A minor victory, but it still felt good that she’d chosen the demonic, cursed Darrak over the perfect, squeaky-clean cop.
“Why are you here?” Darrak asked unpleasantly. He could fake charm when he had to, but why waste it when it wouldn’t do any good?
Ben turned to meet his stony gaze without flinching. “Several reasons.”
Darrak imagined tearing the head off the cop’s body with his bare hands. It was oddly satisfying.
Andy approached Ben and shook his hand. “Good to see you again. Ben, isn’t it?”
“That’s right.”
Eden looked apprehensive as she and Darrak exchanged a glance. Andy hadn’t been present when she’d been shot so he’d have no idea why they were acting so standoffish.
“Ben,” she finally said. “Good to see you again.”
Darrak had hoped for something along the lines of “Get out of here, you bastard!” Or “I hate the sight of you. Begone forever!” But, no such luck.
“You, too.” Then Ben smiled a mouthful of straight white teeth, and that charming dimple sprang to life on his cheek.
Darrak glowered.
“What’s going on?” she asked. “Why are you here?”
“I’m here on business.”
“Business?”
He nodded.
“
“What other business is there?” His smile held.
Darrak stood so close to Eden that he was literally touching her, ready to protect her if he needed to. Ben made no overtly threatening moves. Smart guy. Darrak was ready, willing, and able to physically throw the cop out of the office if necessary. Or even if it wasn’t necessary.
“What can I help you with?” Eden asked. She was smiling now, and leaning against her desk next to him, but there was a tightness to her mouth. Darrak retrieved his blob-heart donut again and took a bite in an attempt to look at ease. It didn’t taste quite as delicious as it had before.
Ben had a manila envelope under his arm, and he pulled a picture out from inside. “Have you seen this woman recently? Her name’s Selina Shaw and she’s gone missing while on a book tour here. She hasn’t been seen in well over a week.”
Darrak stopped in midchew. The photo was of a very recognizable dark-haired beauty. Selina was the black witch who’d originally cursed him — although she’d chosen not to use her magic very often in favor of saving her soul.
Selina had grudgingly agreed to help Darrak and Eden, recognizing that Darrak had changed over the years as much as she had. She was to break the curse and help Eden deal with the black magic they both shared. But before anything could happen, a power-hungry member of the Malleus murdered her. A simple dagger through Selina’s heart was all it took to part the witch from her immortality.
Darrak’s hands clenched at his sides at the memory. He didn’t mourn the witch. Their history hadn’t been a pleasant one. But he mourned the chance to have his curse broken and save Eden.
When a black witch died, her body disintegrated — not unlike the wicked witch in the
Even Selina’s clothes disappeared shortly after her body had. The only thing that remained of Selina was the amulet Eden now wore. Any witch who cared about the state of her soul would wear a similar one. Eden’s, however, was thankfully covered by the green sweater she wore today.
“I know her,” Eden said evenly. “I went to her book signing, and we met the next day for coffee.”
Everywhere they would have been seen together. Ben couldn’t accuse her of lying. Very good. Darrak’s eyes narrowed on the cop to study his reaction.
“Did she say anything that would indicate if she was going anywhere? Or if she felt threatened in any way?” Ben asked.
Eden shook her head. “No. Sorry. I wish I could be more helpful.”
“You’ve been helpful enough,” Darrak said. “We’re done here. Wonderful seeing you again, Ben. Bye, now.”
Ben smiled thinly and his eyes flicked to Darrak. “You sound a bit defensive. But I’m just asking questions today, nothing more. I’m sure Ms. Shaw’s disappearance has nothing to do with you, does it?”
Somehow he managed to make the sentence sound like a direct accusation.
“Of course not,” Darrak replied. “She probably went on vacation and didn’t tell her handlers. She’s a famous author, after all. They’re very flaky.”
Ben’s eyes narrowed. “Of course. And I take you at your word. I know you’re very trustworthy.”
“I appreciate it, Detective.” Two could play the double-meaning game. It was big fun.
Ben’s smile didn’t cover up the overt hatred in his eyes. He’d seen Darrak’s demonic visage, and it was obvious he hadn’t forgotten a horn or talon. After a moment he tore his gaze away from Darrak and turned to Eden. “There’s something else here I want you to look at. Do you know this man?”
He pulled out another photo. A headshot of the guy Eden had been talking to last night at Luxuria. The gay one.
It was important for Darrak to keep Eden’s male acquaintances and their sexual orientations clear in his head. Not that he was being possessive — no pun intended. He was just cautious of her safety.
Eden nodded. “That’s Graham Davis. I knew him back in high school. Haven’t seen him in twelve years until last night. Is he in some sort of trouble?”
“Trouble?” Ben repeated. “I’d say so. He’s dead.”
Eden’s breath left her in a rush as if someone had just punched her in the stomach.
“Graham’s dead?” she managed.
Ben watched her carefully. “Yeah, he is.”
“But — but I just saw him last night.”
“It happened last night.”
Her throat felt tight. It was impossible, the last thing she would have expected. Was Ben serious? Or was he just testing her, checking her reactions and applying it to whatever he thought she had to do with Selina’s disappearance?
Eden caught a quick glimpse of other photos Ben held that he hadn’t yet waved in her face. Pictures of Graham lying in an alley, his eyes open and glassy. It was just a brief look, but it told her everything she needed to know.
Ben wasn’t lying. Graham really was dead.
“He was found out back of the Luxuria nightclub at four a.m., strangled,” Ben told her. “Someone called in an anonymous tip. You were seen with him earlier in the evening.”
Eden felt something wet on her cheek, and she pushed away a tear. “H-he was a good friend. I hadn’t seen him in forever, but we were going to have coffee soon and catch up.”
“A male friend of yours ends up dead. Interesting.” Ben glanced at Darrak.
“Don’t look at me,” Darrak bit back. “I didn’t strangle him.”
“I never said you did. But the fact you’d jump to that conclusion is also interesting, isn’t it?”
Eden gritted her teeth. Ben would look for any reason to accuse Darrak. All he saw was a demon — something to fear. He didn’t know who Darrak really was. “Of course Darrak didn’t do anything. He was with me last night.”
“Yes, I’m sure he was.” The intensity of Ben’s searching gaze was uncomfortable. “You’ve very close, aren’t you?
She’d been waiting for this confrontation since Ben stormed out of her apartment last week, after seeing the
