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“The manner in which he died suggests foul play.”
Devere laughed, but there was no humor in that sound. Just plenty of sour regret. “My father was found dead in a state of undress in the middle of town, and you come here seeking foul play? I suppose I am your suspect, Valentine? Did you study in Massalia for fifteen years to come to that conclusion in two days, or did Rochefort’s money convince you?”
His passion, hatred, or whatever it was washed over me with his every word, stealing my breath. His assumptions were astute. I’d give him that. Although, he was wrong.
He breathed fast, as did I. Had there been a pistol within his reach, he’d have likely pulled it by now.
“I’m sorry for your loss, Devere. Truly. As I said to Lord Rochefort, I’m not here to condemn an innocent man. I seek the truth.”
He folded his arms and glared. “Innocent?”
Goodness, I did not want to get into what had happened between us. It had no bearing on Jacapo’s murder and no business rearing its head now. “I am here to discover the truth regarding your father’s death. Don’t you want to know what happened to him? How he got to the town square that night? Why he’d been bound? Don’t you want to know who killed him? Do you not want justice for your father?”
He straightened and stilled. “The truth, Mr. Anzio, is a noose around my neck. You should leave Minerva before it becomes a noose around yours. Now, I have to close the store—”
“I will wait.”
“No, you will leave.”
“I have pertinent questions.”
“I’m not answering them.”
“If you won’t talk with me, perhaps you’ll talk to the local constables? Help them ascertain what happened?”
“I’ve told them all I know.” He grabbed my arm and hauled me out of the workshop into the storefront, where the clocks ticked and chimed and the trains chugged along tiny tracks. Oil lamps blazed, lighting every corner, chasing away every shadow.
I pulled free of his grip. “I can have you arrested!”
“Then do that,” he snapped. “You’ll find no evidence to charge me.” He shoved my shoulder, jolting me back.
I stumbled against a display of puzzles, toppling the lot across the floor. “You seem very sure of that, Mr. Barella.” I pulled my coat closed and buttoned it aggressively.
“Please, call me Devere. It’s not as though we’re strangers. I distinctly recall you thrusting your tongue down my throat. I believe that merits a first-name basis?”
Good lord. I glanced around us to make sure nobody had ventured into the store despite the locked door and closed sign.
“Oh, don’t worry. I haven’t told anyone in fifteen years, and I won’t mention it now. The townsfolk despise me enough without addingthatto my repertoire of sins.”
“Thatwas a mistake,” I hissed, closing the distance between us in a few strides. “A boyhood folly, nothing more.”
His eyes widened, and out of nowhere, a backhanded blow tore across my face, almost spinning me around. Fire flushed my skin. I gasped and cupped my burning cheek.
“My mistake,” he said coolly. His lips quirked up at one corner. “Still hurts, though, does it not?”
This man!Did he not understand the danger he was in? Found guilty, he’d hang in the same town square in which he’d found his father. Part of me wanted to turn my back on him, let the townsfolk pass their judgment, let him hang. But I was a man of my word. Despite everything, I didn’t see a murderer standing in front of me. I saw a man alone, a man afraid, a man with nowhere to turn and nobody to trust. Perhaps I would be proven wrong, but if I was, I’d find the evidence to prove his guilt, just as I would his innocence. But to do that, I needed his help.
“You are a fool,” I declared. “The wolves are at your door and I’m the only man with a gun, the only one willing to fight for you. Turn me away if you wish, but there is nobody else coming to save you, Dev. And God, I wish it wasn’t me. I wish I wasn’t here and I wish we’d never met, but wishes are the currency of fools and madmen, of which you and I are neither.” I tore a business card from my pocket and flung it at him. It fluttered to the floor among the spilled puzzle pieces. “I’m staying at the Lost Penny. If you come to your senses, find me there. Otherwise, you can expect blind justice to call on you, and it will not be kind.”
He didn’t move, just stared, rage simmering.
“I hope you figure it out soon.” I marched for the door, needing to escape the madness his world was drowning me in.
“There are no gods in Minerva, only nightmares. Or did you forget that too?”
I left him there, stewing in his hate. I was done. He either came to me with answers, or the town condemned him. Because he was right. Minerva had always been full of monsters.
ChapterFive
