Page 94 of Saint

I take a seat in the chair that faces the captain’s oversized desk. It’s warm in the station, but nothing heats the chill running the length of my spine.

Looking around, the office space is devoid of personal touches. Not one family photo. Not one decoration that hints at who he is as a person.

It reminds me a little of Kole’s bedroom at Sigma House. Unassuming. A mystery.

“Violet Morrow.”

My attention snaps to the man entering the room. His narrowed gaze locks on me as he makes his way over to his desk and drops into the chair. He rests his elbows on the desk, offering me the full force of his attention. And nothing about his posture is relaxed.

If I thought Kole was hard to read, his stepfather might be where he gets it from. His dark eyes barrel into me, and his jaw is clenched as he looks me over. His dark hair is buzzed short, revealing every sharp edge of his features. And when my attention moves to where he’s grazing his thumb over his knuckles, I spot deep scars that make me wonder where he got them.

Kole said his stepfather was the one who taught him how to hunt, and if I had to guess, that’s not the only thing he learned from this man.

“Violet?”

My attention snaps back to his face. “That’s me.”

I hate that my voice goes up in pitch with my nerves. That I clutch my bag in my lap and give myself away so easily.

Captain Evans is all but glaring the longer he stares. It’s almost like he’s annoyed with me when we’ve never met. He’s the one who called me in to meet with him, but he’s scowling like my presence is irritating him.

After watching me for what feels like minutes, he finally leans back, clenching his hands in his lap and tapping one thumb against the back of his other.

“Violet Morrow,” he repeats my name, still not taking his eyes off me. “Nineteen. Born and raised in Sacramento. Barely scraping by until you got your scholarship to Briar and moved to Bristal. Only child of Catherine Morrow, nurse at St. Paul’s Medical Center. And up until a few weeks ago, dating the subject of our investigation, Liam Westwood. Correct?”

My mouth dries, and I’m not sure why he’s listing facts about me instead of asking me questions. But when he doesn’t break his hard stare, I nod in response.

“Good.” Captain Evans leans forward once more, planting his elbows on the desk as he stares me down. “Then I only have one question for you. Does Kole know?”

My eyebrows pinch. “Does Kole know what?”

“You’ve got a bright future, Violet. And from what your professors have said, you’re a smart girl.” He taps the desk at the pace of the clock ticking on the wall. “You’re also the last person Liam was in contact with before he disappeared.”

He pauses, staring me down, and I can’t tell if he’s asking a question or trying to trick me into throwing myself under the bus.

For all he knows, Liam texted Braxton after I was with him that night. So I wasn’t the last person Liam spoke to.

I don’t flinch.

I don’t move.

I don’t offer him an ounce of suspicion.

Kole said his stepfather was the one who taught him to hunt. If that’s true, he’s perceptive. Any hint of fear, and I’ll lose ground.

After a long moment of silence, Captain Evans sits back once more. “No comment?”

“I don’t know who Liam did or didn’t contact after I last saw him. So, no. No comment.”

Captain Evans hums. “You’re awfully cozy with my stepson right after your boyfriend disappeared.”

“Ex-boyfriend.”

He smirks. “You sure about that? You told Braxton it was just a fight, not a breakup.”

“Itwas. But then he never came back.” I sit up taller. “If he wanted a relationship, he should have stayed in town. Or at least, in contact.”

Captain Evans nods. “You still moved on fast.”

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