonus points for keeping your hand on my bottom.”
I heard the smile in Alaric’s voice. “I think I can manage that. Should we practise first?”
Oh, what had I done?
“No, we’ve got work to get on with. Shoo. Go ask your questions.”
Yes, the job was boring, but I was smiling as I trekked up the next driveway. Alaric was fun, a genuinely nice guy. After a decade of walking on eggshells trying to please Piers, being around a man with a sense of humour was a refreshing change. Why were the good ones always gay?
I reached the house, a tiny cottage that had seen better days, and knocked on the wood siding next to the screen door. A grey-haired lady soon shuffled towards me.
“Hi, I’m—”
“The private detective? Marcy Belmont called to say you might come by. I don’t know anything about the Simms girl, but I just baked cookies.” She waved me inside. “Would you like coffee?”
CHAPTER 22 - ALARIC
TWO DAYS, THEY’D spent canvassing, and they were no farther forward. Nobody heard anything. Nobody saw anything. Kyla had spent the afternoon cementing her reputation as a media darling by doing a meet-and-greet with veterans, notably with Ridley hovering in the background like a malevolent spirit. Rumour said that O’Shaughnessy had been scheduled to visit a school, but the principal cancelled at the last moment. So O’Shaughnessy went to an animal shelter instead. Cute puppies, y’all.
Did Alaric sound cynical? That’s because he was.
“There.” Black walked into the kitchen and tossed his phone onto the table. “It’s done. Tomorrow, the media should put two and two together and realise that Devane’s fuck buddy and the sick bastard accused of murdering an Afghan family and then burning their home to hide the evidence are one and the same man. Damn, I hate politics. What’s for dinner?”
“How’s the evidence of that coming along?” Alaric asked, and Black shot him a dirty look.
“Nothing concrete. That’s the problem when he shoots all the witnesses.”
“Playing devil’s advocate, do we know he did it?”
“Firstly, there’s circumstantial evidence. The weapons used, the method, and we know his crew was in the area. Secondly, it doesn’t matter whether he did it or not. Our job is to muddy the waters around Devane. Taking