‘The specific location of Nella’s office feels more personal, doesn’t it?’ Jett said, trying to keep his face as neutral as possible. ‘Ifit wasn’t suicide.’
‘Maybe.’ Grey spoke into his glass, brow furrowed. ‘Ian missed the killer by a few minutes, and from what Nella said, it sounds like the killer, if there is one, might still have been in the office when Ian came back for his gym bag. It seems messy ... too risky for a hired hit.’
‘It could have been Forrest,’ Max said quietly. Grey shot her a look of such intensity that Jett wanted to turn away. ‘What? We know he’s not averse to getting his hands dirty.’
‘I thought this was just hypothetical?’ Jett thought back to Forrest’s shit-eating grin back on the road. Was that how a killer behaved right after he’d sold another piece of his soul? And why would La Marca parade Forrest around if he’d just killed Clarkson? Matteo was a lot of things, but he wasn’t stupid.
‘We know Forrest wants to destroy the Barbaranis,’ Grey said. ‘It fits.’
Great, Jett thought. Guess they were all aboard the ‘it’s murder’ train. Was he the only one on this goddamn property who was aware theyweren’ton the set ofMidsomer Murders?
‘If it is murder’—he hated himself—‘something’s off about the execution.’ Jett rubbed his temple; he could feel lines forming – maybe if his face wasn’t already a lost cause, he’d let Nella convince him to trypreventative Botoxjust for a laugh. Although he hadn’t seen Nella laugh in a while. ‘It’s amateurish. It feels like an opportunistic kill. Not planned, and so someone panicked and tried to make it look like a suicide. If it’snotsuicide.’
Ugh. Was that a direct quote from one of theMidsomeractors?From Max and Grey’s expressions, they weren’t convinced either. For a while there was silence except for the cracking of almond chocolate and the clinking of glass on the marble countertop.
‘How did she take it?’ Grey eventually said, looking up towards the mansion where Nella would be asleep. Max frowned, but Jett knew they weren’t talking about Clarkson’s death anymore. Which was what he needed. Every time he thought of the smiling, slightly awkward lawyer, it felt like he was underwater, unable to breathe.
‘She was just annoyed everyone knew but she didn’t. Didn’t help that she heard it from Vittoria.’
‘You should have told her.’ Max’s accusation drilled through Jett.
‘Why does everyone keep saying that? Nella’s been away for six months. She doesn’t care if I’m here or not.’
‘You really believe that?’
Jett grabbed the depleted Coke can and poured the rest over his melting ice. ‘How much do you reckon we can get out of Raphael?’ he asked. Nella’s feelings were none of his business. ‘I can’t promise I won’t accidentally waterboard him to death during any form of interrogation.’ His deliberate subject change clearly wasn’t missed, but at least they couldn’t see his stomach twist every time he faced the mansion. Like it was trying to drag him back to Nella.
It’s not your place. You’re just the driver.
‘Thought you said this wasn’t the La Marcas.’ Grey studied him.
The Coke bubbles were fizzing in his head. ‘I didn’t say that. They’re still our best bet if this isn’t what Avery thinks. Besides, we might be able to get something out of him about the lawsuit, seeing as he owes us.’
Max scrunched up her Magnum wrapper, squeezing it like a stress ball. ‘Unfortunately I think you’ll find Raphael is under the impression thatweowehim.’
‘Wesaved Ariana La Marca at the gala,’ Grey said. ‘It’s within Raphael’s and the La Marcas’ best interests that we remind them of that. Matteo’s precious caged daughter wouldn’t be alive if it weren’t for Max.’
Jett didn’t add that Ariana wouldn’t have been in a position where she needed to be saved if Luca hadn’t dragged her through the hidden tunnel with the rest of the family, not realising the danger that lurked at the end of the passageway.
Raphael Sabatino was to the La Marcas what Grey had been to the Barbaranis – their Fixer, their secret keeper. He also had made it quite clear he was very taken by Max, which was likely the main reason Grey still couldn’t stand him. Well, that and the fact Raphael had got himself caught up in a plot to kill Nella, Luca, Tom, Grey and Jett six months ago. Raphael chose to save the Barbaranis’ lives, though, when it came down to it, so knowing Greyson, it was mainly the other thing.
‘So how do we get a hold of Raphael without Matteo knowing?’ Jett asked. ‘Nella said the injunction stops us from going on their property.’
Grey sighed; he knew Jett wasn’t going to be swayed. ‘The little hypocrite goes to mass every Sunday morning down at the beach church. Eight am.’
Jett checked his watch; the numbers wouldn’t focus but there was definitely a zero at the front – past midnight. ‘Better turn in then.’ He scooted around the island bench to the door, but turned back just before he pushed it open. ‘Just let Nella sleep, okay? Don’t tell her.’
This time Max and Grey didn’t even try to hide the look they gave each other.
‘Mate, Nella won’t be sleeping,’ Grey said, the corner of his mouth quirking sadly. ‘And she’ll kill you if you don’t tell her you’re going to talk to Raphael.’
‘She’s got too much going on,’ Jett said. ‘You didn’t see her, back there on the road. She almost gouged out Matteo’s eyes.’
Max pursed her lips. ‘She’ll do the same to you.’
‘Please.’ Jett closed his eyes. ‘Just let her deal with the trial. She’s been through enough today.’
‘She’ll gouge out more than your eyes if she hears you talking like that.’
