Page 71 of Perfect Fling

Chapter Fourteen

Cole and Mikeheaded to the precinct, leaving an angry Erin behind with Cara. Although she wanted to be there, and Cole respected the desire, he, Mike, and Cara thought it was a bad idea to put her in the same vicinity as the woman stalking her.

Now, at the precinct and knowing Victoria was a room away, Cole wanted to burst in and question her himself, but Mike refused. “Let us do our jobs. Sam’s in with her now.”

“Then let me watch.”

Silence settled around them in Mike’s office as the other man studied Cole. “You look ready to explode.”

“You’re damn right. But I know how to keep it together.”

Mike inclined his head. “Let’s go, but don’t make me regret this.”

A few minutes later, Cole found himself on the opposite side of the glass, watching Sam and Victoria, knowing she couldn’t see him.

He shoved his hands in the back pockets of his jeans and studied the scene in front of him.

Sam sat with his back to the mirrored window. Victoria stared at him, while Mike studied her. Granted, it had been a while since he’d seen her last, but she looked... different.

He braced his arm on the wall and leaned in closer, trying to figure out what was off. “I want to hear.”

“You promise to stay calm?” Mike asked.

Cole nodded.

Mike flipped the switch, turning on the sound.

“Let’s try this again,” Sam said. “What’s your name?”

“Is he kidding?” The muscles in Cole’s arm strained from holding back his anger.

Mike placed a restraining hand on his shoulder. “Listen.”

“How many times do we have to go over this? No matter how often you ask me, the answer’s the same. Nicole Farnsworth.”

“Victoria’s maiden name is Farnsworth. Parents are rich. Disapproved of their daughter getting involved with a known mob guy. She ran off with him anyway,” Cole said.

But why wasn’t she owning up to who she was?

“Did you fingerprint her?” Cole asked.

“I checked when we arrived. She was printed and booked for trespassing as soon as she came in. We’re running her prints.”

Cole set his jaw. “What about the rest of the charges? Attempted murder, stalking...”

“We’ll get there. For now, we just need enough to hold her.”

Cole studied the woman carefully. Same dark hair, longer than he remembered, but again, time had passed. She dressed differently than Victoria. More casual. Victoria was always well-groomed, to perfection, in fact. Full face of makeup, dark lipstick, hair teased. This Victoria was... softer.

That was the word he’d been searching for. Softer. More gentle. And she said her name was Nicole.

Cole narrowed his gaze, then pulled out his cell and dialed. “I need information on Victoria Maroni’s siblings. ASAP,” Cole said into the phone, then hung up without waiting for a response.

“You think she’s telling the truth?” Mike asked.

Cole nodded, hating what that meant. “The woman in there with Sam? She couldn’t spend five minutes with Vincent Maroni and not get eaten alive.”

Mike swore. Cole understood, because it meant Victoria was still out there. At least Erin was with Cara, a trained police officer, which soothed him—just barely.

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