Ashes(48)

"I'm hoping you're going to tell me that Talia's at work."



"I wish I could. The neighbors heard her screaming. My guess is that it was her dealer. Apparently he paid her regular visits, threatening her with violence if she didn't pay what she owed him. I'm guessing this was about money that she simply didn't have to give." Blaine shrugged. "I can't think of any other reason why she would have been screaming apologies at someone."



"Apologies?" Harper echoed.



"Yes, ma'am. Her closest neighbor claimed that Talia kept screaming that she was sorry over and over." Hearing someone call his name, Blaine gave Knox and Harper an apologetic look. "Excuse me." 



Just as Blaine walked away, Tanner appeared and said, "I talked to her closest neighbors. They said they heard her -"



"Screaming apologies," Knox finished. "Blaine mentioned it."



"Did he also mention that she kept begging for forgiveness, promising that if they stopped the fire and let her out she'd make it right – whatever ‘it' is?"



Knox rubbed his jaw. "No, he didn't mention that."



Tanner gestured to a curvy, dark-skinned female standing near an ambulance, her face blank, eyes wet. "Rosa just arrived. She's Talia's partner. Want me to talk to her?"



"I'd like to ask her some questions myself." Keeping possession of Harper's hand, Knox headed to the she-demon. "Rosa?"



She blinked up at the three of them, looking dazed and numb. "I don't understand how this could have happened." Her voice was low, soft, defeated. "I just spoke to Talia an hour ago. She was fine."



Harper's chest tightened. "I'm not good in these situations," she admitted. "I don't know what to say, except that I'm sorry."



Rosa swallowed and gave a weak nod of thanks. "Why would someone do this?"



"The police said she's been having trouble with her dealer," said Knox.



"Raymond?" Rosa's brow pinched. "He's a lot of things, but he's no killer. He hasn't got the stomach for it."



"Is there anyone else who might have been upset with her?" Harper asked. "One of the neighbors said they heard her shouting apologies to someone."



Confused, Rosa shook her head. "She didn't have enemies. Outside of work, Talia kept a low profile." Silent tears began streaming down her face. "I just don't understand."



Knox gave her a pointed look. "If there's anything we can do, you let us know, Rosa."



"I will. Thank you, Mr. Thorne." She swiped at her wet cheeks. "Maybe she'll find some peace now. She was never really at peace with life."



"I'd like to think that she will." Harper gave her shoulder a sympathetic squeeze, feeling so fucking bad for Rosa. The female was doing a hell of a lot better than Harper would have done in her position. Losing Knox would destroy her. Wanting to give the grieving female some space, Harper clasped Knox's hand. Let's leave her in peace.



"Thank you for speaking with us, Rosa," said Knox. "Remember to come to us if you need anything." He turned to Harper. "Let's go, baby."



As they walked to the Bentley with Tanner, she looked up at Knox. You think it was McCauley, don't you?



So do you.



Harper didn't deny it. Couldn't deny it.



Once the three of them were back inside the Bentley with Levi, she said, "If McCauley can teleport, it wouldn't have been hard for him to go there, set the fire, watch her burn, and then ease the hellfire before getting away again without being seen." Hellfire wouldn't burn the demon who conjured it, which meant that McCauley would have gotten away unharmed.



Levi caught Harper's gaze in the rearview mirror, his expression one of disbelief. "You think the kid did this?"


      ///
       
         
       
        



"Talia wasn't alone when she burned to death," Knox told him. "She was apologizing to someone, promising that she'd make it right."



Levi cursed. "That doesn't mean it was him."



"No, it doesn't," agreed Knox. "But it does mean I need to speak with him. Make a pit stop at the Sanders's house."



Levi switched on the engine. "You got it."



When they finally pulled up outside the house, Harper looked at Knox. "Did you give Wyatt a telepathic heads-up that we were coming?"



"No. I want to see their reactions to the news."