Page 83 of Silent Vendetta (Vendetta Duet)

“Do I?”

“You want to hold people accountable for their crimes, and these victims were all accused of violent crimes.”

“I spend my days working within the legal system. It’s a pretty far leap to say I’d suddenly break all the laws I was spending my days to uphold.”

“You have a traumatic past, with your father’s death.”

“You searching the home of everyone who had a rough childhood?”

Rinaldi’s posture stiffened, her eyes narrowing as she took a sharp breath.

They had done limited research to see if I had an airtight alibi on any of the nights in question without asking me, which, of course, I didn’t. Some person came up with the hypothesis that the Windy City Vigilante was someone inside the courthouse and probably plucked well-known people inside that day as possible candidates. Then Rinaldi caught a glimpse of the Vigilante’s car through a grainy security camera. None of this would be grounds for even an informal search, let alone a warrant. And certainly not incriminating enough to justify the mayor coming to my door.

That was until Luna planted the seed in his ear that she thought the Vigilante might be someone she knew. Narrowing the list of suspects from Chicago’s three million residents to a handful.

“If you would allow us to look in your garage, perhaps we could exclude you,” Rinaldi said.

Son of a bitch. I wanted to deny them access out of principle alone. This was insulting to come to my home on such flimsy grounds, but if I refused, it would only heighten their suspicions.

Sean had clearly egged them on, and Mayor Kepler’s reelection campaign was going into overdrive next week. So here he was, trying to catch the Windy City Vigilante just in time to look like a hero. So desperate and pressured for time, he was making mistakes.

I wanted Sean to look like a complete dumbass at this moment. So, there was that, too.

I sighed, playing the role of someone who had nothing to hide.

“If you could be quick,” I said, motioning for them to follow me.

All three of them looked away quickly, but I saw the unmistakable brightness in their eyes before they did. Clearly, they weren’t sure that I was going to cooperate, but I led them through my foyer, through my kitchen, around the back hallway, and into the main garage.

Where I turned on the lights so they could see my vehicle collection.

None of them were the Vigilante’s car. That one was parked in my underground garage on the back of the property.

The mayor and the detective walked around, looking at each vehicle, their face growing more discouraged with each passing minute.

I shoved my hands in my pockets and glared at Sean, who was staring at Luna, as if waiting for an opportunity to say something to her.

Meanwhile, Grayson stood in the doorway like a statue, watching this all unfold. No one else knew him well enough to see that his look was haunting—one that made him appear like a predator ready to strike if it came down to it. Making me wonder what, exactly, my brother was capable of…

“Do you have any vehicles parked in a parking structure in the city?” the detective asked.

“No.”

“Do you have any other vehicles parked at friends’ or your family’s houses?”

“No.”

They frowned. They didn’t ask me if I had another vehicle parked in the secret underground garage.

Shame.

Mayor Kepler and Detective Rinaldi locked eyes and glanced at Sean.

“He probably has it hidden somewhere,” Sean pressed.

“Yeah. Probably buried it in the backyard,” Grayson said flatly. “Why don’t you go look?”

I bit back a smile.

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