Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 136731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 684(@200wpm)___ 547(@250wpm)___ 456(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 136731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 684(@200wpm)___ 547(@250wpm)___ 456(@300wpm)
Startled by the question, she answers quietly, “The originals were my mother’s. I inherited them when she died. She’d read them so much. I didn’t want to destroy them, so I read the other copies.”
Makes sense. Smart, sensible girl.
The question seems to disarm Alejandra. Her body relaxes, and I preen inwardly. This is a tactic I use often. Get to know the person you’re questioning. “Your mom died when you were young?”
She doesn’t move. Blinking, her face turns morose. She tries to answer, but instead, mouths, “Yes.”
I pick up one of the older books and gently flick through, taking all the care possible. “Me too.” As I place the book down, I ask a question she isn’t expecting. “You dated Raul Mendoza in high school, right?”
Her brows rise. “Yes. Before I met Dino.”
I move the two steps toward her and gently take hold of her arm. “Please, sit. You look exhausted.”
She takes a step toward the bed before hesitating, shooting wide-eyed looks at the door. Pulling away, she lowers her voice in clear panic. “You need to leave, Mr. Carter.”
“Julius,” I prompt.
“Okay. You need to leave, Julius. Now.” When I make no move to leave, she steps forward and tries to pull me to the door. And I smile.
This little sparrow thinks she can move me?
She pulls and pulls and… nothing. Then she tries another tactic. Moving behind me, she places her small hands at the base of my back and pushes with all her might. Panting, she whispers a frantic, “If Dino finds you in here, he won’t be pleased. It’ll cause problems for me.”
I see.
Turning, I grab both her hands in one of my own and look down at her pointedly. “Dino won’t come up. Not until my partner Ling lets him go.”
Her face voids of expression, the fight knocked out of her. She mutters a tired, resolute, “Of course.” Letting go, she moves back toward her bed and sits in the middle of it, cross-legged, pulling a soft teddy bear into her lap. Stroking the fur of the bear, she looks down at it and asks a bored, “What do you want to know, Julius?”
I wait a moment, trying to find the words, but this little woman has my mind reeling. As I lean against the wall, I decide a straightforward question will get me a straightforward answer. “Did Dino murder Raul Mendoza?”
Her hand stroking the teddy stills. Slowly lifting her face to me, she asks a shocked, “I beg your pardon?”
My eyes narrow. She’s good. Not as good as me, but good. “I asked you if your husband killed Raul Mendoza.”
Her voice just above a whisper, she blanches. “Why would you ask me that?”
I refuse to play this game. I’d rather keep quiet and let her mind reel. After a moment’s silence, her brows furrow. “Is that what people think? That Dino did this?” I simply cross my arms over my chest. Hugging the bear close, she mutters, “No. It wasn’t him. It couldn’t be.”
“Your brother seems to think otherwise.”
At that, she looks up at me, eyes wide as saucers. “Miguel thinks Dino did this?”
“Isn’t it true that when Dino found out about you dating Raul, he made a scene at a family dinner?”
“Well, yes, but—”
“And that he started to show aggression toward Raul, a man he once liked?”
“Yes, that’s true but—”
“Where was your husband that night, Alejandra?”
Lost for words, she shakes her head. “No. He didn’t do this. Raul was my brother-in-law. Veronica and Raul loved each other very much. There’s no way Dino would kill him for such a weak reason.” Her response is feeble and sounds pathetic.
“I asked you a question, Alejandra.” Her eyes meet mine, and she swallows hard. I try again. “Where was Dino that night?”
Pulling the bear under her chin, she absently looks to the wall. She looks so childlike that I have to remind myself not to comfort her. We remain quiet in each other’s company until she utters a shaky, “He didn’t do it.” Then she swallows hard and whispers, “But what would happen if he did?”
Progress. Finally getting somewhere.
I huff out a breath. “It wouldn’t be pretty, Alejandra. I’m not the police. I just police the laws of the underground. If Dino was found guilty of murdering one of your father’s men unprovoked”—I look her in the eye and sock it to her—“he’d be killed.”
A noise leaves her, part choked, part sob. Lifting her shaking fingers to her lips, she utters, “An eye for an eye.” Eyes bright, she looks up at me. “And if… If I were to… What would happen if I—?”
I pin her with a stare. Unblinking, I respond, “If you were to lie to help your husband, I’d find out.” Her gaze intense, I add a cold, “And I’d kill you both.”
Liar.
This is not true.