Will gave me a good, long look, his eyes round, pale lips pressed into a tight line. He dragged an enormous hand over his mouth and stubble, then faced forward and slammed his palm down on the piano keys of the bar. Drinks up and down it rattled, and the bartender jumped.
“Two vodkas—make them triples!”
I lifted a brow. “I don’t like vodka.”
He rounded on me. “Good, because they’re both for me!”
The bartender slid a couple of shot glasses to Will, and he downed them both in quick succession, his eyes glassy and face red when he finished. He pointed a long finger at me. “Tell me everything.”
I filled him in on my little adventure through the sewers, then on how Ludolf had threatened Peter to get me to interrogate the rat.
“Then what?” My friend had grown quiet, which was more alarming from Will than yelling.
I gulped and finally got the whisky neat I’d ordered. I nodded my thanks to the bartender as she worked on drinks for Heidi and Peter, then took a sip. The burn in my throat was somehow bracing. I gripped my glass with both hands, squeezing it tight to minimize their trembling. Just recalling the events of last night had me shaken up again.
“Then, he said he owed me one and sent me home.” I shrugged.
“Well, I, for one, am horrified. This is how it starts, Jolene.” Will leaned against the bar next to me and slumped down until his shoulders were nearly level with mine. “It’s a slippery slope with Ludolf. No one means to sell their soul to the devil—it doesn’t happen in one lump sale. No, it happens bit by bit.” His words dripped with bitterness as he sipped the gin and tonic he’d ordered after his shots.
I shook my head. “Yeah, well, not with me.” If Daisy had been here, she would have barked. Even I knew I was lying to myself. “That’s it. I’m done with him.”
Will scoffed. “Really? And if he summons you again?”
I shrugged. “I won’t go. What’s he gonna do? Sic Neo and the boys on me?” I sipped my whiskey, the fumes tickling my nose. “Neo’s half afraid of me—I’ve known him since he was four and picked his nose.”
Will spun the glass with his long fingers. “Don’t underestimate Ludolf. And don’t cross him.” He huffed. “I don’t want to have to read about your body being dredged from a canal in The Conch, okay? I don’t need any more nightmares, Jolene!”
The bartender slid us Peter’s bottle of beer and Heidi’s Chu-Hi. I grabbed the bottle and my own drink. “On that cheery note…” I flashed my eyes. “Shall we?”
Will gave a solemn nod and scooped up his drink and Heidi’s, then led the way to the other room to find our friends.
19
AN ALIBI
Peter, though off-duty, looked so much like a cop he’d actually managed to get one of the tiny tables in front of the jazz band when a group cleared out at the sight of him. The four of us squeezed around it, Will’s massive shoulders bunched up in his ears, though he closed his eyes and seemed so lost in the music he didn’t appear to care.
Heidi chatted happily with a couple she knew at the next table, and I sat in awkward silence, my arm barely touching Peter’s, pretending to pay attention to the songs, though keenly aware of how close he sat. Finally, the set ended and Amarina announced they’d be back after a short break.
Peter waved at her, and her dark eyes landed on him with a heavy look. She gathered up her long, glittering gown and slid through the crowd toward us. She was slowed down by patrons heaping compliments on her, but eventually made her way over. Peter rose and gave her his seat, then stood, hands shoved in his jeans pockets, beside her.
She crossed her arms and legs and bounced her foot as she looked from Peter to me, then to Will and Heidi, who leaned in, listening eagerly.
“I remember you from last night.” She raised a thin brow at Peter. “You’re a cop, right?”
He nodded. “Though I have to be honest, I’m not here on official business.”
I fought hard to not roll my eyes. Oh, what an honest Boy Scout.
“So what do you want?”
I watched the singer closely. She looked uncomfortable, and though she was fronting with sass, I could tell from her bouncing foot and the slight tremble in her strong voice that she was nervous.
I blinked innocently at her. “Just to ask you a few questions.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“I checked the records—turns out a few months ago, the now deceased Officer Dylan Davies took out a restraining order against you.” Peter shifted on his feet, widening his stance. “Why?”
Amarina dropped her gaze to the side. “We met at last year’s police ball.” She shrugged her bare shoulders. “We dated for a few months.” Her expression darkened. “Before he abruptly dumped me for that bottom feeder, Nanka.”
I leaned forward as the crowd milled around us, to hear better. “Nanka? That was the blond from last night?”
Amarina nodded. I thought back to the ladies’ room, and the way she’d pushed her way in, crying. I could relate to the feeling of running into your ex with someone you’d rather not see them with. Had this been what triggered her breakdown? Or could it have been triggered by shoving Davies overboard to his death?
“What prompted Davies to get the restraining order?” Peter kept his face expressionless.
Amarina touched her tongue to her teeth. “I may have followed them on a date through the canals…”
Oh right, she was a mermaid.
“…and splashed them with my tail.”
Heidi burst into giggles, then quickly stifled them by covering her mouth and pretending to be interested in twirling her ice cubes around with her straw.
Amarina’s dark cheeks flushed. “See?” She gestured at Heidi, who was still struggling to stifle her grin. “It wasn’t my finest hour, but it
