Read Online No One Left to Tell by Jordan Dane - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jordan Dane
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his chest. "You'll get what you need."
Raven believed in a strong offense when everything else failed. Time to be direct.
"St. Sebastian's. Are you acquainted with the church?" She stood and stepped toward the man, mimicking his stance, standing a safe distance from him. "It's quite charming, a historical area of Chicago."
A long moment passed. Silence. His face changed almost imperceptibly. Then a lazy smile curved his lips. She found her eyes drawn to those lips—like a damned moth to a proverbial flame.
"You're fishing, Detective, and without a license. I came here in the spirit of cooperation. You and your partner in there have turned this into an interrogation." Without a glance over his shoulder, he rapped on the mirror twice, a signal for Tony to quit playing games. "Am I a suspect?"
Before she answered, the door opened, with her partner holding a cup of coffee. "Took a little longer than I figured. Sorry."
Raven commended Tony's effort, but by the look on Delacorte's face, he wasn't buying any of it. Ignoring her partner's poor acting, the Dunhill Security man offered more.
"I was at the cemetery that night. But I think you know that. And I'm not in the mood to share anything more on the subject. So if you're gonna book me, then let's do it. I'd like time to call my attorney so I can make it out by dinnertime. Otherwise, I'm out of here."
His jaw clenched, and the look in his eyes dropped the temperature in the room. Christian pushed by her, but stopped when she placed her hand on his chest and raised her voice.
"Hold it."
She tried pushing him back to a comfortable distance, but he wouldn't budge. The man's chest felt as solid as a brick wall. And he wielded his gaze like a weapon. Reluctantly, she withdrew her hand.
"Okay then. You like cards on the table, let's do it."
She persisted as her blood churned. "What do you think about the message on the body? I didn't figure Mickey for a religious fanatic, not after seeing his criminal record. So my next leap was to assume the message had been intended for someone. And lo and behold, we meet you, Christian. Now that's what I call too much coincidence. Seek the truth, Christian. What does it mean?"
"I have no idea," he replied. "But I think you'll have to agree, it's not likely I'd kill the man, then sign my own work, directing the police to my door." He remained calm, staring at her and completely ignoring her partner. "Am I free to go?"
Closing her eyes, she filled her lungs, then let out a breath. Calm down, Mackenzie. He was right, of course. Still, she needed to make another point.
"We've granted you some privileges with regard to this investigation, in exchange for the complete cooperation of your employer. We could have subpoenaed the information we needed and left you out in the cold, yet we extended Mrs. Dunhill a special courtesy. Cooperation is a two-way street, Delacorte. I get the distinct impression you're holding out on me."
Raven knew she was posturing, having no intention of allowing him into the investigation completely. But what he didn't know would be no skin off her nose.
His eyes narrowed. She felt him harness his emotion, his hostility given away only by the slight stiffening of his jaw. In a move she hadn't anticipated, he stepped toward her, closing a gap already too awkward. Instinctively, she sucked in a breath and held it, filling her senses with the subtle cologne that tempered his act of intimidation.
"The police will get all the cooperation deserved, Detective." His voice low, he embellished his message. "I'll make sure of it."
Raven heard his underlying meaning clearly. A line had been drawn in the sand of mutual cooperation. Christian Delacorte had no intention of cooperating. She saw it in those captivating eyes. He'd conduct his own investigation, sharing only meaningless information under the guise of collaboration. He'd race ahead, outpacing her and Tony. And with the resources of Dunhill behind him, it would be an
Raven believed in a strong offense when everything else failed. Time to be direct.
"St. Sebastian's. Are you acquainted with the church?" She stood and stepped toward the man, mimicking his stance, standing a safe distance from him. "It's quite charming, a historical area of Chicago."
A long moment passed. Silence. His face changed almost imperceptibly. Then a lazy smile curved his lips. She found her eyes drawn to those lips—like a damned moth to a proverbial flame.
"You're fishing, Detective, and without a license. I came here in the spirit of cooperation. You and your partner in there have turned this into an interrogation." Without a glance over his shoulder, he rapped on the mirror twice, a signal for Tony to quit playing games. "Am I a suspect?"
Before she answered, the door opened, with her partner holding a cup of coffee. "Took a little longer than I figured. Sorry."
Raven commended Tony's effort, but by the look on Delacorte's face, he wasn't buying any of it. Ignoring her partner's poor acting, the Dunhill Security man offered more.
"I was at the cemetery that night. But I think you know that. And I'm not in the mood to share anything more on the subject. So if you're gonna book me, then let's do it. I'd like time to call my attorney so I can make it out by dinnertime. Otherwise, I'm out of here."
His jaw clenched, and the look in his eyes dropped the temperature in the room. Christian pushed by her, but stopped when she placed her hand on his chest and raised her voice.
"Hold it."
She tried pushing him back to a comfortable distance, but he wouldn't budge. The man's chest felt as solid as a brick wall. And he wielded his gaze like a weapon. Reluctantly, she withdrew her hand.
"Okay then. You like cards on the table, let's do it."
She persisted as her blood churned. "What do you think about the message on the body? I didn't figure Mickey for a religious fanatic, not after seeing his criminal record. So my next leap was to assume the message had been intended for someone. And lo and behold, we meet you, Christian. Now that's what I call too much coincidence. Seek the truth, Christian. What does it mean?"
"I have no idea," he replied. "But I think you'll have to agree, it's not likely I'd kill the man, then sign my own work, directing the police to my door." He remained calm, staring at her and completely ignoring her partner. "Am I free to go?"
Closing her eyes, she filled her lungs, then let out a breath. Calm down, Mackenzie. He was right, of course. Still, she needed to make another point.
"We've granted you some privileges with regard to this investigation, in exchange for the complete cooperation of your employer. We could have subpoenaed the information we needed and left you out in the cold, yet we extended Mrs. Dunhill a special courtesy. Cooperation is a two-way street, Delacorte. I get the distinct impression you're holding out on me."
Raven knew she was posturing, having no intention of allowing him into the investigation completely. But what he didn't know would be no skin off her nose.
His eyes narrowed. She felt him harness his emotion, his hostility given away only by the slight stiffening of his jaw. In a move she hadn't anticipated, he stepped toward her, closing a gap already too awkward. Instinctively, she sucked in a breath and held it, filling her senses with the subtle cologne that tempered his act of intimidation.
"The police will get all the cooperation deserved, Detective." His voice low, he embellished his message. "I'll make sure of it."
Raven heard his underlying meaning clearly. A line had been drawn in the sand of mutual cooperation. Christian Delacorte had no intention of cooperating. She saw it in those captivating eyes. He'd conduct his own investigation, sharing only meaningless information under the guise of collaboration. He'd race ahead, outpacing her and Tony. And with the resources of Dunhill behind him, it would be an
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