Page 5 of Luna & Andres

"We're wondering if you saw or heard anything," her partner added.

"Why should we hear anything? Wasn't that a few blocks down?" I pointed out.

"It's just a general inquiry of those who live in the vicinity," Officer Pararius told me. "And we hoped someone could identify this individual." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a photo.

Red took the photo and frowned. "He does look a little familiar. Leila, what do you think?" He held out the photo to me.

I accepted the photo and studied the face. My eyes involuntarily widened. The picture was of Mortale. He stood in front of a white background and held a black board against his chest. On the board was a string of numbers, but no name.

I squinted. The tiny hairs behind his ears caught my attention.

"That's a mugshot of the interested person taken about six months ago," Officer Pararius spoke up.

I pulled back and shook my head. "Can't say that I've seen him." I handed the photo back to Red.

He frowned. "I don't know. I think I've seen him around." I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at him. He pursed his lips, but sighed and shrugged. "Or maybe I haven't. He's just kind of familiar."

"The manager, Mr. Meyer, told us he thought the man was a new tenant," Officer Leno informed us.

I snorted. "Meyer doesn't remember faces, he remembers payments."

"He seemed to remember your face quite well this morning," Officer Pararius pointed out.

I shrugged. "I just gave him a big down payment on this place."

"He also informed us you formerly held the room occupied by the suspect," the officer added.

I raised an eyebrow. "So what's your point?"

"We thought perhaps you might have struck up a minor relationship with the new occupant," Leno explained.

I shook my head. "No."

"You're sure?" Officer Leno persisted. Her narrowed eyes shifted from Red to me. "He's a dangerous criminal. We suspect he's killed several people within the last week."

"Positive, and if that's all you wanted to ask then I'd like to ask you to leave. I need to make my dinner."

Officer Leno's smile widened to an unbearably tight width. She stood, and her partner followed suit. "Of course, we understand." She stretched out her hand. "Thank you both so much for your time."

"I hope you catch the culprit soon," Red replied as he shook her hand.

"As do we," Leno agreed as she shook my hand in turn. "You two have a safe night now."

Red showed the pair to the door and shut it behind them. I went to the kitchen and pulled out a box of cereal. He followed me to the kitchen.

His voice was tense. "Why'd you lie to them?"

I poured a bowl and went to the fridge. "Because their photo was a fake," I told him as I opened the fridge door. "I could see the photoshop cutting on the hairs beneath his ears."

"So what?" he returned.

I spun around and glared at him. "You knew, and you were still going to tell them?" I snapped.

"He tried to kill both of us, remember?" Red pointed out.

My eyes narrowed. "What if you're wrong? What if Mortale was the other one? The one that saved me?"

Red started back. His eyes widened a moment before his eyebrows crashed down. "Even if he was the other one that'd still make him a monster."

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