Alexandre nodded. “Maybe we should revisit the vampire angle. They have everything to lose if they thought Arabella was divulging everything to the Venecostas. Plus, the scroll’s existence was deadly to them and their plans of legitimization. If not Jason, some other vampire faction leader. But it has to be someone who knows you. Because they went to the lengths of making it look like you killed Arabella. They would have known of your argument with Arabella before her death.”
His reasoning was sound. “Maybe we should check whoever was around the patisserie when Arabella and I had the argument. Although to my knowledge it was empty.”
“The walls have ears, Miss Alysson. The walls have ears.”
WE WENT OVER THE CCTV footage for the time Arabella and I had our argument. We did not find anybody in the patisserie, but we saw a shadow listening at the door. Unable to find out who it was, we took Lucien’s help and find out that it was indeed Jason who was listening to Arabella and me arguing from outside.
I fumed. “My initial instinct was right. Jason was surely the one who killed Arabella. He surely had multiple motives,” I said and then turned to Detective Lucien. “Please, let me question Jason over this.”
“I’m sorry, Miss Alysson but this is my job to do. But you may accompany me.”
I raised an eyebrow at this sudden politeness of him, but I did not give it a second thought. I just wanted to listen to what Jason had to say, and most importantly what he had in his mind.
And that was how I found myself back at Jason’s house with Detective Lucien in tow. Jason did not bother to hid how annoyed he was that I was back, especially with the detective. Let me tell you, he was fuming bad.
“You... here... back again... you must be stark raving mad!”
“Admit it now, Jason, you killed Arabella!” I pointed my finger in front of his face.
“Oh, you’re still on that track, are you? How many times should I tell you that?”
Lucien raised his hands.
“Simmer down, Jason... this is a formal call. We have some questions to ask.”
Jason sighed and took a step back. Waving his hands as a gesture of surrender, he grunted as a go-ahead.
Detective Lucien Fournier then showed him the camera footage and told him that they can place him outside my patisserie when we had the argument.
“Yes, Arabella told me to wait outside while she went in for some errand. She had forgotten something.”
“And you failed to mention this the last time, why?”
“Completely irrelevant, Detective. I didn’t see any reason to let you know I was there because, clearly, Allison here killed her friend Arabella, stabbing her in the back.”
I moved to speak, but the detective raised his hands. Lucien was serious.
“The eye-witness turned out to be inconsistent, Mr. Jason, and there’s no other evidence except that of the argument that gives Allison motive. Yet, the argument cannot be considered as the sole reason for Allison to kill her friend and employee. She was just warning Arabella against joining a crew like yours, Mr. Jason.”
Jason did not respond.
“Then you’re here, listening to the argument. Perhaps you also found out that Arabella was also working for the Venecostas and we know about the Glashow Trials. Makes sense that you silence Arabella.”
“I did not kill Arabella. I had no reason to. I loved Arabella. I could not hurt her.”
“Maybe you got angry. Allison here tells me of your capacity to be angry and out of control. You had two reasons to kill Arabella. Because you found out she was taking your ex’s advice, and because she was working for the Venecostas. And we all know about them being your enemies, considering the lengths your clan went to decimate them at the Trials.”
Jason fumed. “That’s not what happened. All this talk, it’s pure conjecture. Apart from this photo, you don’t have concrete proof. You can’t just accuse me, Detective. I’m going to raise a complaint with your higher-ups.”
“Oh, it is just like you to...”
“Like me to... what?” He hissed.
“Go outside, Miss Alysson,” said Lucien.
I opened my mouth but thought better of it. Grunting, I stormed away. A few minutes past before Detective came outside and eyed me.
“Always be in control of your emotions, Miss Alysson. Trust me, it helps.”
“He was not going to tell us anything, and his guts... oh my... I would skin him alive just here and now.”
“Hold your beer, Miss Alysson, Jason did tell me things.”
“Ho...how?”
