Page 114 of False Evidence

“My room was already cleaned an hour ago.”

“Right. Sorry. My mistake.” She hung up as if the phone was on fire.

She took a deep breath. So. Alex had been with JT Talon last night. So what?

Sure, Talon had it in for Russ—and maybe even Brent—but that didn’t mean he would frame Russ for drugging Alex. That was ludicrous. Alex had spent last night with the guy, and she was fine today.

Or was she?

Was there any chance JT Talon had drugged her? One side effect of GHB was hallucinations. It would explain her claiming Russ and Brent had been here today.

Brent had denied it.

She picked up the phone to call Brent back, but there was a knock on the door.

The Bethesda police officer was young. A year or two older than Kendall. His nameplate said WILLIAMS in all caps. “Can I help you, Officer?”

He gave her a smarmy grin that made her belly sink. This wasn’t going to be good.

“Ms. Gordon, I presume?”

“Yes?” She didn’t mean to make it a question, but her voice wouldn’t cooperate.

He cocked his head, his gaze scanning her from head to foot. “May I come in?”

Years of watchingLaw & Ordertold her to close the door, but the foolish idea that she could clear this all up in an instant had her opening the door wider. “Of course.”

He stepped into the apartment, then closed the door behind him, studying the lock. “New.”

Kendall’s throat was dry. “Yes. Alex changed the locks earlier today.”

“I was here earlier.”

“I presumed that. Why did you come back?”

The man gave an awful grin. “Because I saw the fingerprint results on the GHB vial taken from Russ Spaulding on Friday night.”

She cleared her throat. “What…what are you talking about?”

“I think you know, Ms. Gordon.” He reached for his belt. But instead of pulling a weapon, he unlatched it. “On your knees. Do a good job, and I can make this go away.”

“What?”

“You’re a smart woman. A graduate student in engineering. Don’t play dumb with me. On. Your. Knees.” He unzipped his fly.

“Whose fingerprints were on the vial?” she whispered.

“Yours.”

“How do you know they’re mine?” But she knew the answer. She’d been fingerprinted when she worked as a teacher aide at an elementary school years ago.

“Your prints are on file. We got more prints today when your roommate insisted we dust for prints after you gave your boyfriend a key without her permission.”

She’d given Brent the key, but never in her wildest dreams had she imagined this. Were her fingerprints really on the vial? Was it the same one he’d given her Friday night?

Or was this cop setting her up?

Brent loved her. He’d said so. She believed him. He’d never met anyone who made him feel like she did. They were going to have fun together with some consensual enhanced sex. Other people took X and talked about it like it was ice cream on Christmas while watching the most beautiful sunset and riding a roller coaster.

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