Page 34 of Dark Desire
Of course, I knew they hadn’t. And I knew they never would. Because the man they were looking for was a supernatural who didn’t leave traces of DNA behind. Lucky him.
PC Mawdly opened a folder with a sigh. “Do you recognise this, Miss Knightsbridge?”
I leaned forward to look at the photograph he had just pulled out and pushed towards me. A photo of a large shovel. Oh fuck.
“Um, yes. That’s mine. Well, actually, it's not. It was in the church when I moved in.” Stay as close to the truth as possible. That was the best way.
“We tested fragments of the soil found on the spade with that from the crime scene and found it matched,” he said, cocking hishead to the side. My eyes widened, hoping to show my shock. “How do you explain that, Miss Knightsbridge?”
My eyes shifted over to PC Reid. She stared at me blankly. “I, um, don’t know. I guess whoever dug the grave up could have used it?”
“Seems the most logical explanation,” he said in a condescending tone. I licked my lips.
“I didn’t do it. If that is what you are implying. Anyone could have taken that spade and used it. I leave it out on the porch most of the time with the other gardening tools.”
“Except your fingerprints are the only ones found on it.”
I swallowed. My heart thundered. My palms were sweating. I couldn’t think clearly. Fuck. How? How did I get out of this?
PC Mawdly leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. “Why did you dig up the grave, Darcelle?”
“I didn’t!” Deny, deny, deny. “Do I need a lawyer? I think I need a lawyer.” I had no idea how to get a lawyer. My head swerved to the door. “Are you arresting me? Or am I free to go after this?”
“You are certainly not free to go, Miss Knightsbridge.”
“Why would I do this? Huh? Why would I dig up a grave for no reason on my own property? It makes no sense.”
The door opened again and another officer entered and placed a large, old book on the table between us. I stopped breathing. No. How did they get that?
“Do you recognise this?”
I shook my head, staring at the spell book I had stolen from the village's history museum to try and summon a demon. I’d left it behind when I time-weaved and when I went back for it the next day it was gone.
“This is an artefact that belongs in St Wythren’s history museum. Do you know where we found it?”
I shook my head again, my face paling and body shaking.
“In your church. Sitting right on the coffee table.” My eyes bulged. That fucking wanker! He set me up. “Which raises two more questions. How did it come to be in your possession? And what would you need a book like this for?”
“I’m being framed!” I blurted, desperation flooding through my veins. “I’ve never even seen that book before. I don’t know how it ended up in the church. Honestly, you have to believe me!” I pleaded with Reid, hoping she’d be easier to persuade.
“Who would be trying to frame you for these things?”
“I-er,” My breathing was rapid and my mind was frantic. I just needed to place doubt. I needed them to doubt my involvement. “Beryl Dorestone!” PC Mawdly scoffed. “It’s true! She hates my guts. Since arriving in this town, she’s been trying to drive me out. She spreads all sorts of rumours about me, trying to convince everyone I’m killing cows and I’m a crazy witch or something. This is so obviously something she would do. I bet she is the one who phoned in the grave. Am I right?”
The officers glanced at each other and then back at me. “You expect us to believe that little, frail old woman dug up a grave?”
I hesitated. “N-no. I think she got someone to do it for her.”
“These are serious allegations you are making about a long-standing member of our community, Miss Knightsbridge.”
I chewed on my bottom lip. Now that I knew my masked assassin was the same man living in Beryl’s home, I was convinced she played some part in all of this, but whether willingly or not was another thing entirely. Was I really trying to get a little old woman arrested?
“I know I sound insane,” I sighed, dropping my head in my hands. “Maybe it’s not her. But it wasn’t me either. I’m innocent.”
PC Mawdly slammed the folder shut. “We will be back shortly. Sit tight while we look into these allegations.”
They both stood up and left the room. I threw my head back and groaned. Fuck my actual life. I had to get out of there. I couldn’t be arrested. It was highly inconvenient. I had to find the raven. I had to change him back. I had to summon a demon to help me. And I had to do it before that asshole killed me. Two days. I had two flipping days.
