Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 96641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
After I’d informed Pierce of Lenny’s duplicity, he’d remained at the scene to interview Lisa and the two elderly ladies. Unfortunately, Jolene O’Sullivan had caught the call and ended up snapping my picture before I was taken away.
An hour later, the detective walked into the hospital room.
“Why couldn’t you keep the press away, Pierce?” I groused.
He sighed. “I didn’t see her arrive, but I had her removed instantly. She must’ve caught wind of the situation over a scanner. The Cupids are big news right now.”
Finally, the nurse finished fussing over me and walked out to find my discharge papers.
“You did not have to send me to the hospital.” I sat back, somewhat grateful to have ice on my knee. I didn’t remember twisting it, but it pounded like someone had taken a hammer to it.
“Better safe than sorry,” he said, looking more tired than he had the day before. “Now, tell me what happened.”
“The Cupids came back.”
“What is it about you?” he asked, his green eyes sparking.
“I don’t know. I just went to interview Lisa about her affair with Richard Basanelli, and the Cupids came in. They’ve been hitting businesses all around town, so I guess one on the outskirts isn’t a huge surprise. There were some beautiful pieces in that place, Pierce.” Of course, many of them had been stolen or shattered. What a bunch of jerks.
“Are you positive the Cupid you landed on was Lenny Kristoff?”
“Yes. I’m sure.”
Pierce straightened. “How did you see his face?”
“He slipped on marbles, and I fell on him and pushed his mask off. I saw his face. It was definitely him.” Fury grabbed me that he’d lied to my nana. She was a sweet and trusting woman, and he’d lied right to her face. And mine. The creep.
Pierce scribbled some notes on his notepad. “Did the other two robbers see you identify Lenny?”
I shook my head. “No. I was careful to shove his mask back into place and roll off him. I wanted to confront him right there, but the hot guy had his arrow pointed at me.” Hopefully, he hadn’t noticed because we needed Lenny in town to identify the other two. He’d probably be headed to Canada if his cover had been blown.
“The hot guy?” Pierce asked slowly.
“Yeah,” I said, heat filling my face. Did I bump my head? Because I felt really off. “He’s, well…tall. Taller than you, taller than Aiden, even. He wears tighter clothes, and his muscles are cut. I think he’s probably quite a bit younger than the other two. Lenny has to be, what? In his sixties? The guy about Lenny’s and my height moves like Lenny does—like he’s a little bit older. I’m just guessing.”
Pierce studied me for several moments. “But there’s something hot about the guy in black?”
I swallowed. “Compared to the other two, yeah. I guess it’s more the way he carries himself. Like he’s in charge and still has a sense of humor about the whole situation.”
“Did you hit your head?
I chose to take that as concern and not him questioning my sanity. “No. I’m not even sure when I hurt my knee, to be honest.” An idea struck me. “The main guy has a great body. We should be taking a look at gyms in the area. He obviously works out.”
Pierce pursed his lips. “That’s a good idea. I’ll put a junior detective on that.”
I preened a little. If this whole lawyer gig didn’t work out, maybe I’d join the police force. “I hope you find him.” I still couldn’t believe he’d shot Nick and then tied me up this time.
Pierce nodded. “Could you identify anything different about the voices?”
I shook my head. “They were still tinny, so whatever’s under that mask is some sort of noise distorter.” Thinking back, I searched for an accent or unique cadence, but nothing stood out. I’d felt something heavy at Lenny’s face when I’d moved his mask, but I didn’t see the device.
“Tell me everything anybody said during the robbery.”
I gave Pierce the lowdown, word for word, and noted terror had filled Lenny’s eyes. There was no doubt he was afraid, but of getting caught, or of the guy in black?
Pierce made more scribbles, his look intense even with lines fanning out from his green eyes. The guy needed a break. Even his dark-blond hair lacked its usual luster. “Keep going.”
I wound down by saying that Lenny whispered apologies as he’d tied me up.
Pierce paused in writing and tugged my phone from his back pocket. “I guess that explains why your phone was found just outside the door. Lenny must’ve left it for you.” He tossed it onto the bed. “We’ve already dusted it for prints. Didn’t find any.”
I swallowed, reaching for my phone. “They wear gloves.” The redness in Pierce’s eyes concerned me. “When was the last time you took a vacation?”