Page 40 of Monstrous Urges

As weird as it is for the police to just show up unannounced, I sort of was under the impression they wanted to ask me inappropriately leading questions about a client or a current case.

Not ask about me.

“Excuse me?”

“You don’t have to answer that,” Alistair mutters, glaring at them.

“Actually, Mr. Black,” Officer Horton says, her chin dipping, “she does.”

Alistair’s tone turns vicious. “How about you tell us why the fuck you’re here wasting our?—”

“Alistair.” I glance at him and raise my hand slightly. “It’s okay.” I clear my throat and turn to smile at the officers. “I was at the Soho Grand last night.”

I see Alistair frown out of the corner of my eye, probably curious why the hell I was at a fancy hotel and not my own apartment.

“I had a small roach problem at my apartment,” I say glibly. “So I’ve been spending a few nights at the Soho while the chemical spray stuff does its thing.” I smile affably, shrugging. “New York, am I right?”

It’s not the first time I’ve …fibbed…to the police. I’ve bent the truth or lied by omission here and there to help a client, or to push back on officers trying to push too hard past their own legal limits.

But I’m not entirely sure why I’m lying right now. I guess I don’t want to mention Club Venom, and I certainly don’t want to mention the fact that I asked a man from the club’s app to track me and hunt me, and to act out primal kinks with me.

Although after what happened last night, I really don’t understand why I’m not just telling them everything. Or at least the part where that lunatic called me someone else’s name, said I was his fucking wife, and then tried to abduct me.

Because you’re insane, that’s why.

I smile again at the officers when they don’t laugh at my weak joke. “So, yes, that’s where I was last night. I’m sure the hotel can give you a record of my stay. I haven’t checked out yet.”

The two of them glance at each other, then at Alistair.

“Ms. Crown,” Officer Horton murmurs. “Perhaps your partner would like to step outside with mine?”

I frown. “Excuse me?”

She lifts up a phone and clears her throat. “I have something to show you, and it’s a bit…sensitive.”

My brow furrows. “Whatever it is, I’m sure it’s fine if Mr. Black is here.”

“Also, Mr. Black insists on being here as constitutionally mandated legal representation,” Alistair spits with a glare.

“I’m sorry, but I have a seriously packed schedule today,” I mutter. “What exactly is all of this about?”

Officer Horton glances at her partner. He nods and drifts away to the door as she taps something on her phone.

“It’s about this, Ms. Crown.”

She turns the phone toward me.

Instantly, my blood turns to ice, and my stomach drops through the floor.

“Shit,” Alistair mumbles, turning away.

I’m willing to bet it’s not soon enough that he didn’t just see the same thing I just did: security video of a naked woman with wild red hair running through a parking garage with a throw blanket barely around her waist.

It’s footage of me last night, after I escaped from the lunatic.

“That’s enough,” Alistair snaps, still looking away. “Turn that shit off. Now.”

Officer Horton nods, looking uncomfortable herself as she swipes away from the video and tucks the phone into a pocket in her vest.

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