Page 43 of Dead Serious Case 5 Madame Vivienne

“You think he’s going to listen to a little bitch like you? Just because you’re fucking Hayes doesn’t give you preferential treatment.”

“Get out,” I whisper harshly.

“You think it’s that simple?” His dark eyes glint and his mouth twists into a sadistic smile. “You think that alibi means you’re safe? That I won’t figure out if you had anything to do with the Wilson murder? You obviously stood to profit from her death or Hadley wouldn’t have wanted to see you.”

“I didn’t have anything to do with Viv’s death.”

“You may not have held the knife, but that doesn’t mean you couldn’t get someone else to do it for you. Maybe I should take a closer look at your friends.”

I see Dave’s and Ian’s ghostly forms step in closer and hear Dusty hiss next to me.

“Go right ahead,” I say coolly. “But I don’t think you’ll like the consequences.”

“You little fucker.” He leans in so close that I can feel his breath against my face but as he grabs for me, he’s suddenly wrenched away with so much force that it almost sends him skidding across the floor on his arse. At the last minute, he instead stumbles back and regains his balance. He spins around abruptly, his heavy winter coat hanging off one shoulder where he’s been yanked back by his collar.

His wild eyes sweep across the room, looking for whoever pulled him off me. But there’s no one there, at least no one he can see. My sweet little Dave looks as if he’s about to go full-on Braveheart all over Detective Byrnes, and his American boyfriend, who is the most stoned, most placid ghost I’ve ever met, looks positively murderous. But Dusty, my beautiful loyal Dusty, is standing between them like a furious glitter ball.

“Is everything alright, Tristan?” A new voice interrupts uncertainly. I look over to the door to find our orderly, Ted, standing in the doorway.

“Yes.” I straighten my shoulders and push away from the counter I was backed against. “Detective Byrnes was just leaving. Could you see that he finds the way out? We wouldn’t want him to get lost and end up in a restricted area.”

Ted’s eyes narrow on Byrnes. His tone remains polite, but he straightens up to his full, bulky height and folds his arms like he’s a bouncer. “If you would come with me, Detective.”

Byrnes sends one more glare my way but straightens his coat and stalks angrily out of the room, followed by Ted. Once the door swings closed, I let out the breath I’d been holding and my hands start to shake.

“Are you okay, Tris, honey?” Dusty runs her hands over me as if checking me for injuries.

I nod. “I’m fine.”

I see Dusty’s jaw tighten and her eyes flash dangerously. “You two”—she turns and points to Ian and Dave with a long, spiky, lime-green nail—“watch Tristan.”

“I don’t need babysitters. And why? Where are you going?”

“I’m going to follow Byrnes.”

“But, Dusty, I?—”

She disappears into thin air before I can finish.

“Are you sure you’re okay, Tris?” Ian says, his blue eyes filled with concern.

“FUCK, SHIT, BOLLOCK, HOLE.”

I look over at Dave affectionately and then back to Ian. “Thank you both for looking out for me.”

“Of course we will,” Dave says. “We may be dead but no one fucks with our friends.”

“That includes your hot boyfriend.” Ian winks.

“Fiancé,” I reply.

“Yeah?” He beams. “Congrats. Do we get to come to the wedding?”

“Sure.” I chuckle. “Can you actually leave the mortuary?”

Dave nods. “We do it all the time.”

“Then why…” I shake my head. “Sorry, not that I don’t love hanging out with you guys, but why are you still here?”