Page 90 of The Luminosity of Loriana Harper

“They found prints at the scene? Like if you match them, then you’ll know who killed her?” That seemed way too easy. And how many times had people been railroaded? How many false confessions had there been over the years? Sure, this lady seemed nice…but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t nail him for something he didn’t do. She was a cop. His father, for all his lack of parenting abilities, had instilled this one lesson—be wary of law enforcement.

What’s the right thing to do?

Obviously helping the cops find Marjorie’s killer. If he even had something to contribute—which he was quite sure he didn’t.

He did one sweeping glance of the room. He had no idea who’d come to his rescue if he needed it. These men all seemed like stand-up guys, but that didn’t mean anything.

Loriana still watched him with her fathomless brown eyes. Pleading with him. To stay? To go? To fight? To flee?

He just didn’t know.

Yet, in a moment of clarity, the answer hit him. He met Dorrie’s gaze. “I’ll come with you—to answer questions. No fingerprints. None. I didn’t do it, but I’m not going to give you something that you could use to frame me.”

“We would never—”

“Dorrie.”

This time the warning came from Zach.

She met his gaze. They held stares for another few seconds before she returned her attention to Mitch. “Of course. Whatever you can offer. Will you follow me?”

“I don’t want to ride in the back of a police cruiser.” He mightn’t have done anything wrong, but even the thought gave him chills.

“I’ll drive you.” The Irish university professor put down his plate. “Happy to help.”

“Thank you.”

Zach yanked out his cell phone. “I’m calling you a defense attorney. His name’s Arnav Sankar. Don’t say a word until he shows up.” He looked back and forth between the two corporals. “I don’t care if that means you wait all night—he doesn’t speak until he has representation.”

Dorrie nodded subtly.

“Don’t go.” Loriana stepped up to him. “They can’t make you. If you go…” Tears shimmered in her eyes.

“I’ll be back.”

“Will you?”

Her eyes damned him. And even as he wanted to defend himself, the words wouldn’t come.

Declan slapped him on the back. “Come on, mate. I’ll sit with you at the station until your lawyer arrives. You can tell me your impressions of Mission City, and I’ll tell you all the things to avoid.” He glanced at the cops. “And who to give a wide berth to.”

Did the man know something, or was he just being protective? Didn’t matter. Mitch had a savior, and he’d take the offered assistance.

He reached for Loriana, but she stepped back. He wasn’t surprised. “Please tell Marnie I’m sorry for the upset I’ve caused. I hope she has a good Christmas.” He nodded to all the other men in the room. “Nice to have met you all.” He pivoted to the cops. “We’ll meet you down at the station.” Finally, to Declan, he said, “thank you.”

Without another word, he walked out of the dining room.

Chapter nineteen

Whatthefuckjusthappened?

As Loriana watched Colton, Dorrie, Declan, and Mitch leave, panic continued to swirl in her chest. Mitch was leaving. He didn’thaveto leave. According to Zach, he didn’t have to go with the cops. Or, at least, that’s what she understood. And he was innocent. Why wasn’t he protesting his innocence?

A woman is dead.

Mitch didn’t do it.

Well, okay then. So what next? The men seemed to have everything in hand. Zach was in the kitchen on his cell phone talking to a lawyer. Xavier, Darius, and Noel were organizing the food and putting it into containers. Marcus and Owen were caring for Marnie.

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