The Eligible Suspect (16 page)

After a moment watching Damen, Gunderman nodded a few times, noncommittal, disbelieving.

“Are you planning to return to Denver when you’re released?” he finally asked.

“Yes.”

Once more, he nodded. Then he turned to Demarco. “Can I have a word with you outside?”

Demarco glanced at his brother and then said, “Sure.”

He followed the detective into the hallway, where they faced each other.

“Have you given this some thought since we last talked?” Gunderman asked.

He’d thought of nothing else. His life had pretty much come to a screeching halt ever since he’d seen Damen toss that gun.

Gunderman put his hands on his hips with a frustrated sigh. “I’m going to get down to the truth one way or the other.”

He wasn’t ready to throw his brother to the wolves. Not when he was just inside the hospital room.

“Do you think my brother killed his girlfriend, Detective?” he asked.

“We’re looking at every possibility. At this point he’s a person of interest.”

Demarco was tempted to blurt out what he saw, and mortified that he’d even consider doing so. His own brother. Except his brother wasn’t his brother anymore. He wasn’t the boy from his childhood. The defenseless brother. He was a criminal.

“I understand the position you’re in,” Gunderman said. “He’s your twin brother. You have an instinct to protect him. But if you’re hiding something crucial to this case, you can be prosecuted right along with him.”

“Well, I wouldn’t want that to happen,” he said with a note of lightness. Inside, he thought of his wife and what prosecution would do to her.

“You have my card,” Gunderman said, then gave him a wave in farewell and started down the hall. Demarco watched him go and then intended to go back into the hospital room, but nausea took him to the bathroom before he could go in and face his brother again.

Splashing cold water on his face, he stared at himself in the mirror, eyes round and shadowed with dark circles, his face gaunt.

When Demarco was ready to leave the restroom, he went out into the hall. Standing outside Damen’s room, he didn’t go inside. His brother was someone else now and it was too late to save him.

Abandoning his own twin brother was the hardest thing he’d ever do. He felt hollow and lost. Wretched. There in the hall, he finally admitted to himself that there was no saving his brother. Damen had turned to crime. Demarco was no criminal, and he refused to be dragged into his crisis. Instead of going back into the room, where he was certain Damen was nervously waiting for him, Demarco started down the hall.

Damen would have to find his own way back to Denver. Now the only question Demarco had was, how much trouble would he be in if he turned in the murder weapon? He’d hidden evidence. Aided Damen in murder. What kind of a price would he pay for that?

Chapter 14

“H
ow well do you know this man?” Savanna looked at Korbin as she walked beside him in snow boots, jeans and classy polka-dot jacket. He was in a black parka with the zipper undone, making him appear even bigger than he was.

“Not well. I’ve met him a few times.”

He rang the doorbell. A few seconds later, an attractive woman answered. Her eyes darted back and forth between them on the other side of the glass outer door and then fixed on Korbin.

“Korbin?” She sounded unsteady. “What are you doing here?”

“We need to talk to Demarco.”

“He isn’t here. He went to Pagosa Springs to get Damen.” She eyed him warily.

“I didn’t kill Collette,” Korbin said. “Damen set me up.”

“Like I said...he isn’t here.”

“When will he be back? Where is he staying?”

After a brief hesitation and more scrutiny, she said, “I don’t know when he’ll be back, but he’s got an auction tomorrow night. I doubt he’ll miss that. It’s black-tie. One of his promotional events.”

* * *

Earlier, Savanna had left Korbin at their RV campsite and went shopping for attire for the evening. Then she prepared in the bathroom of the motor home. When she finished, she gave herself one final appraisal in the mirror. Blue eyes conservatively lined and lips glossed, hair artfully pinned up with a few curls dangling, she had to say she looked good. She hadn’t dressed up like this in a long time. Smooth skin above the pretty, glittering beads of the scooped neckline needed no adornment. The diamond earrings were enough. The band of beads ran around her back in a strap and another dipped low above her rear. The A-line chiffon dress wasn’t form-fitting, but flattered enough of her figure to be striking. She experienced a second of trepidation before leaving the bedroom. One look at her in this and Korbin would have a challenge set out for him. She didn’t mean to entice him.

Walking out into the living area of the high-end RV, Savanna saw him standing near the side door. The slide-outs made the RV feel as though they were in a stationary home, luxurious and spacious. He didn’t move as he saw her, but his eyes roamed all over her, lingering at her neckline, where a demure portion of cleavage was exposed. The dress inspired innocence, but hinted at seduction. He himself appeared larger than usual in his black satin-lapel tuxedo—shoulders broader, arms thicker. In his rugged face, pale gray eyes glowed with intensity that she had sparked. Dark, thick hair stuck out in all the right places, roguish and beckoning a woman’s fingers. And yet he was a classic gentleman with the black bow tie against a trim white shirt.

He met her gaze as she came to a stop before him. “What are you doing to me?”

She smiled without responding, but thinking,
snagging you
.

He put his hand on her back, the bare portion below the strap and above the low hem. She preceded him out the door and she discovered that he’d arranged for a car to pick them up.

