Page 75 of Tempt Me

“Last I heard, you were wriggling out of an embezzlement charge,” Caden replies sharply.

Carl’s face grows fearful. “I never did anything wrong. Your father couldn’t prove anything.”

“But he blacklisted you,” Caden growls. “Forced you out of your job and left you bankrupt. Gave you a nice motive for revenge, didn’t he?”

“R-revenge?” Carl’s face blanches. “What are you talking about? I never—I don’t know nothing about revenge.”

Caden steps forward, looming over Carl, his biceps flexing. His expression is one of cold fury.

“Don’t you?” Caden says.

Carl is quaking, sputtering some gibberish.

I don’t think scaring him is going to work. I quickly step in front of Caden, subtly pushing him to the side and extending my hand toward Carl.

“Hi,” I say. “I’m Isla.”

Carl blinks, like he only just noticed me. He stops shaking as I give him my kindest smile. Tentatively, he reaches out and shakes my hand. I put on an embarrassed look.

“We’re really sorry to just show up like this but we had a couple of questions we were hoping you could help us with.” I fake a cough and grimace. “I’m sorry, this is so embarrassing…could I have a glass of water? This one drives like a maniac.” I jerk my head at Caden and place my hand on my forehead. “I’m feeling a little dizzy.”

Carl’s eyes flit to the sleek speed machine parked in his driveway. His eyebrows jump.

“Is that a Ducati Nera?” he says.

Caden looks surprised. “Yeah.”

“Didn’t know you rode,” Carl says.

Caden shrugs.

I hold my breath as Carl ogles the bike, then turns to me. “Okay,” he says. “Come in.”

We follow him into the house. The living room is cluttered and smells faintly of stale cigarettes and musty carpets. Carl disappears into the kitchen and I hear a tap turn on.

“I drive like a maniac?” Caden murmurs, his expression amused.

“I had to say something,” I mutter back. “Don’t be so aggressive. You catch more flies with honey.”

Carl comes back and hands me the water.

“Thank you,” I say, gushing effusively. I take a sip. The water tastes as stale as the room.

Carl folds his arms across his chest as a chihuahua with a pink collar trots up to us.

“What did you want to ask me about?” he says.

“My mother,” Caden snaps. I want to kick him in the shin. What part of honey did he not understand?

Carl’s face turns scared again. “I had nothing to do with that,” he protests.

I jump in before Caden can put his foot in his mouth. “We don’t think you did,” I say. “But we know the police talked to you. We just wanted to confirm your alibi.”

“I was with my wife,” Carl says, licking his lips. I get a prickly feeling on the back of my neck, like he’s not being honest.

“Okay,” I say. “Can we talk to her?”

“She not here,” Carl says, his beady gaze darting back and forth between us. “Why would I hurt Marion? She was never anything but kind to me. If I’d wanted to take revenge on anyone—which I didn’t—I would start with Russell himself.”

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