Storm's Cage by Mary Stone (uplifting novels .TXT) 📕

around sunrise. Strausbaugh was killed between one and two, and his body was found at eight.”

“Why doesn’t he just tell the police where he was?” She lifted her hands, bobbing them like she was weighing two objects. “A charge for being at an illegal gambling match versus charges for killing a cop? Is he crazy?”

Alex’s entire body went cold. He lowered his voice, making it as serious as his expression. “Do you know what would happen to him if he confessed to being at that match?”

Amelia studied his face for a very long time. “Something worse than charges for killing a cop, I’m guessing.”

“Yes…and I wouldn’t be able to protect him.”

Almost another full minute passed before she nodded. “What do you need me to do?”

Relief so sharp it was almost painful went through Alex. “I have an idea, but I’ll get the specifics to you soon.”

She narrowed her eyes. “I won’t put my job on the line for this.”

Alex held up both hands. “I wouldn’t ask you too. It would simply involve you having a conversation with him, sharing his new alibi so he knows he’s safe to use it.”

She fiddled with the end of her ponytail as her expression turned thoughtful. “Okay. Let me know the new alibi, and I’ll let you know if I’m willing to put my ass on the line for you. Even it might not work, you know? The ballistics evidence will still be difficult to get past, but I’ll look at it and see if there’s anything I can do.”

Blinking a few times, Alex opened and closed his mouth. He’d prepared himself for a rebuff, and he’d been ready to bargain with her for even the slightest shred of assistance.

But she’d just agreed. No second-guessing, no skepticism, just…yes.

“You will?” Surprise stole all the authority from his voice, but at that point, he didn’t care. Amelia had more than just his trust. Knowing she was on his side gave him confidence that he might get this situation resolved.

As she produced a keyring from her slacks, her stony expression returned. “Yeah, I will. But you owe me, Alex.”

That went without saying.

Nothing in life came free. Even in the most optimistic part of his brain, he knew better than to expect her to take on Gabriel’s case out of the goodness of her heart. And since Amelia wasn’t officially on the family’s payroll, any debts would naturally fall to him to pay.

Though he wasn’t sure what kind of favors a woman like Amelia would call in, he was in no position to argue the point. Amelia was a kind person, but even saints had their limits.

“Okay.” He straightened to his full height. “I owe you one. I won’t forget it.”

“You won’t. I’ll make sure of it.”

The ominous tinge to the words raised the hairs on the back of his neck, but all he could do was nod. “Take care. Watch your back.”

She touched one hand to her forehead in a casual salute. “You do the same.”

As he pulled open the driver’s side door and slid behind the wheel, he watched Amelia’s black sedan creep down the seldom-used stretch of asphalt. When the car was no more than a smudge in the distance, he let his head fall back and blew out a long sigh.

Someday, maybe he’d finally figure out how to act around Amelia Storm.

Maybe.

He pulled his smartphone from the interior pocket of his black suit jacket. As he entered the code to unlock the screen, a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Before his meetup with Amelia, he’d been in the middle of a text conversation with Liliana D’Amato. Their discussion had revolved around the Dune book series, as well as their thoughts on the upcoming film adaptation. He’d made sure to tell her he’d be unreachable for an hour or more, and she’d sent a couple questions and comments for him to answer when he returned to his phone.

Even with the interruption before their date on Friday, the night had gone far better than he could have expected. Liliana might have been ten years his junior, but they shared many of the same interests.

When he’d pulled to a stop in front of a sorority house, he hadn’t expected to pick up a woman who was, in her own words, a seasoned sci-fi geek. Apparently, Alex needed to work on his stereotypical perceptions of college groups.

Then again, Liliana had kept up with him drink-for-drink without becoming drunk, and she knew her way around a nightclub as well as any woman Alex’s age.

The biggest surprise had come at the end of the night. He’d laid off the booze so he could drive, and in an act of solidarity, Liliana had also switched to nonalcoholic drinks.

After Alex had handed the attendant a slip to validate his parking, he’d made a comment about how Liliana might have to remind him how to get back to her sorority house. Biting her bottom lip, she’d said, “Or we could go to your place.”

He’d been taken aback for a split-second but recovered quickly. His knee-jerk response had been to turn her down and rattle off some nonsense about tradition, suggesting they wait for marriage. But he caught himself before any of the bullshit left his mouth. For all he knew, she’d just wanted to play quarters and drunken Street Fighter.

Instead, he’d asked her what she wanted to do when they got to his place.

With a pensive look, she’d twisted the shining diamond around her left ring finger—the diamond he’d given her before they’d entered the exclusive steakhouse to eat dinner. The memory of her reply still made his pulse race.

Arranged marriage or not, he hadn’t expected the night to end with sex, but damn if he didn’t enjoy it.

Pulling himself out of the reverie, he scanned the newest message, eager to see if his night might end on a good note.

Hey, I took my exam early, and I don’t have class tomorrow. I was wondering if you wanted to do something