Open Wounds (Harbour Bay #2)(24)

It’s nice he’s so proud of them, she thought scathingly.

The tables were covered in sunflower yellow damask tablecloths. Both the seat area and the backs of the chairs were padded with black cloth, creating a comfortable setting for long sit-down dinners and conversation. Kellie lifted her gaze from a restaurant Gordon Ramsey could be proud of to take in the occupants of the room.

Besides Coleani and his bleached blonde companion, the room only held three more people or at least three more she could see. The first was the man who’d brought them to Coleani, his gym-toned body bulging. What interested her the most was the forty-five beneath his black work shirt. His shirt sported the word Coleani’s over his right breast pocket. A quick glance at the other two men standing by the exit told her they were all packing and that the situation could turn from bad to worse in a split second.

A light hand on her elbow shocked her into tearing her gaze away from the weapons, and she faced Darryl. His expression told her he had seen the armoury as well.

She cleared her throat. “Looks like you’ve come a long way, Mr. Coleani.”

“I always said I was destined for greatness,” he replied smugly.

“Interesting décor. I remember you didn’t use to go for all that,” Amelia commented, “when you were too busy running your other businesses.”

Coleani smiled. “Things are changing. You have to move with the times or go under.”

“Like starting up dot-com companies?” Kellie asked, and was rewarded with Coleani’s narrowed eyes as he glared at her.

His gaze roamed her body slowly as if searching for weak points. “Is that what you’re here to talk about? The murders of Carl and Kevin?”

“You’ve heard about it? That’s rather interesting, considering it only happened yesterday.”

“What happens in my neighbourhood is always reported to me,” Coleani told them piously.

“Funny, I always thought of the neighbourhood as belonging to the city of Harbour Bay,” Darryl said.

“Semantics, Detective. So, do you have any further questions for me or are you just wasting my time?”

Amelia appeared unconcerned. “I’m sorry, Mr. Coleani, that the murders of boys you were once close to is an inconvenience. But we should be out of your hair soon since you should have some knowledge as to who the perpetrator might be. After all, everything that happens in your neighbourhood is reported to you.”

Darryl moved in front of Amelia to draw attention away from the combustible vibes he seemed to sense. Tension, thick and ripe suffocated Kellie. She forced herself to calm down. The history between them was almost palpable and she had to remind herself they were here about the double homicide.

“Can you tell us something about them?”

“They were good boys,” Coleani replied noncommittally.

“You mean malleable and eager to please,” she said, earning her a glare from Amelia, who had returned to bad-ass detective mode.

“I get the feeling you don’t like me very much, Officer.”

“I suppose you must get that often enough. Surely that doesn’t bother you, Mr. Coleani. You look like you have thick skin.”

He chuckled as if he found her funny, but she knew he didn’t like being challenged. The irritation was clear in his eyes. “That is quite true. I’ve had a lifetime of making enemies. Now I only make friends.”

“But your price is rather high, isn’t it?” she asked, not able to remain quiet. “In exchange for your friendship, you want blind ignorance. Tell me, how did you deal with their betrayal? I doubt they got a slap on the wrist and a stern lecture.”

“The only punishment I hand out, young lady, is my disappointment. I let Kevin and Carl go, without any references, without any protection. There are people out there who would take advantage of young, defenceless men like them. Alone in the world, unable to look after themselves. I was afraid they would come to a bad end but I can only do so much. My people must know and understand that betrayal of any kind will not be tolerated.”

“Your boys are resourceful, Mr. Coleani. They would’ve landed on their feet had they not been murdered. They were smart and quite savvy, to tell you the truth. I saw their plans. They were meticulously thought out and had they continued, their business would have rivalled yours,” Amelia said.

“Then it was a good thing for all involved that they were taken out of the picture. Imagine what destruction their business could’ve done to the city had they lived. It certainly would’ve been more work for all. I believe the man who took care of our problem deserves to be commended, does he not?” Coleani said with a cruel smile.

Kellie bit down on her tongue. She was tempted to say something but knew she was already on wafer-thin ice. She was only a visiting member of the team and had no real standing in the investigation. As it had been pointed out before, she wasn’t a detective.

She watched the men surrounding them. She’d seen both Amelia and Darryl spare the occasional glance towards them, as well. Their sharp eyes seemed to determine if they were a threat, or if they’d moved in the slightest from their initial positions.

They were outnumbered and outgunned, making her nervous. She knew Coleani well enough to know how he really dealt with those in his way.

Kellie steeled herself, not wanting to show fear or any other emotion that might please him.