Page 73 of Night Moves
“Ain’t no good reason I’m here.” He jutted out a narrow chin. “Didn’t do what those witches accused me of, and I’m gonna go free as soon as soon as my appeal is heard.”
“Tell me your side of things, then,” Natalie said. “Because what we’ve been told is that you made a habit of dating young women and suddenly their bank accounts were emptied.”
“Didn’t do what they say. Sure, I mighta let some chicks pay my way for a while. What guy doesn’t these days? I mean it’s equal opportunity for women. But it’s not a crime.”
“Why would Laura Zimmer rat you out, then?” Drake asked. “Not to mention the other women who came forward.”
“She was mad I dumped her. They all were.” A cocky smile slid across his face, and he locked his focus on Natalie. “I mean, you wouldn’t say no to this, right?”
That grin widened, and she scowled at him.
His smile evaporated. “But still. Calling the cops? That’s just nutso.”
He lied well. Seamlessly even, and Natalie got how women believed him, but she doubted it would take long to see through him.
He leaned forward, and his eyes held an ugliness he’d hidden so far. “Sure, I mighta let them pay the way, but I never told ’em I’d do anything different. They got what I advertised. Me. That’s what they really wanted. Me. I’m all theycouldneed.” He sat back, that satisfied smile on his thin lips again.
“You’re delusional,” Natalie said, trying hard not to lose her temper. “These women trusted you. And you not only took advantage of their kindness to pay for dates, but then you stole all their money.”
He shrugged. “Like I said. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Natalie gripped her knees under the table. “Did you work at all?”
“Sometimes.”
“Doing what?”
“I’m in IT.”
Kirk was a police officer focusing on IT too. Could there be a connection? “You had no legal employment and were found with a large supply of cash in your apartment.”
A grin tipped the corner of his mouth, but he clamped down on his lips and erased it.
“If you didn’t steal money from these women, where did it come from?” she asked.
“This and that.” A snide look found its way to his face.
Natalie’s anger flared higher, and she had to swallow before she could speak again.
“Tell us about your buddy, Ziggy,” Drake said. She was thankful he’d jumped into the conversation. She was only making a mess of it.
“What about him?” Odell asked, losing a bit of his bravado.
“His real name for starters.”
“Why would I tell you that?”
“Because you have the tiniest shred of decency in you,” Natalie stated.
“You must be thinking of someone else.”
“Was Ziggy involved in your schemes?” Drake asked.
“What scheme is that?”
Drake leaned across the table, his iron-filled gaze threatening, and Odell jerked back.
“Nah.” The man’s voice had lost some of its confidence. “He really doesn’t have the looks or charm to get the ladies. Not that I did anything wrong with them.”
