Page 76 of Diagnosis Attraction

“We told you Derek Lang was running a house of prostitution,” Matt said.

“And bringing women illegally into the Port of Baltimore,” the detective added.

Matt winced. He hadn’t disclosed that information, but Harrison had figured it out. “We were hoping to leave out that part.”

Elizabeth jumped into the conversation. “His death has stopped the traffic, and we don’t want to involve any of the women, but we want to make sure we’re not murder suspects. That’s why we’re meeting like this.”

Leave the women out of it,Matt said, projecting the suggestion to the detective.Leave the women out of it. Theydon’t have to be involved. Lang was dead, and Delano and Forester were innocently involved.

He said the silent words repeatedly, and they watched the man’s face, both praying that he would come to the right conclusions.

“What exactly happened at Lang’s bordello last night?” Harrison asked.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The jackpot question, Matt thought.

“We went to rescue the women. Lang caught us there. He tied Elizabeth up and started torturing her. He had the guy named Southwell take me away to the basement.”

“And how did you get away?”

“I was able to escape when the shooting started upstairs,” Matt said. “Elizabeth was tied up when one of Lang’s guards came in and shot him.”

“Why?” Harrison asked.

“No idea,” Matt answered.

We were there at the wrong time,Matt silently added.We must have entered a dispute between Lang and one of his men. We were lucky to escape with our lives.

“I guess you were lucky to get out of there alive,” Harrison said, and Matt breathed out a little sigh. The guy was buying it.

“The guard named Tony shot Lang. Southwell shot Tony.”

“And how did you get away?”

“I untied Elizabeth, and we fled.”

“How did the fire start?”

Matt shook his head. “No idea.”

We were lucky to get out alive,Matt repeated.You don’t want to punish us for rescuing a bunch of women who were in a terrible situation through no fault of their own.

Harrison looked at Elizabeth. “You had amnesia. How did you get your memory back?”

“Bits and pieces started coming back to me.” She cleared her throat. “Dr. Delano helped me by using hypnosis. Finally, I remembered enough to know about Lang.”

“And why didn’t you come to the police?”

“I’d seen Lang at a reception talking to a police official.”

Harrison’s eyes narrowed. “Which one?”

“I don’t know his name. I only saw him in uniform and realized he and Lang were tight.”

Harrison snorted. “Convenient.”

You know we’re good citizens. You want to help us, and Lang’s death closes the case,Matt suggested.

---