The Dark Places by R. Whitfield (novel24 TXT) 📕

“Not officially, no,” he replied, gently pulling his arm away, eyeing her cautiously.

“Well then, I’m Madison, I do the crime watch for the Baltimore Daily.” She smiled, and her whole face lit up. This woman was ridiculously gorgeous, not to mention confident and alluring.

Parker smiled back at her. “Detective Parker Rhodes,” he replied, and she took his hand in what was supposed to be a business-like handshake but felt more like an invitation. How can someone make a handshake sexy, he thought to himself.

“Actually, as I understand it, Madison, you haven’t done the crime watch for some time.” He looked at her, a smile playing on his lips.

“Oh, that, yes, a small glitch in the road. I’m back on it now, so to speak.” She countered, dropping her gaze, appearing embarrassed, but the way she looked back up at him through her lashes implied something entirely opposite.

“Well, Detective Elliott sure will be pleased to hear that,” he replied and stepped away.

“Detective!” she called loudly, causing other heads to turn in their direction. “Is this murder connected to the Serenity Towers killing you worked on a few months back?”

Parker watched as the other media picked up the scent of blood. “Shit,” he muttered. The last thing he wanted was to be caught off guard answering questions.

“No comment, Madison,” he replied, a warning in his tone.

“Why would a detective as brilliant and highly regarded as Surin Elliott be called all the way down there?” she asked, smiling innocently as she held out a tape recorder in front of his now flushed face.

“Breckham PD requested assis—” he began, when she abruptly cut him off.

“Actually, I spoke to two Breckham police officers that night, and they were not happy about the intrusion. Can you shed some light, Detective? Do the people of this city need to know something?”

Suddenly, the crowd was silent. Parker could feel a hundred sets of eyes looking at him, and even the other cops were waiting for him to respond. He shifted his weight from one foot to another, trying to think of what to say to placate the growing crowd.

“Madison,” a calm but firm voice stated from behind Parker, “what are you up to?”

Surin appeared and walked in front of Parker, clasping both her hands behind her back like she was making sure not to wrap them around someone’s neck.

“Up to, Detective?” Madison replied, dramatically placing one hand over her heart like she had been insulted.

“Yes, you want a comment? Which scene do you want a comment on? This or Serenity Towers?”

Madison stood looking at Elliott. This has to be a trap, she thought. Surin would never give me a comment. She looked around, noticing that the entire scene was almost completely silent. They were hanging on her every word and the feeling that gave her, that attention, only fuelled her confidence.

“Well, I guess since you threw me out of the lobby at Serenity, I would like a comment on that one.” She met Surin’s eyes and for the first time saw the hurt in them, not just anger, but hurt and embarrassment and loss. Madison had never thought before now about the hurt she might have caused this woman. In the moment, when she met Grayson, she truly didn’t care about the fallout, but now… maybe she had been so very, very wrong.

“You were escorted out of the lobby because you had no right to be there. It was an active crime scene; there were family present; witnesses and medical personnel trying to do their jobs. You were obstructing and disobeying the law. You’re lucky you weren’t arrested.”

Madison paled, knowing that she couldn’t stop Surin even if she wanted to. Everyone was watching; everyone was listening.

“Most crime scene reporters wait to hear from their sources in the force,” Surin continued. “If you had actually been the crime reporter at the time, you would have received a phone call that would have given you all the statements you needed, but I believe at the time you were supposed to be on your way to cover a medieval-themed wedding? At least that’s what your editor told me when I rang to enquire why there had been such a breach of protocol.” Surin stared at her intently.

Madison, now beginning to feel the swell of embarrassment take hold, tried to interrupt.

“We still have a right to know what’s going on in our town,” she spluttered, immediately realising how stupid she sounded. Surin ignored her and continued.

“The crime reporter for the Daily Times has been contacted regarding the murder of Katia Vespa, but since you have come here to make a big show and attempt to make my partner and I look incompetent, I will give you the same statement I gave her, so get your little recorder ready.”

Parker was standing next to Surin, watching her every move. He could not believe this woman’s composure.

“Katia Vespa’s death has been ruled a homicide. The police are talking to a person of interest, her agent, Jason Common. Her murder, while tragic, was an isolated incident resulting from a fight between alleged lovers.”

Madison, trying to remain stoic, continued in a much meeker voice than before. “And today?” she asked.

“Oh, today?” Surin replied, looking behind her at the crime scene, then turning back to Madison with a smile on her face. “No comment.”

The crowd snickered quietly at Surin’s reply.

“One more thing, Madison, as you are not the crime reporter for the Daily, you are not to be at any of my crime scenes. If I see you again, or if you approach my partner in any professional circumstances, I will be talking to your boss. I’m sure you understand that we can’t compromise the integrity of these cases, giving out information to every Nancy Drew wannabe that comes along.”

Madison’s face turned a violent shade of