Page 62 of Dark Romeo

“He was the Tyrell’s accountant for many years until he pulled that stunt in court, then disappeared.”

“Are you here to rehash my family history or do you have a question?”

“You have a clean record, Mercutio. Not even so much as a parking ticket.”

I could feel Espo’s eyes on me. Where was I going with this? I was going off script again.

“What’s that got to do with anything?” Mercutio crossed his arms over his chest and met my stare with a cold look. His jaw twitched. I was getting to him, although he was trying hard not to show it.

I just had to push a little further. I had to make him angry. “Why are you friends with someone like Roman Tyrell?”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“We all know his reputation. Violent, aggressive, heir to a Mafia empire… Why do you hang around him? Do you get his protection? Do you work for him? Does he pay you to stick around?”

“It’s not like that,” Mercutio said through gritted teeth.

I kept going. “Or maybe you can’t come to grips with the monster he’s become? Maybe childhood sentimentality keeps you by his side?”

Mercutio’s nostrils flared. His hands flew out from their constricted place across his chest and slammed on the table. He glared at me as if he might leap across at me at any second. “Roman’s a good guy. He’s not like his family. He’s not what everyone thinks he is. He wouldn’t kill anybody.”

I leaned back in my chair, letting Mercutio’s words soak into my bones. I had gotten what I wanted. A passionate, truthful outburst. I wanted to believe Mercutio. I wanted to believe my gut feeling about Roman. But…

Mercutio inhaled loudly, then let out a breath. He sank back into his chair, an uncomfortable look on his face. He’d come into this room determined not to say a bad word about anyone. I had managed to get him to admit how he really felt.

“If you don’t have any more questions for me, detective,” Mercutio’s eyes landed on me. For a second I wondered if Roman had confessed to him about our night together. “We’re done here.”

* * *

“Do you actually believe that guy?” Espo said with a snort. “He actually thinks Roman Tyrell is innocent.”

“Roman’s a good guy.”

I let out an absentminded laugh. Roman, innocent. How funny.

“Either Roman has him fooled or he’s the world’s best actor. I mean, for a second there you looked like you believed him.”

“He’s not like his family. He’s not what everyone thinks he is.”

“You okay, Jules?”

My thoughts were rattling around my head like pans as I entered the interrogation room. Espinoza closed the door behind us.

“About time,” said Rosaline, her voice thick with annoyance.

Rosaline le Monde, socialite daughter of Pearce le Monde, and Roman’s alibi. She sat at the interrogation table, legs crossed, thick waves of perfectly highlighted caramel hair falling over her shoulders, her huge breasts wrapped in an expensive-looking blue dress. Her manicured nails, a garish red, were clicking on the tabletop along with her gold bracelets. Her dark eyes were heavily made up, dark eyeshadow, dark eyeliner, and false eyelashes.

We could have passed for sisters except that Rosaline’s features were sharper, she wore more makeup than I’d ever dream of doing, and her arms were bony while mine were defined.

Roman had a type, it appeared. I fit into it perfectly. Along with how many other women? My fingers tightened on my notepad. My heels struck the floor harder, sounding louder than usual as I stormed across the room and took my seat in front of her. I ignored the curious glance that Espinoza gave me as he sat next to me.

“Thank you for coming in Ms. le Monde,” I said, trying to keep my face and voice passive. Espo and I had decided that it would be better for me to take point on this interview, as my being a woman might make Rosaline feel more at ease. I was not counting on this irrational desire I had to lunge across the table and punch her right in her stupid face.

Rosaline crossed her arms over her obviously fake breasts. “Anything for Romy.”

Romy. What a stupid nickname.

“I assume when you say Romy you mean Roman Tyrell,” I clarified for the interview recording.

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