AllFreeNovel
Share Us
His gaze remains stoic. “Not when the murder happened in one of my boroughs, Mr. Bale. Officers Grimes and Paloma are here because of protocol, not because I need babysitters.”
The impact of his words hit hard, and I lean my elbows on my knees for support. “I’m sorry, did you say murder?”
“A young lady was found today behind an alley in Murray Hill.”
I can’t breathe…
I grip a handful of my T-shirt, trying to relieve the crushing pressure in my chest. No, no, no, no…
Phoebe and Harlow live in Murray Hill. This can’t be happening. Even with security watching her, I’d failed to protect her. Vivian had somehow seen through my front at the party and made good on her promise.
Everything moves in slow motion as I force myself to ask the question. “Her name…”
“Excuse me?” Hough says, wrinkling his forehead.
“Her name,” I croak again, my throat dry from the confirmation I fear is coming. “The girl in the alley. What’s her name?”
Please don’t say Phoebe Ryan.
“You seem very disturbed, Mr. Bale.” His eyes roam suspiciously over my living room.
“Her name.” I lower my chin to stop myself from unraveling. “I need her name.”
“You know you’ve got to give me more than that, Mr. Bale.”
“My girlfriend lives in Murray Hill,” I admit. “Please, just tell me.”
“What’s your girlfriend’s name?”
“Phoebe Ryan.” I exhale the words like a prayer. I’ve never prayed in my life, but right now seems like a good time to start.
He stares at me as I looked to him for salvation. Jaxon Hough can’t be more than five years older than me, but right now, he’s my judge, jury, and executioner.
“It’s not your girlfriend, Mr. Bale.”
A rush of air expels from my chest.
“The victim’s name is Vivian Hart.” He pauses, watching my face for a reaction. “She was stabbed seven times and left for dead in a residential area of Murray Hill.”
The revelation shocks me. “Vivian?”
“Witnesses have you at the Jameson Hotel with the victim last night. Mr. Bale. Can you account for your whereabouts between the hours of two a.m. and five a.m.?”
I transition into autopilot, my mind still on Phoebe and Vivian. “My roommates, Ty Lachner and Zane Tierney, were here with me all night.”
He settles a hardened stare on me. “They were awake and can attest to seeing you here the entire time?”
“Yes.” I clip sharply. “It was kind of a bad night. We drank a few beers and talked.” Shock begins to manifest as anger. “You want to know what I was wearing as well?”
He smiles politely. “No, that’ll be fine. I’ll talk to them soon enough.” He writes in his notebook, then glances at me again. “So, you were friends with Miss Hart?”
“She’s my ex.” This makes no sense.
“Interesting.” He scribbles in the black leather notebook again.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Closing the notebook, he shoves it in the inside pocket of his suit jacket. “Well, it’s kind of coincidental, don’t you think? Your ex-girlfriend is butchered and dumped in the same neighborhood in which your current girlfriend resides? It’s got all the makings of a Predator Confidential special.”