“Well, you don’t want to know... Anyway, he said he was hired by an unknown party to find an eyewitness to tell the police that it was she who killed Arabella. Jason, being the lethargic person, he is and the fact that he was paid handsomely to do it, hired some random drunk, however warning him that he should not mess up. Of course, the plan didn’t pan out. But I don’t think Jason murdered Arabella. Looks like he did love her. And she did too. But he agreed to the fact that he hired her for finding the Vampire Queen and that he was close to finding her. However, before Arabella could tell him, she was killed.”
“Who paid Jason?”
“I have forwarded the details to my department. We’ll follow the money trail and see where it leads us to. Until then, we lay low and not raise our cards.”
“And Jason can be trusted on this?”
Detective Lucien nodded.
CHAPTER NINE
*
RESULTS OF THE MONEY trail had come. Detective Lucien Fournier had called me and Alexandre to the precinct. I made sure that Alexandre was apprised of the latest developments last night itself.
“Well, we followed the money trail,” said Lucien. “It was hard, routed through a lot of shell corporations but we sourced it to a company held by a rival faction to Jason’s. It is led by someone named Arnold.”
“I know this name,” Alexandre said. By the tone of his voice I could tell he was not surprised.
“He’s the one who believes that vampire Queen is not real,” Alexandre explained. “And he’s fond of power. So, he will not have some vampire Queen coming and taking it from him. If Arabella were indeed close to finding out the Queen’s location, it would make sense that they would kill Arabella.”
Something did not add up with me. “But I have nothing against this Arnold guy. Why would he want to make it look like I had anything to do with it?”
“The fact that you’re a psychic is enough for him to take you off the board,” said Lucien. “He feared that Jason’s faction would hire you to find the Queen next. So, he wanted to make sure that it was all right. My men are picking him up as we speak. We will make him confess.”
“So much trouble to go to...,” Alexandre shook his head.
“Of course.”
The cops brought Arnold in and he glared at me as if she were the Devil. The hatred in him showed, I did not like him either.
“Eff you!” I yelled.
I was now off the hook and, surprise, Jason was not to blame. I had to thank Alexandre and Lucien. I only had to find the way.
“Maybe I should invite them for dinner,” I thought.
Oh yes, I would invite them for dinner. And that would be a heck of a dinner.
I smiled sardonically.
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PENNY BROJACQUIE’S BOOKS
THE ORDER OF THE BLACK ROSE
The Great Siege of Malta season
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The Order of the Black Rose #4
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A Knight's Deceit
The Order of the Black Rose #5
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The Order of the Black Rose #9
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The Order of the Black Rose #10
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The Knight Files (late March 2019)
The Order of the Black Rose #11
A Knight Reborn (April 2019) - SEASON FINALE
The Order of the Black Rose #12
THE ORDER OF THE BLACK ROSE standalone prequels
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HEARTS & MINDS TRILOGY
Paranormal Cozy Mystery Romance
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COLD HEART
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NKPGXVM
COLD EYES
SPELLS & POTIONS
PNR standalone series
RED VELVET RIBBON
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COMING SOON
VAMPIRE DUKE
VAMPIRE TIARA
Acknowledgments
This book is dedicated in loving memory of my author friend Joan E. Hartman from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
Special thanks to Liana, my editor from Learning to Fly for all the work and effort she put in my book. She’s a pleasure to work with.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
PENNY BROJACQUIE IS a passionate writer, travel blogger, and life lover.
After a 20-years career working as a sports reporter for some of the largest media outlets in Greece, she decided that life is more beautiful when you work freelance.
In summer 2014, Penny BroJacquie published her first book, a travel guide called City Break In Athens.
Penny is the writer of three series: The Order Of The Black Rose (time travel), Spells & Potion (Paranormal Romance), Hearts and Minds (PNR trilogy).
When she doesn’t write, Penny pets her dogs, cooks new recipes, and takes photos. You'll find her somewhere in Europe enjoying a cup of coffee or watching a movie.
Read More from Penny BroJacquie
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Death at Dawn and Macaron (Fangs and Psychics mysteries Book 2) Page 4
