Page 146 of Fire and Bones

“I’m an asshole,” he said.

“Sorry?”

“Asking about a case. That was way out of line.”

I didn’t disagree.

“I brought a peace offering.” He raised the mug. “Figured your tea would be gone by now. Or stone cold. Seems like a chamomile kind of day.”

I uncrossed my ankles and stood. Again, my legs tingled from the sudden change in orientation, from the new responsibility of holding me upright.

Zanetti crossed to me and offered the mug. I accepted it, slid the string along the rim, and took a small sip.

“Brewed with a little help from Twinings,” he said, smiling.

I smiled back.

Wondered.

Again.

Could this man really be a player and ten yards deep in denial?

Zanetti tipped his head to read the headline topping the story I’d just laid down. “You’re interested in the Warrings?” he asked.

“Mm.”

“Bad dudes in their day. No surprise they made enemies.”

“What do you mean?”

“Nothing at all.” Giving a nothing-at-all shrug. “I’ll let you get back to it.”

With that he was gone.

I took up the article I’d set aside but found my concentration had grown even poorer than earlier. My conversation with Zanetti kept looping like software at an ATM.

Why? What was I uneasy about? The man was a successful realtor. Ivy’s boyfriend. Ivy was no dummy. Surely, she’d vetted the guy.

Still.

Was it because Zanetti knew about the most recent fire? About the way it was set? Because he questioned my interest in the Warrings? Because he was in DC and not away as he’d told Ivy?

Because he was a goddam cheater?

I pictured Zanetti with his pierced and tattooed companion.

Inexplicably, a comment made by Jada Thacker channeled into my thoughts.

Ping.

Impossible.

Still.

I hesitated, then dialed DC’s chief medical examiner.

Thacker took my call and provided the information I sought, never questioning my reason for needing it.