All Rise by Rosemarie Aquilina

Author:Rosemarie Aquilina [Aquilina, Rosemarie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781733696463
Publisher: Sabieha Press
Published: 2020-05-29T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Forty-Six

Once police and fire cleared a lane and taped off the crime scene, there was no shortage of gawkers. I struggled to control my face. I thought of Peter by the elevator, Peter spying on me and Laurel, Peter under my Elvis. Damn. I had to reign my face in and calm my thoughts, but I could only do that if I discussed them with my three protectors. The drive-thru window had steady business, and the café was standing room only.

“Hell of a marketing move,” Hunter said, but there was no mirth in his voice, and he signaled Rosa to negotiate a place for us to sit, which she did without benefit of rhyme.

I ordered myself to use my nice-Nic-voice. “We’ll have to wait for a seat in my own café unless you think we should go elsewhere.”

“Toots, you know as well as I do, we need to stay where the action is. Look around and tell me if you see anyone out of place.”

I had to agree and tuned in my eagle eyes.

Half an hour later, just as we’d snatched a back table, Sebastian came in looking for us.

“Cricky deadheads out there don’t know what to do with that vehicle of yours—or with you.” Still standing, Sebastian grabbed a muffin. “Orange-Cranberry. Good for the blood.” He sat across from Hunter.

I grimaced at Mr. Manners and went to the counter for a trayful of bribery for the menfolk. The guy in front of me was Peter Dune. I couldn’t believe it. I hadn’t seen him come in. My metabolism and my mouth kicked into overdrive. “Are you here just to gloat, or are you going to explain why you needed to blow up my car?”

He stepped back and looked surprised as if I’d smacked him, and I might have—if I could have reached that high.

“It’s time to come clean, Peter.” This tyranny had to stop. I got in his face as closely as I dared, without having assault charges added for touching him. My audacious move lost some oomph because I had to crane my neck back. “Your intimidate-the-Judge tactics aren’t working. It’s over—as of this moment.” I pointed my finger in his face. “And, stop taking pictures of me and Judge Briggs, or we’ll ask for stalking charges and a personal protection order, and you’ll be out of a job.”

He snickered. “Isn’t unlawful to take pictures of you in public. Your notoriety brings in big bucks for each picture.” He guffawed. I wanted to punch him and his pasted-on smirk. His cold eyes chilled down the full length of my body.

I pointed his frigid face and hot coffee and chocolate croissant toward the booth where Hunter and Sebastian waited. “Trot over there and tell those men how you got out of that poker party—and I already know how you did it—and how you killed Donnettelli.” I stood my ground and didn’t blink.

For a half-second he tipped his head like a big Irish Setter with a tough puzzle. Then

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