Page 82 of Ruthless Creatures

I stop, draw a steadying breath, and look at him. “I’m sorry, we haven’t been introduced. What’s your name?”

He unfolds his arms and casually rests a hand on the butt of the firearm strapped to the utility belt at his waist. I get the impression it’s a ploy to intimidate me. Instead, it royally pisses me off.

There’s nothing I hate more than a bully.

He points to the badge on his chest. “O’Donnell.”

Keeping my tone pleasant, I say, “Officer O’Donnell, take your colleague and get off my porch. Unless you have new information about the disappearance of my fiancé, I have nothing to say to either one of you.”

Detective Brown says, “We could make you come to the station with us to have a chat.”

“Only if you’re arresting me. Which you’ve already said you’re not.”

Boy, shereallydoesn’t like me. Her look could peel the paper right off the walls.

“Why would you refuse to cooperate with us if you have nothing to hide?”

“Citizens are under no obligation to speak to the police. Even if they’re accused of a crime. Even if they’re in jail. Am I right?”

She says, “A judge can force you to talk to us.”

I’m pretty sure that’s a stretch, but considering I’m not a constitutional attorney, I don’t know.

Still, we’re playing chicken here.

I won’t blink first.

I say, “I don’t see a judge on my porch. Have a nice day, Detective.”

Heart hammering, I shut the door in their faces. Then I stand there shaking and trying to get control of myself, until I hear Chris’s voice from the other side of the door.

“Nat. Open up. I know you’re standing there.”

“Go away, Chris.”

“I have your purse.”

I freeze in horror.

Oh my god. My purse! I left it at the restaurant!

Don’t panic. You haven’t done anything wrong.

Hurry up and make up a lie anyway.

I open the door and look at him, standing there with my small black clutch in his hand. My mind goes a million miles per hour trying to figure out what to do.

When I don’t say anything, Chris sighs. “Four people were killed last night, Nat. Six others were injured. If you know anything, you really need to talk to the police.”

Detective Brown and Officer O’Donnell are out at the curb by their squad car, watching us talk. I know they sent Chris in because we used to date, and they think he might have a better chance of getting information out of me.

Which makes me wonder what he’s told them about our relationship.

What hethinksabout our relationship. Does he actually believe he has some kind of influence over me, the girl he dated for a few weeks last summer who he never even had sex with?

Men.

“I don’t know anything.”