Kiss of the Vampire(37)

Tobias could smell the burned paper scent of demon and knew Nix was getting worked up. He leaned forward and peered at her more closely. She darted a glance his way and he saw the yellow flecks in her irises.

Tobias didn’t know if she had called the demon on purpose or if her emotions were eroding her control. He wasn’t sure he wanted to know, because he didn’t think it was wise of her to do it on purpose. It meant she actively courted the possibility she could lose her grip on it.

But regardless, it had the desired response as Sahir slammed his chair back so it bounced against the wall. “I…I thought you were human.”

“Half human. Trust me, you really don’t want to see more of the half that’s not.” Nix straightened. “Answer the question.”

The scientist’s throat moved with his hard swallow. “Even though she came through the rift centuries ago, she didn’t really know anything about it. She wanted to understand it, understand how…you people came from where you were to where you are.” His gaze darted from Nix to Tobias and back to Nix again.

“For the record,” Nix muttered, crossing her arms and tilting her head to one side, “I didn’t come through the rift. I was born here. On Earth. In Glendale, to be specific.” She raised her eyebrows. “Was Rinda researching the rift in an official capacity?”

“Officially?” He shook his head. “No. Well, yes as far as it was part of her thesis.”

“Is it no or yes?” MacMillan pushed away from his place by the door. He scribbled something in his notebook and looked back up. “You seem a bit confused.”

The man rubbed one earlobe between forefinger and thumb. “It wasn’t research that we here at the observatory are involved in. Okay?”

“Talk to us, Doctor.” Nix braced her hands on the desk, leaning forward again. Tobias could tell she was gearing up for an offensive. He sat back in his chair and let her go. “Just how long were you and Rinda involved?” Nix’s eyes narrowed.

“How long were…” He stood and slashed his hands through the air. “I told you—”

“Blah, blah, blah.” With one hand she made a talking motion in the air. She straightened and folded her arms over her breasts again. “You weren’t her lover or so you say. But you’re the man in charge. You know everything that goes on here, I’m sure. So if it wasn’t you, who was it?”

“It wasn’t me.” He slowly took his seat again. “You should talk to her friend, Samantha Smith.” He lifted his chin. “Those two seemed more than just friends, if you know what I mean.” He waggled one hand and then assumed a pious expression. “Not that I care about such things.”

“Yes, we’ll do that.” Tobias wasn’t about to let the man know who they had or had not already spoken to. “For the record, where were you yesterday between two thirty and six thirty?”

“You’re asking me for an alibi? I had nothing to do with her death!”

“Answer the question.” Tobias let a wash of pheromones drift toward the scientist, using the subtle chemicals to influence the man’s reaction.

And react he did. He stiffened in his chair. His face paled and Tobias saw his fingers clench around the armrests. As if every word was dragged out of him, he said, “I was with my wife and daughter.”

“Doing what?” Nix asked.

He stared at her. “We had lunch around one, then went to the movies, then some shopping at the mall. We didn’t get home until close to nine p.m.” He turned his pleading gaze onto Tobias. “Please. There’s no need to get my wife involved in this, is there?”

Tobias caught the triumphant look Nix sent him. In so many words Sahir had just admitted to being in an affair with Amarinda.

Tobias stood and stared down at the scientist. “We’ll take your word for it, for now. We’d like to talk to everyone here.”

Dr. Sahir also stood. He looked relieved. “Well, I don’t know what they can tell you, but you’re welcome to talk to anyone who isn’t tied up with telescope operations. You should know that most of the staff isn’t in yet. We do our best work after dark.”

“So do I.” In case the human scientist needed reminding of just what he was dealing with, Tobias curled his lips in a slow smile so that just the tips of his fangs showed. He held out his hand and waited while Sahir slowly reached out to shake it. “Thank you for your cooperation, Doctor.” Tobias let go of the man’s hand and reached inside his pocket for a business card. He put the card on the desk. “If you think of anything, please call me.”