Page 10 of Wicked Games

“This is the third time a heist has occurred at a museum where you worked.”Worked? As in past tense.“Do you believe in coincidence?” They either worked fast on running my background, or Daniel Perez started pointing the finger in my direction the minute he was notified about the heist.

“Don’t answer the question, Ryder,” Richard said. “We’re not here to discuss fate versus circumstance.”

“Agents, no evidence was ever linked directly to me the first two times, and you won’t find it this time around either. I didn’t steal the vessel, nor did I help someone else do it. Give me a polygraph. I promise I’ll pass.” The only reaction from Agents Kiphart and Marshall was a brief glance exchanged between them. Had they expected me to offer? Then Kiphart wrote something down in his notes.

“We’ll keep it in mind,” Marshall said. “Let’s talk about the gala. Can you walk us through a timeline of events?”

They listened without interruption as I walked them through my evening. Marshall watched while Kiphart scribbled. We paused for a few seconds until he finished.

“Thank you,” Kiphart said. “Now maybe you can account for the time you disappeared during the gala. Several staff members mentioned you were missing for around an hour, maybe more.”

Several staff members?I snorted. Richard bumped his knee against mine in a warning.

“Something funny, Mr. Jameson?” Marshall asked.

“Funny? No. There are maybe two or three people on the entire staff who speak to me. Most of them look through me and pretend I’m not in the room. They don’t like or trust me, and I feel the same about them.”

“Interesting,” Kiphart said, finally looking up to meet my steady gaze. “Do you mind telling us where you disappeared to, sir?”

“I retreated to my office.”

“Because?” Marshall prompted.

“It’s where I hide my Scotch.”

“Is there anyone who can corroborate your story?” Kiphart questioned.

“I think you already know the answer to the question,” I replied, earning an irritated glance from him. “There are security cameras everywhere in the building, especially in the hall outside my office and lab.”

“Cameras in the area were hacked. The actual footage was replaced with the feed from the previous night,” Marshall said. “So, why don’t you enlighten us?”

“My childhood friend, Trent Love, joined me for a while. He would give you a statement if you required one.”

“He was with you the entire time you were absent from the party?” Kiphart asked.

“No.”

“Is there anyone else who stopped by your office for adrink?” I didn’t like his snide tone.

“No,” I said. “I did, however, have a visitor stop by, but he wasn’t there for my…Scotch.”

My answer got Kiphart’s attention. He lifted his head and searched my face to see if I meant what my pause had applied. I knew what he was thinking when his gaze lingered on my lips for a few heartbeats before rising to meet my eyes once more.

“Who was yourvisitor?” Kiphart asked, eyes still locked on mine.

“I didn’t catch his name, but he was a waiter who worked for the caterer the museum hired for the event.”

“Is it possible the waiter used thisencounterto gain access to the vault?” Kiphart asked.

“No orgasm is that good, Agent. The waiter didn’t fuck the access codes to the lab or the vault combinations out of me.” Richard nudged me a little harder the second time. I knew I was pushing things but couldn’t seem to help myself.

“Are we through here?” Richard asked.

“Not quite,” Marshall said holding up her manicured finger for my attorney to hold on. “Mr. Jameson, where were you between the hours of midnight and six o’clock this morning?”

“I had overnight guests who can vouch for my whereabouts. My sister, Iris, and Trent Love both came back to my apartment after the gala. We arrived at eleven, and none of us left until it was time for me to come here. And before you ask, it wasn’t possible for me to sneak off without them knowing. Trent’s a light sleeper, and I would’ve woken him by getting out of bed.”

“Bed?” Kiphart asked, raising a brow. “Busy night.”