To Touch a Thief (An Everly Gray Novella) (9 page)

“Come now, Mr. Steele, Ms. Hunt. Surely that isn’t necessary.” Detective Stephens worked his index finger under the collar of his shirt. “We just have a few questions for you.”

Parker dropped his arm across Jayne’s shoulders and pulled her close. “Neither of us knew Emir Tarik well. When he heard about the séance, he contacted me and requested an invitation. We’d met briefly at a fundraiser last year, and we have sponsored some of the same philanthropic efforts, so his request to attend wasn’t unusual.”

He turned away, speaking into his phone. “Parker Steele, Drew. Call me. It’s urgent.”

Detective Stephens talked over him, his voice rough with inferred threat. “We’ll need to know where you and Ms. Hunt were at all times during the séance.”

Parker shoved his phone into his pocket. “We have nothing to say without the presence of our attorney.”

Stephens shrugged, pulled out a search warrant, and handed it to Parker. “We’ll be searching the building, starting with that computer.”
 

He pointed to the laptop Jayne had left on the console. “Bag it, Officer Kennedy. Ms. Hunt, if you could come with me.”
 

He motioned Jayne toward the door.

“Hold it!” Steele barked the order, thumbing through the warrant. “This gives you access to Steele Management security camera footage, computers, my personal computer, and testing for any toxic residue. It says nothing about Ms. Hunt’s personal laptop. I suggest you don’t touch it, Detective Kennedy.”

Several uniformed officers came through the front door as Detective Stephens led Jayne toward the elevator. “I’d like you to be present while we search your office.” He pushed the down button. “I want to see all of the records pertaining to your work with Solomon Tarik.”

Jayne ran her hands through her hair, her fingers coming back wet. She wiped the moisture on her thighs, then turned and faced Joe Stephens, her heart thudding hard in her chest. “I don’t know that they’ll help you. My records are all complex financial spreadsheets.”

He nodded. “I’ll have to take them in as evidence. Let our auditors go over them.”

 
“Trust me, Detective, your auditors aren’t going to find anything. If you want to know about those records, I’m the person you want to talk to. And I won’t be chatting with you about anything until my attorney is present.”

The elevator doors opened, and Jayne led the way to her office. She stopped in front of the door, held her hands out, palms up. “My key is in the penthouse.” Where she wanted to be. Loving Parker. And cuddling Winston.

Stephens sighed, reached in his pocket for the master, then turned toward three people coming down aisle, each carrying a metal case. Had to be a CSI team.
 

Detective Stephens unlocked the door to her office, pushed it open, and turned to the uniformed team. “Let me know when you’re finished. And be sure to bag and tag her
work
computer.”
 

He turned back to Jayne, started to speak, but was interrupted by Officer Kennedy. She led him into the hall, only muffled conversation floating back to reach Jayne’s ears.
 

They confronted her a few minutes later. “What do you know about toxic plants? ” Detective Stephens asked.

“Nothing.” Jayne said, and rubbed her hand against her chest, trying to suck in some air.

“No? Well, Ms. Hunt, that doesn’t change the fact that you’re under arrest for the murder of Emir Solomon Tarik.”
 

ELEVEN

Jayne Hunt and Mitchell Hunt

Arrest? The detective’s words ate
all the oxygen in her office, and black threatened the edge of Jayne’s vision. She tried to focus on him, on what he was saying, but she couldn’t wrap her mind around being handcuffed a second time. And this was real. Not a sting operation.
 

“I can’t be under arrest.” Damn, but she couldn’t stop the quiver in her voice. “I’m already under arrest.”
 

Her body shook. And she didn’t have on any underwear. Just Parker’s sweats. Parker’s too-big sweats. “I need to get dressed. I can’t leave the building like this.” She glanced down at herself, tried to move her hands, but the metal cuffs cut into her wrists, stopping the motion.
 

Reality hit.
 

An arctic blast of fear cut through her body.
 

“I don’t have an attorney.” Her words hung in the air, hitting her with another round of reality.
 

“No problem. You can call one from the station.” Detective Stephens grasped her arm and led her out of Steele Management, Inc. and toward the waiting squad car.

“No.” She yanked her arm free from his grip, bruising herself as the handcuffs cut into her skin. “I’m making the call now. It’ll take a while to process me, and—”

“Not my problem, Ms. Hunt. Finding out why you killed Tarik, now that interests me.” This time when his fingers circled her arm there was steel in the grip.

After two hours of being held in a silent interrogation room, she was allowed to call Mitch.

“Hey, Sis.”
 

His greeting released all the frustration she’d squashed since being arrested, and words poured out of her, tight with fear. “I’m under arrest for the murder of Solomon Tarik—”
 

“You’re what? That’s insane. Who the hell arrested you? And where the fuck is Steele?”

“Detective Joe Stephens arrested me. They separated us, so I don’t know where Parker is. Find him. Get me out of here. And then we can figure out what to do.”

“Bail posted yet?”

“Probably not, since I haven’t had a hearing. I asked to be released on my own recognizance, but they laughed and said that would be up to the judge. They also made some arrogantly irritating comments about this being my second arrest in a matter of weeks.” Her voice shook.

“Okay. I’m on it. Don’t say anything to anyone.”

Mitch put down the phone, scrubbed his hands over his face, then picked up the handset again and punched in a number. “Steele,” he bit out when Parker answered.
 

“Hunt. Where’s Jayne. Have you heard from her? They separated us and wouldn’t let me near a phone until a few minutes ago. I called her condo. No answer.”
 

“She said they’d arrested her for Tarik’s murder. What the fuck is going on?”

“That’s impossible. I’ll meet you at the jail in fifteen minutes—with my attorney.”

