From Sanctum with Love (Masters and Mercenaries #10)(94)

Sarah kicked off her shoes. “Are you all right? Because you look like hell.”

“Thanks so much.” Naturally Sarah looked damn near perfect. Her hair was still silky and smooth, and the woman knew how to set makeup so it lasted forever.

Kori had caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror when they’d allowed her to clean herself up. She looked like shit.

Sarah’s hand slid over hers. “I’m sorry. I’m worried about you. You’ve barely said a word since the police showed up. Why wouldn’t you talk to Kai?”

She’d hoped Sarah hadn’t seen that single exchange with her ex-boyfriend. Should she call him that? Did he count as an ex when everything he’d done had been to manipulate her to the point that he gained access to her friends?

The door opened and Kori was grateful because she wasn’t ready to answer that question yet.

Please, let me talk to you. Let me explain, Kai had said, his eyes pleading with her, his mouth against her ear.

She’d looked up at him. Tell me you didn’t do it.

He’d simply stared and she’d walked away, and a few minutes later she’d found herself being taken to this police station and giving a statement as to how she’d found the body. She’d expected to be let go, but they’d been left here for hours.

“Good evening, ladies.” The man was tall and well built, dressed in an immaculate suit. Even at this time of night, he looked well rested, energetic even. He had dark hair and piercing eyes that seemed to look right through her. “My name is Ethan Rush.”

“You’re a fed, right?” Kori asked, the words feeling dull in her mouth.

“How do you know that?” Sarah asked. “He could be a lawyer. Do we need a lawyer? Are we in some sort of trouble? When I got coffee ten minutes ago, I could swear I saw a couple of guys from the club walking around. Mitch and Harrison. They’re lawyers, right? Are you their friend?”

“No,” Rush said, still looking at Kori. “I’m Special Agent Rush with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I believe you’ll find the lawyers aren’t here for you.”

“Did Kai call them?” She’d known he was a fed from the suit and how he handled himself. At this time of night most police officers looked as haggard as she did. The detectives who’d come out on call to the club had worn suits, but not one as expensive as this man’s. She would bet he had money on the side, money that hadn’t come from the FBI.

“Yes.” Rush set a folder in front of them and settled his big body across the table. “And neither one of you is in trouble.”

“But Kai is?” Sarah sounded a little panicked.

Kai was in a lot of trouble. Kai was in trouble Kori would never have suspected, but then she was a very dumb girl. Always so dumb. “What do you need from the two of us? I already gave a statement.”

“Yes, you gave a very brief statement about finding the body. I need to know more. I need to know what went on tonight with Lena and the rest of the group. Lena’s body was found within an hour of her murder according to the medical examiner. I need to account for everyone’s movements during that period.”

She was so damn numb. Shouldn’t she care more that Lena was dead? It was like discovering Kai’s betrayal had left her utterly hollow and nothing could quite reach her. “Check the security cameras.”

“Kori?” Sarah leaned in. “We should be more helpful.” She looked up at the special agent. “I’ll tell you everything I remember, but I was on the dance floor for most of that time. I know Lena walked away shortly before I left. She’d been arguing with that guy. One of the brothers. Brad or Tad. Have you talked to them?”

“They’re being questioned even as we speak. Why don’t you go and grab another cup of coffee. I need to speak with Ms. Williamson alone.”

“Maybe she should have a lawyer.” Sarah’s hand was shaking this time when she placed it over Kori’s.

Obviously whatever Rush had to say, he wanted it to be for her ears only. It was time to start protecting her friends. She’d done a f*cking poor ass job of it up until now. She’d never seen the web they’d stepped into until the spider had come out all ready for dinner. Kori gave Sarah what she hoped was a confident smile. “I’ll be fine. I don’t need a lawyer. Special Agent Rush knows I didn’t horribly murder anyone.”

“Ms. Williamson is not a suspect,” Rush affirmed. “She is, however, a very important witness. There’s an officer outside who will take your statement and record anything you can remember. Thank you so much. I’ll be done with your friend very soon and you’ll be free to go home.”

“Okay.” Sarah picked up her shoes and gave Kori a pat on the back. “I’ll be waiting for you.”

The door closed and she looked at Rush. “Say what you need to say.”

Rush’s sensual lips quirked up. “Tough girl, huh? It’s funny because I happen to know you aren’t a McKay-Taggart agent, but you sure behaved like one tonight. That statement you gave was very careful. Normally witnesses to a murder are all over the place. Their statements are difficult to follow because they haven’t processed yet. Not yours. You were careful, as though you knew someone you cared about would be accused of the crime and you wanted to mitigate any damage you might do.”