Page 137 of Beautiful Cruelty

"Ms. McKinney," he says, extending his hand. "I'm Captain Elwood Rutledge. Please, have a seat."

I shake his hand and lower myself into the empty chair in front of him, keeping my eyes fixed on the captain's desk. The nameplate gleams under the fluorescent lights, and I focus on that instead of the way Nathan's ring feels like it's burning into my finger.

"I know this must be a big shock to you," Captain Rutledge says, settling back into his chair. His voice carries a gentle tone that somehow makes me more nervous. "We have quite a few things to discuss regarding Mr. Walker's death."

He offers what I suppose is meant to be a sympathetic smile, but those razor-sharp eyes never stop studying my face.

"What do you mean?”

Captain Rutledge leans forward, resting his forearms on his desk. Those piercing eyes never leave my face. "We believe Mr. Walker's death is connected to a larger criminal network. The body shows all the hallmarks of professional processing."

"Professional…” My throat goes dry. “Processing?"

"The body was systematically altered to make identification difficult," he explains, his tone clinical. "All the teeth were removed, along with fingers and toes. Methodically too, I mightadd. It’s usually done when the perpetrators want to prevent identification through dental records or fingerprints."

I fold my fingers together in an attempt to steady myself.

"There were also regular puncture wounds throughout the body, around the lungs, stomach, and intestinal cavity," Rutledge continues. "This prevents gas buildup in the body, ensuring that it sinks rather than floats. We were very lucky that he washed up at all."

I keep my eyes fixed on Rutledge's nameplate, trying to process what he's saying while I remain silent.

"This level of methodical mutilation." Rutledge says, shuffling some papers on his desk. “Is likely indicator of Russian Mafia involvement.”

But I barely hear him anymore. My mind races to connect the dots.Kirsan. It has to be. Nathan was working for him, moving money through fashion houses. Maybe Nathan knew too much, or tried to back out...

"I'd like to ask you a few questions about the night of Mr. Walker's death if you don’t mind,” Captain Rutledge says, pulling out a notepad. “Starting with where you were.”

"At the Vorobyov memorial retrospective." My voice comes out steadier than I expect. “A charity event."

"And why didn't you file a missing person's report when Mr. Walker disappeared? Why was it Ms. Riley who did so?"

"I was in Paris." I twist Nathan's ring around my finger, hating how it feels as I remember what Vadim had texted Megan on my behalf. "Taking time away to process Nathan cheating on me by blowing up my honeymoon budget."

"Ms. Riley indicated inhermissing person’s report that Mr. Walker tried to break things off with you two weeks prior to his murder,” Rutledge says, his eyes never leaving my face. "What's your version of the story?"

“I caught them in his office the night before he died." My hands clench in my lap. "Up until that moment, I had no idea he was cheating on me."

"That's not what Ms. Riley told us." Rutledge's voice takes on an edge. "Are you saying she's lying?"

"Yes." The word comes out sharp and clear.

"What is your version of the story?"

"I told you already." I meet his gaze steadily. "I caught them together in his office. Did I yell? Of course I did. What woman wouldn't yell when she finds her fucking fiancé balls deep in his secretary, three days before her wedding? But if you are insinuating that I had anything to do with Nathan's death, or that I might know anything about the bratvas?—"

"Bratvas?" Rutledge's eyebrow cocks up. "How do you know that term?"

My heart slams against my ribs.Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!One stupid word and everything's falling apart.

"I... I read about it." The lie sounds unbelievable even to myself. "In a book."

"What book?" Rutledge's eyes bore into me.

"Some crime romance novel." My palms are sweating, and I wipe them on my skirt. "I don't remember the title."

"Ms. McKinney, I will be very frank with you in the hopes that you extend me the same courtesy." Rutledge's eyes look down at my hands for a brief moment before he leans forward, his voice hardening. "In the week since Mr. Walker's body was discovered with telltale signs of Russian Mafia involvement, we've seen an unprecedented surge of violence across Seattle. Multiple clubs and businesses have been hit. Almost every one of them burned to the ground. And do you know what they also all have in common?"

I try to keep my breathing steady, but it's hard. He's talking about what Vadim is doing.

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