“I’m at my house. It’ll take a half hour to get there.” Mitch grabbed his jacket off a hook by the door. “I’ll let El know, then give Adam Stone a call.”
 

“Stone’s solid. You know him well enough to pull strings?”
 

“Good friend of El’s and mine. And he knows Jayne. She’ll be released by the time I get there,” Mitch said, then disconnected.
 

He passed his bike, opting for the truck. No telling who he’d need to haul around. Something was damn wrong with this scenario. He’d never heard of Detective Stephens, but El had worked with Stone, and seeing as how they’d partnered on a couple cases…the thought drifted.

He dialed El on the voice-activated phone system in the truck. “Hey, Sunshine. We need Adam Stone. Some hotshot detective arrested Jayne for Tarik’s murder.”

Gravel spewed as he backed down the driveway.
 

“What? That’s impossible. We were all right there, and—”
 

“Talk later, act now. I’m gonna call Adam, get him on board.”

Everly’s inhalation rasped against his ears. “Adam isn’t here, Mitch. Seattle. Family reunion. It’s the first time in six years they’ve all been together.”

“Forgot. Damn it all. But he’s never without his cell.”

“I’ll make the call. You’re driving, probably speeding. Love you,” she said, disconnecting.
 

Warmth seeped through his icy anger. God, how he loved her. And appreciated her gifts. She could shake hands with Stephens and find out what the hell was going on.
 

There was something else nagging at him. Fear? Well, shit, but if he wasn’t afraid for Jayne.
 

Get a grip, Hunt. Jayne doesn’t need a crybaby brother.
 

But, damn if she didn’t need a miracle.
 

TWELVE

Everly Gray

I disconnected from the conversation
with Mitch and hit speed dial for Adam, grateful that I’d programmed him into my cell the last time I consulted for the Apex P.D. He answered on the first ring. By the time I’d dashed to my car and completed the short ride to the police station, I’d talked him through the situation, and he’d promised to call Chief Hayes. The chief had pull, and he liked me—most of the time.

Parker’s Mercedes screeched to a halt in the parking space next to me. I took a second to breathe and clear my thoughts. He was gonna need me to function, not fall apart when I got hit with images from inside the police station.

He jerked my car door open. “Ready, Everly? We need to get Jayne out of there.”

There was a feral glint in his eyes that set my knees to shaking. Dangerous. No doubt about it. “Let me do this alone, Parker. You need to stay here and meet with the attorney, and I can work under cover in there, touching things. No offense, but you’re looking a little scary.”

He backed off a step. “I’ll give you until our counsel arrives.”

I dragged in another breath. Didn’t help. I was beyond worried, and Mitch would shoot me if I screwed up getting his sister out of jail. To say nothing of what Parker would do to me. The man was totally on edge.
 

The familiar scent of burned coffee and week-old clothes assaulted my nostrils when I pushed through the main door of the station. They must have picked up a lot of the homeless the night before.
 

Adam had told me to ask for Detective Reese Bryant. Fortunately, the officer manning the reception desk knew me and took me straight through to her office. She stood, immediately offering her hand. I accepted without a second thought. Now wasn’t the time to be squeamish about trespassing in other people’s stuff.
 

A few images flashed on my internal monitor—Detective Bryant hunched over a computer, fingers flying over the keyboard, tossing a Frisbee for an adorable black lab puppy, having dinner with a tall, blue-eyed, blond guy and…oops. Time to break contact.

I slipped my hand free. “Adam said he’d explain the situation to you.”

She motioned for me to take a seat.
 

Metal chair, cool against my backside. I didn’t touch it.

“Yes, I just got off the phone with him. Let me see if I have everything.” She glanced at her notes. “Jayne Hunt and Parker Steele arranged with an unnamed law enforcement officer for her fake arrest as part of a plan to isolate the party responsible for skimming funds from Steele Management, Inc. She was released on O.R., and they staged a fundraiser to further eliminate possible suspects.”

Her gaze locked on me, cool but not accusing or intimidating.
 

“Sounds accurate so far. What’s O.R.?”
 

“Own recognizance.” She turned back to her notes. “At this event, Emir Solomon Tarik took ill, was hospitalized, and died several hours later. Homicide Detective Stephens and Officer Kennedy arrested Jayne Hunt earlier today in connection with his death. She lawyered up. You’re sitting in my office.”

I nodded.

“What don’t I know?” Detective Bryant asked.

“Jayne and Parker are an item. Parker’s family and mine were friends, but we hadn’t connected for years until Jayne convinced me to play the role of medium at the fundraiser. Jayne’s brother and I are dating. Jayne was never alone with Tarik and had no reason to kill him.” My stomach churned as I listened to the facts pouring from both of us. There were way too many holes.

A man barreled into Detective Bryant’s office, knocked into my chair, and planted his hands on the detective’s desk. Stale sweat permeated the air around him. “This is homicide, Bryant, not some white collar crap.”

She stood, leaning into his personal space. “Detective Stephens, I’d like you to meet Everly Gray. She’s here on behalf of Jayne Hunt.”

He spun to face me. “Gray? Saw your name on the initial report. You were that psychic woman running the séance.”
 

I gave him a toothy grin and shoved my hand out. “That’s correct, Detective…?”

“Stephens.” He snarled his name, and then grasped my hand.
 

Images flashed. Disturbing images. This man was less a law enforcement officer than I was. Oh, he probably had the credentials, but he was a liar and a thief, and he knew Tarik.
 

“If you’ll follow me, we can move this discussion to my office. Where it belongs.”

Damn it. I had to follow him. His office would be full of info that my fingers were itching to discover. I smiled at Detective Bryant. “I’ll just spend a few minutes with Detective Stephens. It shouldn’t take long for me to help clear Jayne, and then I’ll check back with you. Would that be all right?”