Page 8 of Once Upon a Curse for True Love
She shifted in her seat.“Well…”
“Miss Swan.”His voice hardened.“Now is not the time for selective disclosure.”
She blew out a puff of air.“Fine.It also might’ve projected ‘my penis is small’ on his screen whenever he used the hashlib function.”
Donatello had to fight the twitch in his mouth.Besides being a knockout, the witch had a sense of humor, he’d give her that.She grimaced after confessing, a slight flush rising to her cheeks, and he had to suppress a full smile.For a murder suspect, she was proving to be entertaining.And hex it all, she was gorgeous even in disheveled loungewear with her hair a mess and dark circles under her eyes.
“It was a dumb prank,” she insisted.“If I wanted to send him a murderous curse, I would’ve covered my tracks, not slapped my signature at the bottom and used my IP address.I don’t leave fingerprints—not unless I mean to.But I made sure he knew it came from me.And even if something went wrong with my spell… it couldn’t have killed him.”Her voice cracked on the last words.
Donatellowantedto believe her.Which was why he needed to step back and let the evidence speak for itself.
He stood, gathering the folder.“I’ll need to verify your claims with our tech team.They’re analyzing the remains of the curse.”
“How long will that take?”Those whiskey eyes searched his face.Pleadingly?Defiantly?
“As long as necessary.”He forced his tone to remain neutral.“In the meantime, you’ll stay here.”
He was nearly at the door when she called him back.
“Detective?Could I… mmm… have something hot to drink?It’s freezing in here.”
Donatello turned, and his gaze automatically dropped to her chest again.That flimsy sweatshirt did little to hide how the cold was affecting her.Curves.Peaks.Sharp outlines he was trying very hard not to notice.
Yeah, she could have something hot to drink—and a damn fur coat while they were at it.Something thick enough to let him finish this interrogation without losing his mind.
“I’ll see what I can do.”
Chapter five
Arresting Looks
ANDROMEDA
Andromeda stared at her reflection in the one-way mirror.The fluorescent lights of the interrogation room made her look even more exhausted than she felt.Five minutes had passed since Detective Hot-and-Hostile had left.She wondered if he’d come back with that tea and what would happen next.If this was how her freedom ended: arrested for murder in melting mascara and ice cream-stained pajamas.If she had to get a mugshot, the Fates could’ve at least granted her a touch of glam.But no, raccoon eyes it was.
The door creaked open, and Andromeda straightened, expecting Malatesta’s broad shoulders and judgmental scowl.Instead, a young officer poked her head in.
“Miss Swan?I brought you a moonlight tea and a blanket.”The woman stepped inside, balancing a steaming mug in one hand and a folded gray blanket in the other.
Andromeda blinked in surprise.“Oh.Thanks.”
The officer placed the mug in front of her and draped the blanket over Andromeda’s shoulders.
Andromeda wrapped the fleece tighter around herself, grateful for its warmth even as she grappled with the unexpected development that Hot-and-Hostile wasn’t also heartless.
The officer retreated to the door.“Someone will be with you soon.”
Soon was a relative term.The tea had long gone cold, and Andromeda had counted the ceiling tiles three times before the door opened again.
Sarah Michelle charged in, her dark bob disheveled and her eyes red from lack of sleep.She didn’t say a word, crossed the room in three quick strides, and pulled Andromeda into a fierce hug.
“Are you okay?”Her friend grabbed Andromeda’s shoulders and scanned her face.
“I’m fine,” she wobbled.Andromeda hadn’t realized how scared she’d been until this moment, with her friend’s arms around her.“Just cold.And confused.And hungry.”
Sarah Michelle’s expression darkened.“I’m going to hex Malatesta with something vicious.”
“I’d pay to watch that.”Andromeda managed a weak smile.“But I’d rather go home.Am I free to go?Or am I still being charged with cursing dead a guy I’ve never even met in person?”
