Page 11 of Filthy Fae

“How do you know?”

“It would actually be in our favor if they did. If they listen illegally, anything they discover based on this interview will be inadmissible and never make it into the courtroom as per the laws between the NALC and American court systems. When I proved their illegal actions, the entire case would be thrown out. That is why I have this.”

Jane clanged a recorder onto the buffed metal, pressed the button, and then pushed a pile of papers across the table toward Zane. “Zane Reed, your alpha hired me as your lawyer. These are instructions for precisely how you will act until the police release you.” She tapped the paper. “It basically says don’t be an idiot. As a seasoned wolf with a higher education, I really doubt you’ll need instructions on that, but these types of situations have a way of muddying otherwise clear minds.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Zane pulled the papers to his side of the table. His gaze lifted to mine, and I noticed the red circles under his eyes. “Scarlet, you know me. You know I’m innocent. I need you to get me out of here.”

Seeing Zane here, sitting in a gray jumpsuit, another unexpected emotion hit me: disappointment. In light of the fact that so many were murdered tonight, it was a completely self-centered emotion. But some naive part of me had been holding onto the idea that Zane had betrayed me because his mate-bond draw to Zeezee was so irresistible that his mind had disconnected from his ability to consider my feelings. But obviously when it came to screwing around, he just couldn’t help himself.

Still, I didn’t see a mass murderer sitting at that table. I saw my cheating brother in law, a sad little man who had lost everything but would never admit that he’d brought it upon himself.

Attempting to put all that aside and get my head in the game, I dragged a chair across the cement floor and took a seat across from him. “Yeah, I know you, Zane. Let’s back up a little. Were you injured?”

“Not injured, no. I’m…” He exhaled a shaky breath. “I’m innocent, and I need to go explain myself to Zeezee.”

Well, at least he was thinking about her now.

A heavy silence followed his words, and I knew that there was no easy way to broach this subject, so I came right out with it. “What happened at the party, Zane?”

“I-I didn’t kill them, Scar.” He gripped the table, nails elongating to claws, screeching across the metal before they smoothed into flesh. “You must know that. After all the years… I loved you. I love your sister. I’m family. You’ve known me all your life.”

Loving Zeezee and killing a house full of people weren’t mutually exclusive, but he was right, I had known him all my life. Zane Reed was the last person I expected to murder a bunch of humans and fae. He was a selfish jerk, but he was also a healer, a doctor, and not because he liked to play god or something like that. He wanted to help people. Then again, Zane was an amazing liar, so what did I know?

The reek of his fear was getting to my wolf, and I squeezed my hands into fists under the table, trying to find my equilibrium. I leaned down until I caught his gaze. “I’m not here as your friend, Zane. I’m not here for Zeezee. I am here as your alpha, and I need you to tell us exactly what happened.”

He dropped my gaze like I’d burned his retinas. “Of course, Alpha.”

“The murders occurred at a party,” I prompted. “Did you go with a lover, a friend, an acquaintance?”

He paused for a beat. “I went alone. One of the other doctors at the hospital told me about it. Said it was just a gathering of friends.”

“What time?” Jane asked.

“Six-ish, probably.”

Jane tapped her pen on the table. “Did you actually go alone?”

Zane raised his gaze to the lawyer. “Yeah, that’s what I said. I was alone. The doctor was going to go with me, but he backed out last minute.”

“A human doctor? What’s his name?”

“Yes, a human. Stan. I don’t know his last name. Tall guy, dark hair. I barely know him.”

“Did he know the owners of the house where the party took place?”

Zane shrugged. “I guess he does.”

“But you didn’t know them.”

“No. I don’t know any fae, except Mack, I guess.”

“So, you basically crashed this party alone because a fellow doctor named Stan told you about it.” I took a steadying breath. “What happened when you showed up uninvited? Were they angry?”

“Nothing happened. They were happy to have me there.”

“They were happy a random werewolf showed up to a fae sex party? And you didn’t know what the party was about or know anyone there at all?”

“I didn’t know anyone,” he snapped. “You keep asking me the same thing over and over. Are you accusing me of something?”