Liar Liar (Eva Rae Thomas FBI Mystery Book 19) by WILLOW ROSE

Author:WILLOW ROSE [ROSE, WILLOW]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BUOY MEDIA
Published: 2025-11-18T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 26

I moved away from Lexi's body as the medical examiner finally arrived, her crisp white coat a stark contrast to the grim faces surrounding her. My attention shifted to Marcus Blackwood, still being questioned at the edge of the infinity pool overlooking the beach. His expensive linen shirt was rumpled, as though he'd dressed in a hurry—which he probably had—and his face showed the shadow of stubble. The officer questioning him—a heavyset man with a notebook too small for his hands—scribbled continuously as Marcus spoke, his gestures becoming more animated with each passing minute.

Two resort staff members had gathered near the villa's outdoor kitchen, their hushed voices carrying in the morning stillness. I drifted closer, positioning myself to appear absorbed in the view while my ears caught fragments of their conversation.

"Such a playboy… third time this year he's been here," the younger one said, adjusting her uniform tie. "Always requests female staff under thirty."

"Security keeps an eye on him," replied the older man, his voice heavy with disapproval. "After that incident with the massage therapist last summer."

"Still, a man like that—all that money, used to getting what he wants…" She glanced toward Marcus, her expression a mixture of wariness and fascination. "And now this."

"I knew something was wrong when I saw him with those girls at the party," the man continued. "They're practically children compared to him. It wouldn’t be the first time he invited one of them back to his villa with him."

Their conversation shifted as a supervisor approached, but I'd heard enough. Marcus Blackwood had a reputation at Sapphire Bay—wealthy, entitled, with a documented interest in younger women. Combined with the body found on his rental property, on a beach only he had access to through his villa, it painted a damning picture.

Matt appeared at my side, his tablet displaying security footage from the foam party that he had talked Cortez into sharing.

"Take a look at this," he murmured, angling the screen away from prying eyes.

The grainy footage showed the main pool area transformed by pulsing lights and mountains of white foam. Through the manufactured clouds, I spotted Lexi in her sequined dress, dancing with reckless abandon. The timestamp read 11:17 p.m. A minute later, Marcus Blackwood entered the frame, moving toward the bar, but his gaze was clearly tracking Lexi's movements.

"Keep watching," Matt said, tapping the screen to advance the footage.

At 11:36 p.m., Marcus approached Lexi directly, leaning close to speak into her ear. She smiled up at him—that practiced, flirtatious smile Emma had described. They conversed for several minutes, his hand occasionally touching her arm or shoulder in a way that made my skin crawl despite the video’s grainy quality.

"Did you see what happened after this?" I asked.

Matt shook his head. "Working on it. They moved out of this camera's range at 11:52. I'm trying to piece together their movements through different feeds."

I glanced back toward Marcus, still being questioned. The evidence was mounting against him: his villa, his reputation, security footage showing him with the victim hours before her disappearance.

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