“Yes. Jax Bishop. He’s my husband. We’re just in town to look around and see if we can find some new things to add to our yearly shipping selection. We live much further up the mountain, and we try to buy things in bulk for the town before the winter. You don’t care about any of that, do you? Anyway, the worst thing has happened. My husband, Mr. Bishop, he’s been arrested for something he absolutely didn’t do. I don’t think the police are trying to look for anyone else.”

Michael nodded at me sympathetically. “That is awful. Would you like something to drink?

I’ve got some water and soda in the back.”

My hand flew to my throat. “That would be amazing, thank you. I don’t know that I’ve had any water all day. I’m so upset. The town lawyer isn’t here, so someone is coming from out of town, and he’s just been sitting in jail. I’m so desperate at this point.”

“Just a minute. Do you want to come back here with me? I’ve got a few seats back here.”

“No, thank you. I don’t want to intrude any more than I already am. Just the water would be great.”

With a smile, he popped around the back and returned a little bit later with an opened bottle of water.

Like I was going to drink that.

I tipped it back, letting it slide in my mouth before spitting it back out in the bottle and coughing. “Oh, sorry. I think that went down the wrong way.”

I continued to cough. “Napkin?” I rasped. “Or paper towel?”

“Absolutely. Give me one second.” Eyes wide, he hurried back to the office, and I dumped half the water out into the potted plant. By the time he’d returned, I’d pretended to get it under control.

He all but grinned when he saw my half-empty water bottle. “I’m sorry to hear about your husband. How can I help you?”

“Do you have any security cameras on the property?”

“Yes ma’am. For the parking lot and the front of the motel,” he said as he puffed up his chest. “We pride ourselves in safety here.”

I just bet he does.

“Have the police asked for any?”

Michael shook his head. “I’m so sorry. I don’t think they have.”

“Of course they haven’t. They are so certain that he is guilty. The police won’t tell me anything, but eventually, they’re going to have to tell me when those poor girls died. My husband was with me all night, and those cameras are going to prove it. You’d be willing to hand them over, right?”

“Yes. Absolutely! That’s what they’re there for! In fact, we can review them right now if you want. Come on back. Are you feeling okay?”

“Am I?” I blinked at him. “I…I do feel a little woozy.”

“You’re weaving back and forth. You might lose consciousness soon. You should sit down.”

“Why…why would I lose consciousness?” I stumbled to the left and looked down at the water. “What did you do?”

“I drugged you, of course.” His voice was calm and patient. “You’re a beautiful woman, you know. Generally, with beautiful women, I play with them. I might play with you too, although I’ve been told explicitly not to. What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him.”

I fell, and he caught me easily. I just moaned and clutched the water as he dragged me to the back office. “My…husband….” I muttered.

“Your husband is going to prison. My brother is going to see to it. I almost wished he wasn’t going to take the fall for it. Killing those women was such a rush. My brother and I both agreed that we’d be into doing it again. We could terrorize this town, but alas, we can’t take credit for those women. She looked a lot like you, you know. For a second, I thought you were returning from the dead.”

He was just so helpful and chatty as he dragged me to the office. He dropped me and turned around. “What the fuck?” he shouted.

Quickly, I was on my feet and slammed the office door shut. “Hello pretty girls.” Amelia and Kenzi’s wolves rumbled in greeting as they circled Michael. He turned his head to me, but I was in his way.

“What the hell is going on?” He asked nervously.

I pointed to the button adorning the top of my skirt. Frankly, the camera looked ridiculously out of place, but Finn and Saul both agreed that Michael wasn’t even likely to realize it was a camera. He’d be too busy staring at my cleavage.

“What’s going on, Michael, is that I have you on camera. Frankly, I was just going to get evidence of you drugging me. Just so there is no confusion, this is one of those nifty date rape drug detectors.” I pulled the coaster out of my pocket and poured a little bit of water on it.