Page 67 of Dead to Me

Ramos looked around the room.

“I would rather discuss that privately.”

“No.”

China stood up. Everyone watched.

“You tell me right now.”

The detective lowered his voice.

“He suffered multiple stab wounds.”

China made a noise. Her eyes met mine, not on purpose but out of instinct. I noticed the moment a thought crossed her mind.

Her face changed. I held her gaze. There you are. China looked away quickly.

Ramos continued.

“We believe there was a struggle.”

China swallowed.

“When?”

“Sometime late this morning.”

She glanced at the clock, then back at me. I could tell she was thinking it through. I had been away for almost forty minutes. She realized it.

“Milan,” she whispered.

I tilted my head.

“Yes?”

The detective glanced at both of us. China kept her eyes on me. I saw a question on her face. Another police officer came in and went straight to Ramos, whispering something. Ramos’s face shifted. He looked at me, then at China.

“What?” China asked.

Neither officer replied. Ramos walked off with him. I caught only a few words: sixth floor, same hotel, homicide.

China stood.

“What did he say?”

Nobody answered. She walked toward them.

“Who is Cole?”

She stopped. Her face lost all color. China turned to face me, moving slowly.

“Warren?”

I stayed silent. Her lips parted.

“No.”

The room fell silent. China stared at me. Her grief faded, replaced by something else. She spoke so softly I could barely hear her.