Deceptions (Cainsville 3)

He shrugged. "I don't know."

After we'd heard the Hunt, he'd tried to explain the phenomenon.

"It was riders from the stable. A midnight hunt. Logically, I know that. But when I was a kid, sometimes I'd hear the horses and the hounds, and I'd tell myself it was the Hunt."

"The Hunt?"

"My nana used to tell me stories. She's Irish, and she grew up with all that. I liked her stories of fairy traps and enchantments. And the Wild Hunt. Have you heard of it?"

Then I'd seen the Huntsman, another time, watching Ricky sleep.

There are two things you'd best keep close, for protection: the boar's tusk and the boy there. They'll look after you.

Walter and Ida, at Gabriel's office the other day.

End your association with the boy.

The little girl just an hour or so ago, speaking of Gabriel and . . . someone else.

"You protect him as he protects you. And the other, too. The three of you."

"The other. What other? I have no idea what--or who--you mean."

"You know exactly who I mean."

My gut clenched.

It's not true. I won't let it be. Take the rest of my life and twist it into madness, but leave me this one normal, perfect thing.

"Liv?"

Ricky looked concerned, and I wanted to kiss that worry away. But I could see Gabriel approaching, with the detectives in tow, and I wasn't going to be caught making out with my boyfriend at the scene of my ex-fiance's murder.

I nudged Ricky aside and hopped off the car.

"The detectives need to speak with both of you," Gabriel said. "I've asked them to begin with Ricky, as his should be a very short interview."

--

My interview wasn't nearly as brief as Ricky's. I got the impression that they thought Gabriel and I had sent each other the messages as some kind of alibi. As for why we'd want to be the ones to discover James's body if we'd killed him, well, maybe that was part of our defense strategy. Which was preposterous. At last Gabriel suggested that a proper interview should be conducted later, at the station, and the detectives agreed.

As Gabriel led me back to the car, Ricky came over.

"I'd like to get Liv out of here."

Gabriel nodded. "If you could take her to my office, I would appreciate that."

"I'd rather--" Ricky began.

"We have things to go over, and it's best done there. It won't take long."

"That's fine," I said. "I'll pick up some work, since it looks like no cabin for us--I'll be stuck in Chicago."

"That doesn't mean you need to work--"

"It'll help. I'll see you there."

--