“Putting the fake IDs to work, I see,” she said.

He opened the back door for her. “It has tinted windows.”

Clever man. She sat in the back and he climbed in after her. The driver said nothing, the glass window shut between them. All the way there, a living tension hummed. The challenge of breaking through a guarded heart—his—and letting down her own guard. A thread of restraint held her back.

“Whose estate is being sold at this auction?” she asked. A much safer subject.

“The daughter of an animated-film producer sold her multimillion-dollar estate in Wyoming. This auction contains everything she’s getting rid of.”

“Small world.” Her dad probably knew the woman.

“She collects antiques and the exhibit will have some rare art.”

“Sounds like a score for Demarco.” He didn’t seem to live large. His house was modest.

“He doesn’t hold events like these very often.”

The car stopped in front of the downtown hotel where the viewing event was held. Tomorrow the auction would last all day. Korbin opened the lobby door for Savanna and put his hand on her lower back again. Indulging himself? They drew many admiring looks, the kind that young, handsome couples often drew.

Reaching the ballroom, a crowd had already assembled. Tables of appetizers and several bars were spread among displays of antiques. Crystal chandeliers gave off low light. Easels showcased pricey paintings and more hung on the walls, some with their own spotlight.

Savanna was taken in. While Korbin searched the throng, she stopped at a display of beaded jewelry that had once belonged to an Indian woman. There was a story about her printed on a plaque. She moved on to some paintings, studying each one. A floral painting caught her eye, an abstract with varying splashes of soft yellow, orange and green. It would stand out in the right room but not overwhelm.

Korbin leaned closer to her ear in the din of voices and classical music. “There’s Demarco.”

Three men stood near the opposite wall, a five-by-eight painting looming above, the outer edges of spotlights highlighting a bald spot on one and the fine show of gray on another. The one in the middle was the youngest, with thick brown hair and the look of a bulldog, except he had a really long nose. The one to his left was taller and thinner, more of a Great Dane.

“Demarco is the older one,” Korbin said.

The near-forty, slightly graying man. He was fit, trim and about the same height as the Great Dane. She immediately picked up that the two he spoke with didn’t belong here. She couldn’t say why. Demarco looked every bit his part as host and tomorrow’s auctioneer of this collection of rare pieces. The other two wore no ties and held themselves like construction workers. Legs apart. Paws around the top of champagne glasses.

Friends of Damen’s?

Demarco leaned in, speaking almost harshly, and then shooting furtive looks as though occasionally remembering where he was. An elderly couple passed and Demarco put on his auctioneer face to greet them. The two men he’d been talking to moved away, going to stand at a tall cocktail table and observe the crowd.

The elderly couple moved on and Demarco turned to some new guests.

“Let’s go say hello.”

Savanna meandered through the crowd and waited for Demarco to notice them. His smile vanished.

“Excuse me,” he said to the pair of women he’d been talking to.

The women glanced toward her and Korbin, and then took their flutes of champagne and went to a nearby statue.

“You’re awfully bold coming here,” Demarco said. “Hotel security might recognize you.”

“Your wife said you’d be here tonight,” Korbin said. “I hope you don’t mind our impromptu visit.”

“It’s a public event.”

“How’s Damen?” Korbin asked.

With a smirk, Demarco said, “He was released from the hospital this morning. Not very happy with you, I’d imagine.”

“He’s got no reason to be.”

Savanna looked around. If he’d been released, he was probably back in Denver by now.

“You must be Savanna Ivy.” Demarco offered his hand. She put hers in it and he bent to give her a top kiss. “I’ve heard all about you, especially lately.”

“Not uncommon, I’m afraid.”

“You don’t look like you’ve been kidnapped.” He gave her a complimentary once-over, not at all insulting, and then sent a mischievous glance to Korbin. There was a playful side to this one, even though a lot of danger surrounded the reason she and Korbin were there. “Well taken care of. Like a rare gem.”

“I do clean up well.”

“Savanna lives alone on several hundred remote acres near Wolf Creek Pass,” Korbin said.

“I only meant for now. Taken care of, that is.” He smiled. “How ever did you make it past the front door? I saw the news about you and Macon.”

“I didn’t know you followed the rich and famous,” Korbin said.

Savanna was sure he wasn’t well acquainted enough with Demarco to be that familiar with his tastes. This seemed more of a filler conversation, one Demarco probably hoped would keep them off something he was trying to avoid.

“I don’t. Only this one, since you seem to be the one who brought her under the spotlight.”

“I’m quite safe with Korbin.” Except when she was naked with him.

Demarco looked over to where the Great Dane and bulldog were standing now. Another man had joined them.

Damen.

Weathering a shock wave, Savanna looked to see if he’d come armed and just as quickly realized he wouldn’t have gotten into this event if he was. There were guards at the entrance and everyone had to go through a metal detector.

“Looks like Damen made it after all,” Demarco said, charm almost diffusing his sarcasm.

