Page 19 of Angel

“If I may make a suggestion, ma’am,”

“Of course.”

“It’s a little cooler today. Perhaps you should wear your cream turtleneck.”

She turns away, and as I hurry to the mirror, I stare in horror at the hickies peppering my throat. Fuck. I peer closer. Are they bite marks? What the hell. I accept we were rough last night, but it’s as if I was attacked. Rosita’s right, this is not looking good.

I take her advice, and after another shower and some stage makeup, I shrug on the cream turtleneck and a pair of blue jeans. Leaving my hair hanging around my shoulders, I slide on my pumps and head down to meet the morning committee.

* * *

Frankie is pacing the living room with Montgomery Hislop perched uncomfortably on the low-slung couch. Two officers are staring wide-eyed around them and jump up as I enter the room.

“Good morning.”

My tone is anxious, and I turn to the cops.

“Poor Giovanni. Is there any news about who did this?”

They shake their heads, almost in unison, and one of them offers me his hand. “Detectives Garner and Sloane, Miss Clere. It’s early on in our enquiries and I apologize for the morning visit.”

“Of course, I’m happy to help all I can.”

Rosita enters with a tray of coffee and pastries, and as she sets it down, Detective Sloane addresses her.

“Ma’am, may I ask if you were here last night when Mr. Corloni dropped Miss Clere home?”

“No, sir. I left at 9 pm after Miss Clere left for the gala and I finished my duties.”

“What time did you return?”

“One hour ago, sir.”

“And there was nothing unusual about–”

“Excuse me, officer, but where is this heading? Do you believe I was somehow involved in what happened to Giovanni?”

My tone is curt and their expressions are impassive as one of them says brutally, “I don’t know, Miss Clere. Were you?”

“Detective,” Monty growls, and Frankie yells.

“What the fuck is going on here?”

“Calm down, sir, this is a murder investigation, and we are merely establishing the facts.”

I hand them all a coffee, and as I take my seat, I sigh. “Giovanni dropped me home at midnight. He wanted to come inside, but I was tired. I let him down gently. I’m sure you understand what he wanted, Detectives, but to be honest, we were merely coworkers and nothing else.”

“Are you sure about that, Miss Clere?”

The detective consults his phone.

“It’s all over the internet that you were in a relationship with him.”

“Which is untrue.”

Frankie sighs. “Officer, we work in the entertainment industry. Nothing about that is real. Sophie has no control over rumors and people faking things online to get their follower count higher.”

“I understand.”