Page 74 of Mann Hunt
Michael shrugged. “Just me and my lawyers. Monarch said they would handle all the negotiations.”
Declan pressed him. “Do you know who negotiated with Ian?”
“They never told me.”
“And Ian had no idea the two of you were connected to the sale?” Declan asked.
Katherine stood up and said, “I couldn’t let him know I was trying to get him to sell. He would think it was a betrayal.” She moved towards the window and looked out.
Declan thought for a moment. “Now that Ian is dead, who gets the building?”
Katherine said, “I suppose I do.”
“And what do you plan to do with it?” Declan asked.
Katherine turned back and looked at Declan. “Once this whole nightmare is over, I guess I’ll sell it and go back to London.”
Declan was still confused. “So, why did you make up the story of you two being lovers?”
She sighed. “I thought if I told you the truth, you’d think I was involved in Ian’s disappearance.”
“Are you?” Declan pushed.
“No! If I was, why would I have hired you?” she said as she plopped herself back onto the couch.
“Getting back to the building,” Declan continued, “if you sell it, Michael will still see a healthy commission.”
Michael clenched his fists. “Yes, but I had nothing to do with Ian’s death.”
“If I’m gonna believe that, I need a name. Who have you been dealing with?”
“I have no idea,” Michael said. Declan could see the frustration on his face. “Everything has always been through emails from Monarch Development.”
“Come on,” Declan said, “you must have signed some sort of retainer agreement.”
“It was a digital signature,” Michael said, looking down at his lap. “It was just a series of numbers.”
Declan groaned in frustration. “I’m going to need to see a copy of that.”
“I’ll send it to you when I get home,” Michael replied.
“Good,” Declan said as he got up to leave. Just before he reached the door, he turned around. “If you want me to find Ian’s killer, no more lies.”
He got back into his van, drove home and pondered the fact that, even if they were telling the truth, the two of them still had the motive to kill Ian.
Declan climbed the stairs to the office. As he slid the key into the lock of the upper door, something struck him as odd. He knew he had shut the office lights off, but the frosted glass of the door glowed softly.For fuck’s sake. Not tonight. I’m not in the mood for a fight with Brick Wall. I should have set the alarm.
As quietly as possible, he unlocked the door. He swung it inwards, hoping to catch the intruder unaware. He was so tired that if it turned out to be Brick Wall, he’d just let him beat the crap out of him and get it over with.
Declan sensed no movement in the office area, or squeaks from the floor above. Maybe they’d come and gone, or maybe Declan had just forgotten to shut the lights off. He turned to close the door and saw the intruder. Charlie was curled up on the sofa, sound asleep.
Declan sat across from him. He saw the bandage on his forehead and noticed the bruising on his left bicep, probably from where Monarch’s thug had grabbed him when he slammed him into the van.
Charlie’s eyelids fluttered open and he took in a sharp breath. Declan watched his face shift from peaceful to worried, then back again in a matter of seconds. He pushed himself up to a sitting position.
Declan stared at him. “I thought I dropped you at home so you could rest.”
Charlie fidgeted a bit on the couch. “I had a huge fight with my folks. Dad caught me icing my ribs. He saw all the bruises and… He kinda freaked out.”
