Page 43 of The Eleventh Hour
“Jackie Blackwell, or is it,” Descario checks her notes, “Oh, yes, Jax Shade. I see you are living a life that you don’t deserve.”
I let out a soft sigh. “I didn’t do it, Descario.”
“So you have said, over and over, and yet the evidence doesn’t lie.”
“If you had enough evidence, you would have charged me and put me in a cell for the rest of my natural life,” I snap back. “What are you doing here? What do you want?”
Wayland and Descario exchange a loaded look.
“Ah, Princess Blackwell, what’s wrong? Did we interrupt your day?”
I shift my shoulders, cross my arms over my chest, and raise an eyebrow. I’m not speaking anymore.
Descario seems to feel the shift in me and moves closer.
“Where were you at eleven at night a week ago?”
I think back. “I think I was at home.”
Wayland makes a sound like a buzzer. “Strike one.”
I look between them, my skin is crawling, the edges of panic are starting to turn my vision black.
“I, uh, I don’t know. Truly, I can’t remember,” I splutter. I scrape my hand over my hair, and my fingers get caught on a tangle. It hurts, and I wince.
Descario smiles, just a little, just enough for me to know she’s pleased with how nervous I am.
“Well, you were at Red Shard, the local club. Does that jog your memory?” Descario says with wide eyes and a mocking grin.
I nod sharply, relieved. “I went there because I got a call that some friends might be in trouble.”
“Friends.” Descario looks over her shoulder at Wayland. “Lucky free bitch has friends.” She looks back at me. “So, you saw these friends and helped them?”
I nod sharply. “I got them a ride home, and then I went outside with Titan, we talked, and I left via the car park.”
“Uh, uh.”
Wayland chuckles. “Strike two.”
I look between them as the panic makes my hands start to shake.
They watch me for a minute, letting me stew in my own juices.
“We have you on camera having an altercation with Lisha.”
“Lisha?” I remember River saying she vanished that night. A horrible yawning opens up beneath my feet.
It’s starting again. I close my eyes for a long moment.
“Where was her body found?” My voice is empty, dead.
Descario’s eyes flare with triumph. “How did you-”
“Don’t be dense, Detective. I’m not going to be trapped that easily. You wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t him. So, you plus missing girl is a pretty obvious conclusion to come to. You think the Black Dahlia Killer is back.”
She moves forward, and I see the holster under her jacket. I wonder how many nights she’s thought about putting a bullet in me.
“You evil little bitch, I’m going to get you this time. Just wait and see. Alisha Veen didn’t deserve to die like that. I’m going to be on you, one step behind, watching every single second for you to make just one mistake, and then I’m going to nail your ass.”