The twins were having some differences, it would appear. She didn’t ask what Damen was doing here. It wasn’t significant that he’d show up for his brother’s big auction event.

Korbin continued to watch Damen, not startled to see him out of the hospital and moving around. He showed no sign of fear. Rather, he observed. He watched the interaction among the three men at the cocktail table, gathering information.

“All I ask is that you take it outside if it gets ugly, okay, Korbin? I’ve seen your handiwork.”

Meaning, Damen in the hospital.

“I don’t like being told what to do,” he said. Damen had thought he could coerce him into doing whatever work he brought his way.

“A lesson my brother is learning too late, it would seem.”

“Who’s that he’s is talking with?” Korbin asked.

“Oh, that’s Tony,” Demarco said with a note of disgust.

While Savanna had to cover her alarm, Korbin didn’t miss a beat. “I’ve heard of him.”

“Adam Liski is the man with him. Your replacement, I’d imagine. Said he was into computers. Although he didn’t come out and say it, I got that it was hacking.”

“Oh?” Savanna queried.

“Damen found him a few months ago.”

“Then he’s hardly a replacement,” Korbin said. “Damen didn’t ask me to work on Tony’s project until a few weeks ago.”

“Really? Then he must not be impressed with his progress or he wouldn’t have tried to get you. He always thought so highly of you and your work.”

Korbin was a good hacker. What a résumé. Savanna slid her gaze his way. He caught the look and said, “I only take the good jobs.”

“Damen said this new project will be worth millions.”

A plot to take down critical infrastructure? Who was paying Damen? Tony? Who was paying him?

“Why are they here, anyway?” Savanna asked. “Tony, I mean.”

“He wanted to know where Damen is, and then why I didn’t bring him back to Denver.”

“Why didn’t you?”

Demarco turned to him with a shielded look, clearly regretting having let that slip. “Doc said he’d be released soon. There was no need. And as you can see, he’s getting around fine on his own.”

“Is there a reason why you left him in Pagosa Springs? You went there, didn’t you? Wasn’t it to bring him home?”

“Who said I left him?”

“Didn’t you?”

Demarco let out a long breath. “He had his own vehicle. I only left after I knew he was going to be all right.”

Savanna saw how Korbin searched Demarco’s face. He was fishing for something Demarco wasn’t saying. While Demarco’s explanation seemed true, there also seemed to be something missing. He was too frustrated, too nervous. He might be tired of his brother skating the line of the law.

“How much has he told you about his business with Tony?” Korbin asked.

“Didn’t come here for the cocktails and art, did you?” Demarco quipped.

“What do you know about it?” Korbin wasn’t letting him avoid his questions.

“Not a thing. Damen had taken to leaving me out of his messes. He doesn’t like it when I lecture him.”

“He listens to lectures?”

“He used to listen to mine.” Demarco waved off an offer from a waiter for a glass of champagne.

Korbin declined as well.

Savanna took one of the glasses, sipping as she kept her eye on the cocktail table where Damen talked to the other two men.

“Have you noticed anything unusual about him?” Korbin asked. “Anything he’s done? Said?”

Demarco’s gaze shifted from Savanna back to Korbin. He was unpracticed at concealing lies. He didn’t have his brother’s devious nature.

“Nothing out of the ordinary,” he said at last.

Savanna exchanged a glance with Korbin.

“Except for when he left town to go after you,” Demarco said.

“You thought that was unusual?” Savanna asked.

“Well, yeah. Why would he do that?” He made a smirking face, grunting along with it, all a show.

“Why do you think?” Korbin asked.

“Why do
you
?” Demarco countered.

Korbin studied Demarco for a few seconds. “You are aware that police suspect him in both the hit-and-run and Collette’s murder, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

“They’re waiting on some DNA testing.”

Demarco’s pretense fell away and grim concern took its place.

Korbin took Savanna’s hand. “If you know something, take my advice and tell the police now. It’s only a matter of time before there’s enough evidence to make an arrest.”

Demarco’s eyes blinked once, a betrayal of how dead-on Korbin was. His mouth pressed into a hard line, opened and then closed again. He wasn’t going to talk.

“Let’s go.”

“But...” She held up her glass.

He took it and put it on the nearest table.

“Why are we leaving? Maybe we can get him to talk.”

“It’s not him I’m worried about.”

Savanna looked back and saw that Damen had spotted them. His unharmed eye glared from across the room, watching their leisurely departure. He didn’t dare confront them. Not here. And not Korbin. Not alone. But he wasn’t alone. He had Tony.

* * *

Out in the back of their car, Korbin used his phone to look up Adam Liski. He hadn’t blocked his address and phone number. Telling the driver to take them there, he turned to Savanna, still admiring the way she looked in her dress.

It had been a nice party. If Damen and Tony hadn’t shown, he would have let them stay longer.

He grinned, pulling down the middle armrest. She moved out of the way and saw that behind the armrest, which also served as cup holders, there was a refrigerator box. Above that, two glasses fit into a compact holder. He opened the box to reveal a bottle of iced champagne inside.