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“I think you might be confused,” he said. “We didn’t come here for you to ask us questions. We came to ask you questions. And you can play nice and answer them or we can take you in. Ever been in jail, Miss Tsang? It’s not a nice place.”
Della’s breath caught.
“Just answer them,” Holiday said in a calm voice. But Della saw the fury glittering in the woman’s eyes. This time, there was no concern or love mingled with it. Just plain ol’ fury. And it wasn’t targeting Della.
Della recalled hearing Holiday call Burnett before the policemen had left their cars. Their dialogue had been quick. “The police are here.” It was almost as if she’d been expecting them.
“You knew Mr. and Mrs. Chi, right?” the other officer asked.
“Yes,” Della said. “They were my neighbors and I pet sit for them.”
“And where were you Friday night?”
All the air in Della’s lungs came out. “You think … you think—?”
“Just answer our questions, Miss Tsang,” the ugly officer snapped.
“I was out … with a friend. I saw Mrs. Chi at a restaurant.”
“What restaurant?”
Della was about to answer when she heard a loud thump on the office porch. The door swung open, and she caught Burnett’s scent.
He stormed into the room, holding his badge out.
“Hello. I’m Burnett James, part owner of Shadow Falls Academy, and I’m with the Federal Research Unit. I was recently assigned to the Chi case and just picked up the killers tonight.”
The sneering uniformed cop stood up. “You’re with who?”
“FRU,” said the detective. “They’re an offshoot of the FBI.” He looked back at Burnett. “I didn’t know the case had been reassigned.”
“It wasn’t.” Burnett gazed at Della, almost as if he were checking on her. “We were asked to assist. One of my students”—he motioned to Della—“was friends with the victims.”
“We haven’t seen anything about the killer being caught,” the uniformed cop said.
“We just brought them in tonight, haven’t done the paperwork yet. If you’d like I’d be happy to see you out.” From his tone it wasn’t a suggestion. Burnett waved at the door.
“Wait!” Della said.
Everyone looked back her. “Why did you think that I…?”
“We should just let them go.” Holiday put another hand on Della’s shoulder.
“No,” Della said. “Who … who said I was involved?”
“Someone named you as a suspect,” the detective said.
Things suddenly became clear. And damn, it hurt. “My dad?” she asked. “He said I did this, didn’t he?”
Tears filled her eyes. The memory of how he’d looked at her before she left walked across her heart.
“Why would your dad say you did this?” the fat cop asked.
“Because he thinks I’m a monster.” Della looked at Holiday and remembered the call she’d made to Burnett.
