Page 106 of Syncopation
Maybe that was what Dom needed to hear, because he took a breath and nodded.
“He was drinking.” Carl’s sharp voice.
They both flinched, and Zavier rounded on Carl. “He wasnot.”
“Yousure about that?” Carl nodded back at a tumbler that looked to be a half-drunk gin and tonic sitting on a high-top cocktail table.
Zavier knew, without a doubt, Ray wouldn’t have touched alcohol. Not tonight, not when so much was on the line.
“Did he have a drinking problem?” That was from the paramedic.
“Yes.” Carl’s smile was horrific.
“No,” all three of them—Dom, Mish, and Zavier—answered,in echo of each other.
Zavier continued, “He never did. That was the spin the label decided on.” He glared at Carl. “You know Kevin admitted to being in rehab, right?”
When they lifted Ray onto the stretcher, Zavier put his back to Carl and clasped Dom’s shoulder again. “Go with him. We’ll handle things here.”
Because this—being here to counteract Carl—was how Zavier could help Ray.
Dom nodded, then was jogging after the paramedics.
Zavier turned to Carl. “You know he’s never had an issue with drinking.” He strode toward the other man. “And yet, every fucking time, you blame it on Ray boozing it up, as if he were some out-of-control drunk.” He went straight past Carl to the glass he’d pointed out. “When in reality he hasn’t touched a drop since Kevin left the band.”Zavier leaned over and sniffed. Tonic. Lime. That was all. “This is tonic water.”
“Must not be his glass.” Carl glared at him, seething.
A flash went off—cameras. Phones. Recording. Good.
“It’s his glass.” A man in the simple black slacks, apron, and vest of the bartenders tonight stepped forward. “I watched him put it there before he stumbled. And I served him tonic and lime, likehe asked.” His gaze flicked from Carl to Zavier. “That’s all Mr. Van Zeller has had to drink tonight.” He paused and focused on Carl. “You even heard him order that one. Watched me make it.”
From the corner of his eye, Zavier caught the edge of another uniform—this one not a paramedic’s. Not security, either. He met the police officer’s gaze. Cop stared back. “Did you touch the glass?”
“No. I just leaned over the table and sniffed it.”
He nodded once. “You, and you, and you.” He pointed to the bartender, Carl, and Zavier in turn. “Stay here. Don’t touch a damn thing.”
“You should pull the security tapes,” Zavier murmured. A hideous, horrible inkling formed in the back of his mind. Carl wanted Ray to act drunk. There were ways to do that. Drugs you could use. He’d alreadyset Ray up once.
The cop eyed him. “Already being done.” He glanced around. “You three stay here. Everyone else needs to leave this area.” He paused. “Now.” That word was ground out with enough authority that the gawkers finally moved, taking their phones with them. They were directed by some additional police to another area of the venue, away from them, presumably to get statements.
Zavier stared at Carl, that smug bastard. And watched as the smugness melted to worry and fear.Oh, you fucking asshole of a man. If you hurt him, I will kill you.
Zavier pulled out his phone and texted Dom.R may have been drugged. Roofie or something. Still figuring it out.
Across the room, Mish waved as she was ushered out. “Go to the hospital. I’ll meet you there,” Zavier called.
Carl snorted. “Since when did you become the leader of the band?”
“I’m not.” Zavier tucked away his phone. “Ray’s our leader. Has been all this time.” He cocked his head. “Right now? I’m playing band manager, since ours is an incompetent fool.”
Carl started toward him.
“Don’t.” Zavier’s command rang out, momentarily silencing the entire room and stopping Carl in his tracks. “Don’t eventhinkit. I won’t touch you, but if you lay a hand on me, I will rip it off and shove it down your throat.”
Three police officers descended upon them, and the rest of the night became another blur of questions and answers and anger checked and choked back and checked again. His phone buzzed multiple times, but he didn’t answer. Didn’t look.
Probably shouldn’t have talked to the cops, either,but the worry and fear crept in enough to cloud common sense. Yes, he had threatened to rip Carl’s hand off—but Carlhadbeen storming toward him. Yes, there was a history of animosity between Carl and Ray and the band. No, he didn’t know why.
